Today I am actually going to talk about yesterday. (Time is moving so fast these days, that Einstein's theory of relativity is kicking in, making today yesterday and tomorrow today... if you get what I mean! If you don't, you must have flunked Physics like I did.)
Anyway, more WEG and less science...
Some German visitors stopped into the booth yesterday morning and bought some souvenir pins. They were very pleased at how the German dressage team was doing so far. Note I said yesterday morning. In the afternoon, the Dutch cleaned everyone's clock in the dressage ring. Ja, dies ist eine Schande. (What, you don't understand that either? Did ya flunk German too?)
Anyway, more WEG and less linguistics...
The folks from the Swedish Warmblood booth brought us fabulous chocolate today in thanks for connecting them with John Hockensmith last week during set up. John helped get them some framing material for their art and today Chuck (our LIVE artist) provided them some picture hanging wire and KHC gave them some zip ties. It was worth it! The chocolate was FABULOUS! [Important note to this: I (Ginny Grulke) was not there to receive ANY chocolate. The KHC staff, Essie and Dawn, as well as the volunteers, ate it ALL and did not save any for me. I will get them back somehow. Missing out on good chocolate is WAR!]
A woman from N Carolina who works with a equine rescue in VA stopped by and bought a VITALS kit, the HorseSmarts DVD, and a Trail Directory. She was very impressed with the KHC programs and wants to work with the VA Horse Council to offer livestock/equine investigation training like KHC does. It is nice to know that Horse Capital of the World also means we provide leadership in protecting horses as well as breeding them.
Another cool visit was from one of the 4-H leaders, whose club had received a KHC grant to help build a riding arena in Shelby Co. The kids are using it for jumping clinics, mounted games, and polocrosse. The leader said it was the first time in the 20 years she has been there that the kids have had access to a facility not built specifically for Saddlebreds.
Now, before we go any further on the 4-H story, let me make perfectly clear that KHC LOVES saddlebreds too.... it's just that what suits a saddlebred doesn't always suit the wide variety of riding styles that 4-H embraces.
Bear with me while I talk to Einstein..... "Albert, can you adjust the time machine just a tweak? Thanks a bundle." OK, now we are in TODAY.
Today I spent some time with two of the women here from Normandy France. Normandy will be hosting the 2014 WEG, and they are very interested in seeing how this one goes. KHC will be signing a partnership agreement with Normandy Horse Council next week, to be working on joint projects in the next few years (and hopefully beyond.) BA-DA-BOOM... KHC goes International.
Their biggest story was about the whole Normandy contingent (including their two gourmet chefs) going to CRACKER BARREL to taste some real southern food. THEY WERE NOT IMPRESSED. In fact, they weren't sure what they were served, and it was all soft. And salty. And greasy. They laughed at it more than they ate it. (Can Cracker Barrel sue me for saying this?? I'm just repeating what THEY said.)
I assured them that Cracker Barrel is not "southern food" so much as "country food" regardless of region. And that it is one reason we are all so fat in the U.S. (isn't it?) But secretly, I love Cracker Barrel's meatloaf...and their all you can eat catfish. Yum. Burp.
The good news is they ate at Malone's the night before, so they do know that the U.S. can prepare food properly. For those of you who are not familiar with the Lexington restaurant scene, Malone's is a very nice steak house (which apparently now also serves sushi - thanks to all the Toyota execs for bringing sushi to Lexington)
Tomorrow (which is today, for the Einsteinian crowd) the two French women are going to go to Keeneland to see the horses breeze in the morning, and then take a driving tour of the beautiful horse farm land around here. They will certainly be more impressed with the landscape than they were with the food.
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
WEG Day 4
Wow, day 4 and I really got to see HORSES today! Totally rad! They were high level dressage horses (are those animals REALLY horses? They don't move like the four legged animal in MY barn.)
It started out with an unexpected phone call from a board member, Mary Lowry, Oldham County eventer-farm owner-instructor and realtor extraordinaire. She had an extra Team Dressage ticket, did I want to go?
