Reconstruction and landscaping were prevalent at the Kentucky Horse Park near Lexington, Kentucky, before the state welcomed the 2010 FEI (Federation Equestre Internationale) World Equestrian Games September 25 through October 11.
As expected, the United States dominated in the reining competition, a skill of horsemanship and a horse's fast-paced maneuvers, a Western riding discipline that is the only one of its kind in the WEG encounters.
In individual dressage, Edward Gal and his magnificent black stallion, "Toto", mesmerized, moving as one in complicated ballet steps as they swept gold.
In show jumping, the four competitors were required to ride their own mounts once around the course, then ride each of the others' horses once over the obstacles, as well. Only the beautiful Hickstead took all four riders in clear rounds through the course and was named Best Horse of the competition.
On closing day of the competition, the United States earned its first ever gold medal in vaulting.
Results in Reining
Medal winners in the individual sport of reining: Gold - Tom McCutcheon, USA; Silver - Craig Schmersal, USA; Bronze - Duane Latimer, CAN.
Results in Dressage
Team medals in dressage were as follows: Gold - NED; Silver - GBR; Bronze - GER.
Individual performances in the dressage special and freestyle category resulted in medals for: Gold - Edward Gal, NED; Silver - Laura Bechtolsheimer, GBR; Bronze - Steffen Peters, USA.
Results in Show Jumping
Medal winners in individual show jumping were: Gold - Phillippe Le Juene, BEL; Silver - Abdullah Al Sharbatly, KSA; Bronze - Eric Lamaze, CAN.
Team medals included: Gold - GER; Silver - FRA; Bronze - BEL.
Results in Vaulting
Team medals in vaulting were as follows: Gold - USA; Silver - GER; Bronze - AUT.
The vaulting competition's individual winners were: (Women) Gold - Joanne Eccles, GBR; Silver - Antje Hill, BEL; Bronze - Simone Wiegle, GER; (Men) Gold - Patric Looser, SUI; Silver - Kai Vorberg, GER; Bronze - Nicolas Andreani, FRA.
Results in Eventing
The three-day competition of eventing featured a surprise bronze medalist in the individual efforts: Gold - Michael Jung, GER; Silver - William Fox-Pitt, GBR; Bronze - Andrew Nicholson, NZL.
The team eventing medals were awarded to: Gold - GBR; Silver - CAN; Bronze - NZL.
Results in Endurance
Individual medals in the games' endurance competition were: Gold - Maria Mercedes Alvarez Ponton, UAE; Silver - HH Sh Mohd B. Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE; Bronze - HE Sh Hamden Mohd Al Maktoum, UAE.
The endurance team medals went to: Gold - UAE; Silver - FRA; Bronze - GER.
Results in Driving
Individual medal winners in driving were: Gold - Boyd Exell, AUS; Silver - Ijsbrand Chardon, NED; Bronze - Tucker Johnson, USA.
Team driving medals were awarded to: Gold - NED; Silver - USA; Bronze - GER.
Results in Para-equestrian Dressage
Categorical medals in para-equestrian dressage went to the following: Gold - (I-A) Sophie Christiansen, GBR; (I-B) Lee Pearson, GBR; (II) Petra van de Sande, NED; (III) Hannelore Brenner, GER; (IV) Sophie Wells, GBR; (I-A Freestyle) Emma Sheardown, GBR; (I-B Freestyle) Pearson; (II Freestyle) Angelika Trabert, GER; (III Freestyle) Brenner; (IV Freestyle) Wells.
Silver - (I-A) Anne Durham, GBR; (I-B) Ricky Balshaw, GBR; (II) Britta Napel, GER; (III) Annika Lykke Dalskov, DEN; (IV) Frank Hanover, NED; (I-A Freestyle) Sophie Christiansen, GBR; (I-B Freestyle) Stinna Tange Kaastrup, DEN; (II Freestyle) Gert Bolmer, NED; (III Freestyle) Dalskov; (IV Freestyle) Michael George, BEL.
Bronze - (I-A) Emma Sheardown, GBR; (I-B) Jens Lasse Dokkan, NOR; (II) Caroline CEcilie Nielsen, DEN; (III) Sharon Jarvis, AUS; (IV) Henrik Weber Sibbesen, DEN; (I-A Freestyle) Anne Durham, GBR; (I-B Freestyle) Katja Karjalainen, FIN; (II Freestyle) Jo Pitt, GBR; (III Freestyle) Jarvis; (IV Freestyle) Frank Hosmar, NED.
Courageous Comet Throws Shoe
Eventing star Courageous Comet threw a shoe during his cross-country run, and came out after his finish slightly lame. He was consequently withdrawn from the stadium jumping portion of the three-day competition.
BarbaraAnne Helberg - Barbara Anne Helberg, Supporter of Better Lives for Animals and Clean, Spirited, Competitive Sports