Does a bear ....?
Oh yeah, I'm there.
Of course, typical of me, I'm running 10 minutes late leaving for KHP, then I get on a shuttle bus that has a jammed handicapped lift.. and a boy in a wheelchair waiting to get off. The driver worked on it for about 10 minutes.. while I tapped my foot and bit my tongue wanting to be politically correct -- and not push the poor kid over the edge of the stairs just to get going (OOO, my bad!)
We were finally on our way, met Mary and arrived at the new Outdoor stadium. Then the important stuff... Dippin' Dots. Yum.
OK, so I settle in, dig out my camera with a ginormous lens (smuggled into the park despite the rules about no lenses longer than 4 inches... I talked to the guard about the Horse Council while quickly flashing the body of the camera.) I immediately put the lens cover in my lap which then rolled off, and dropped under the stadium. Not a good start.
The first horse entered. WHOA! Is this a horse or is this a machine? Totally rhythmic steps, floating trots, high knees, a neck to die for.
For those of you not familiar with dressage, each competitor performs a fixed set of movements and is judged (by FIVE judges) on each element, on a scale from 1 to 10. Music accompanies the routine, chosen by the competitor. In team dressage, the four members of the team contribute to a total team score.
What was amazing is that even at this level, it was obvious that some horses were having fun. "Look at me! Look what I can do! I'm SO cool!"
While others were thinking about getting back to the stall and munching hay: "AW, do I HAVE to do this? Well, I'll just switch my tail at every step, flip an ear or two, and eventually this guy on my back will give up." Amazingly, even with the tail-switching horses, their movements were precise and athletic.
Now for the rest of the story: USA came in fourth. BOO HOO, no medal! Just missed it. Netherlands got the GOLD, and no wonder with one of their rider/horse teams scoring a full 10 points above the other competitors. That horse was AMAZING, seemed to do his job nonchalantly, as in "Yeah, that was easy, what's next?" with not a single mistake, high energy and perfect tempo.
Back at the booth, today's crowd was a bit larger.. I think the attendence will continue to grow as we approach the weekend and then peak out next week. I sure hope so, this stuff should be shared with everyone.
It started out with an unexpected phone call from a board member, Mary Lowry, Oldham County eventer-farm owner-instructor and realtor extraordinaire. She had an extra Team Dressage ticket, did I want to go?
Does a bear ....?
Oh yeah, I'm there.
Of course, typical of me, I'm running 10 minutes late leaving for KHP, then I get on a shuttle bus that has a jammed handicapped lift.. and a boy in a wheelchair waiting to get off. The driver worked on it for about 10 minutes.. while I tapped my foot and bit my tongue wanting to be politically correct -- and not push the poor kid over the edge of the stairs just to get going (OOO, my bad!)
We were finally on our way, met Mary and arrived at the new Outdoor stadium. Then the important stuff... Dippin' Dots. Yum.
OK, so I settle in, dig out my camera with a ginormous lens (smuggled into the park despite the rules about no lenses longer than 4 inches... I talked to the guard about the Horse Council while quickly flashing the body of the camera.) I immediately put the lens cover in my lap which then rolled off, and dropped under the stadium. Not a good start.
The first horse entered. WHOA! Is this a horse or is this a machine? Totally rhythmic steps, floating trots, high knees, a neck to die for.
For those of you not familiar with dressage, each competitor performs a fixed set of movements and is judged (by FIVE judges) on each element, on a scale from 1 to 10. Music accompanies the routine, chosen by the competitor. In team dressage, the four members of the team contribute to a total team score.
What was amazing is that even at this level, it was obvious that some horses were having fun. "Look at me! Look what I can do! I'm SO cool!"
While others were thinking about getting back to the stall and munching hay: "AW, do I HAVE to do this? Well, I'll just switch my tail at every step, flip an ear or two, and eventually this guy on my back will give up." Amazingly, even with the tail-switching horses, their movements were precise and athletic.
Now for the rest of the story: USA came in fourth. BOO HOO, no medal! Just missed it. Netherlands got the GOLD, and no wonder with one of their rider/horse teams scoring a full 10 points above the other competitors. That horse was AMAZING, seemed to do his job nonchalantly, as in "Yeah, that was easy, what's next?" with not a single mistake, high energy and perfect tempo.
Back at the booth, today's crowd was a bit larger.. I think the attendence will continue to grow as we approach the weekend and then peak out next week. I sure hope so, this stuff should be shared with everyone.
Monday, September 27, 2010
WEG Day 3
If it's going to rain, it might as well rain on a Monday. Monday blues and all that. But gosh, we REALLY need the rain so I guess we have to stop complaining about it.
Rain at WEG only means one thing to KHC -- where the heck are we going to put all of our stuff which USED to be out on the grass in front of the booth? So we shoved it all inside that 10 x 20 booth (as in "foaling stall" size). Then we stuffed three volunteers in on top of it... sure was cozy in there.
Crowds were light, but the people that WERE there in the morning wanted to be -- guess where -- in the booth too. The good news is that with the chilly weather we sold some fleece vests, and got to talk to people longer (they didn't want to leave...).
Mid morning Pat Parelli came over and offered us coffee. Did I tell you he and John Lyons and Lynn Palm are our neighbors here? The coffee sounded great (although I'd probably drink muddy water if it was offered by Pat Parelli). So we got to hang out with the Parelli crew. If it sounds like I'm name dropping.. OK I am. But really, it was very cool to be able to do that.
Unfortunately, our live (as opposed to dead) artist, Chuck Weber, got his coffee and immediately spilled it all over his paints. There was a visitor in the booth and he didn't make much noise, but when they left he admitted that under his breath he was saying things that would have chased away that visitor. So if today's original oil by Chuck (a Dressage horse) seems to have a nice light brown coffee tone... you know the secret.
Lynn Palm also stopped in to chat. When it gets rainy at a trade show like this, you really get to know your neighbors. Which, if your neighbors are Parelli, Palm and Lyons, is a good thing.
Our board president Madelyn whizzed past a few times (she's a volunteer golf cart driver for the disabled) and yelled (as she rounded the corners on two wheels) that her hands were getting numb. That's what she gets for doing 25 in a 5 mph zone. Staffer Essie ran off to find her some gloves. None of those $1.00 stretch knit gloves at WEG, of course... instead she ended up with $42.00 Ariat Thinsulate gloves. If she tips that cart, at least she won't skin her knuckles.
Ok, OK, this is supposed to be about horses, right? Hmmmm, did I see a horse today?
Jeff Caldwell from SAHIBA (let's see if I get this right: Society of Arabian Horses in the Bluegrass Area) dropped in... did you know the Arabian group is selling $10 raffle tickets for an Arabain horse.... I'll end this blog with a shameless promotion for their raffle:
Legendary breeder Bazy Tankersley donated Al-Marah Don Quixote (AM Power Raid +++/ x AM Honor Thestar), a 15.2-hand 2003 grey gelding and promising endurance, sport horse prospect for raffle. The gelding was picked especially for his gentle disposition, suitable for a first-time horse owner. For a $10 raffle ticket, the public gets a free t-shirt, four issues of Modern Arabian Horse, and their name is entered into a drawing to win the grand prize. The grand prize includes Al-Marah Don Quixote, a saddle donated by Kentucky Horse Supply and Circle Y and a three month supply of Succeed and Nutrena Feed. Raffle tickets will be on sale at the new Al-Marah Arabian Horse Galleries, a new wing at the International Museum of the Horse at the Kentucky Horse Park. The Galleries, made possible in part by a large donation from Tankersley opened in June, coinciding with the opening of A Gift from the Desert: The Art, History and Culture of the Arabian Horse, a temporary exhibit on loan from the Saudi Arabian Equestrian Federation.
Rain at WEG only means one thing to KHC -- where the heck are we going to put all of our stuff which USED to be out on the grass in front of the booth? So we shoved it all inside that 10 x 20 booth (as in "foaling stall" size). Then we stuffed three volunteers in on top of it... sure was cozy in there.
Crowds were light, but the people that WERE there in the morning wanted to be -- guess where -- in the booth too. The good news is that with the chilly weather we sold some fleece vests, and got to talk to people longer (they didn't want to leave...).
Mid morning Pat Parelli came over and offered us coffee. Did I tell you he and John Lyons and Lynn Palm are our neighbors here? The coffee sounded great (although I'd probably drink muddy water if it was offered by Pat Parelli). So we got to hang out with the Parelli crew. If it sounds like I'm name dropping.. OK I am. But really, it was very cool to be able to do that.
Unfortunately, our live (as opposed to dead) artist, Chuck Weber, got his coffee and immediately spilled it all over his paints. There was a visitor in the booth and he didn't make much noise, but when they left he admitted that under his breath he was saying things that would have chased away that visitor. So if today's original oil by Chuck (a Dressage horse) seems to have a nice light brown coffee tone... you know the secret.
Lynn Palm also stopped in to chat. When it gets rainy at a trade show like this, you really get to know your neighbors. Which, if your neighbors are Parelli, Palm and Lyons, is a good thing.
Our board president Madelyn whizzed past a few times (she's a volunteer golf cart driver for the disabled) and yelled (as she rounded the corners on two wheels) that her hands were getting numb. That's what she gets for doing 25 in a 5 mph zone. Staffer Essie ran off to find her some gloves. None of those $1.00 stretch knit gloves at WEG, of course... instead she ended up with $42.00 Ariat Thinsulate gloves. If she tips that cart, at least she won't skin her knuckles.
Ok, OK, this is supposed to be about horses, right? Hmmmm, did I see a horse today?
Jeff Caldwell from SAHIBA (let's see if I get this right: Society of Arabian Horses in the Bluegrass Area) dropped in... did you know the Arabian group is selling $10 raffle tickets for an Arabain horse.... I'll end this blog with a shameless promotion for their raffle:
Legendary breeder Bazy Tankersley donated Al-Marah Don Quixote (AM Power Raid +++/ x AM Honor Thestar), a 15.2-hand 2003 grey gelding and promising endurance, sport horse prospect for raffle. The gelding was picked especially for his gentle disposition, suitable for a first-time horse owner. For a $10 raffle ticket, the public gets a free t-shirt, four issues of Modern Arabian Horse, and their name is entered into a drawing to win the grand prize. The grand prize includes Al-Marah Don Quixote, a saddle donated by Kentucky Horse Supply and Circle Y and a three month supply of Succeed and Nutrena Feed. Raffle tickets will be on sale at the new Al-Marah Arabian Horse Galleries, a new wing at the International Museum of the Horse at the Kentucky Horse Park. The Galleries, made possible in part by a large donation from Tankersley opened in June, coinciding with the opening of A Gift from the Desert: The Art, History and Culture of the Arabian Horse, a temporary exhibit on loan from the Saudi Arabian Equestrian Federation.
Sunday, September 26, 2010
WEG DAY #2
I almost forgot it was Sunday, as I fell out of bed at 5AM to prepare for day #2 at WEG. (Argh, Sunday is supposed to be SLEEP-IN DAY!)
Today I got smart and didn't get to the WEG parking lot (aka. a short cut hay field) until 7AM because that's when the shuttles start running. But first I met volunteer KHC member Jenna Wild at Coldstream to carpool up to the Horse Park.
It was cold this morning (52 degrees) AND there were no signs telling you where the shuttles actually pick you up....So we just walked (and walked and walked) to the booth, a good 20 minute hike. Oh well, Americans don't get enough exercise. The Germans will love this little stroll.
Again crowds were light but started to increase around noon. (They must have gone to church first - except for those watching the competitions, who went to the Church of the Sliding Stop in the new indoor arena.)
Chris and Scott from Travelers Insurance showed up mid-morning... Did I tell you Travelers Agribusiness is our title sponsor of our booth? We'll be working on some good insurance packages for equine coverage for KHC members.
Today must have been Horse Council day, as three different Horse Council representatives stopped by: Utah, Delaware and Minnesota. All had their embroidered logo shirts on, proud to be associated with their respective Horse Councils.
Matt and Tonya from Utah are Barrel Racers (and on the side, he is an attorney and she is an equine vet), and came to watch the reining competitions. They also attended the Rood and Riddle Sport Horse Symposium on Friday. They came from somewhere hot and dry to beautiful Lexington which was --um -- hot and dry. Matt took pictures of the herds of parking attendants that were stationed about every 15 feet waving those red-tipped flashlights in your eyes, even as you are trying to wake up -- There sure was no shortage in the WEG budget on parking attendants!
The Delaware women were really enjoying themselves, although there was a slight tiff with the entrance guards who would not let them back in yesterday afternoon, after they left WEG to check into their hotel. And they had $150 Opening Ceremony tickets in their hands! But they worked it out...(never try to stop a strong horsewoman.)
The guy from Minnesota and I had a really interesting conversation about anaerobic biofuel processing for methane production: Layman's title: "Storing manure and using the smelly gases that result to provide energy." So there, Middle East! You've got more oil but we've got more poo.
Had a good chat with an Aussie guy who told me that Australia eliminated their Extension Service (budget cuts). He was a former Extension Agent and now a consultant on Ag Services. I had to ask him to pay cash for his purchases because our system didn't like the Aussie VISA, mate.
Ended the afternoon at the AllTech Experience listening to a good band. Would've had a Kentucky Bourbon Barrel Ale but I was almost asleep already -- and I was designated driver (for Jenna). So I stuck to water.
Today I got smart and didn't get to the WEG parking lot (aka. a short cut hay field) until 7AM because that's when the shuttles start running. But first I met volunteer KHC member Jenna Wild at Coldstream to carpool up to the Horse Park.
It was cold this morning (52 degrees) AND there were no signs telling you where the shuttles actually pick you up....So we just walked (and walked and walked) to the booth, a good 20 minute hike. Oh well, Americans don't get enough exercise. The Germans will love this little stroll.
Again crowds were light but started to increase around noon. (They must have gone to church first - except for those watching the competitions, who went to the Church of the Sliding Stop in the new indoor arena.)
Chris and Scott from Travelers Insurance showed up mid-morning... Did I tell you Travelers Agribusiness is our title sponsor of our booth? We'll be working on some good insurance packages for equine coverage for KHC members.
Today must have been Horse Council day, as three different Horse Council representatives stopped by: Utah, Delaware and Minnesota. All had their embroidered logo shirts on, proud to be associated with their respective Horse Councils.
Matt and Tonya from Utah are Barrel Racers (and on the side, he is an attorney and she is an equine vet), and came to watch the reining competitions. They also attended the Rood and Riddle Sport Horse Symposium on Friday. They came from somewhere hot and dry to beautiful Lexington which was --um -- hot and dry. Matt took pictures of the herds of parking attendants that were stationed about every 15 feet waving those red-tipped flashlights in your eyes, even as you are trying to wake up -- There sure was no shortage in the WEG budget on parking attendants!
The Delaware women were really enjoying themselves, although there was a slight tiff with the entrance guards who would not let them back in yesterday afternoon, after they left WEG to check into their hotel. And they had $150 Opening Ceremony tickets in their hands! But they worked it out...(never try to stop a strong horsewoman.)
The guy from Minnesota and I had a really interesting conversation about anaerobic biofuel processing for methane production: Layman's title: "Storing manure and using the smelly gases that result to provide energy." So there, Middle East! You've got more oil but we've got more poo.
Had a good chat with an Aussie guy who told me that Australia eliminated their Extension Service (budget cuts). He was a former Extension Agent and now a consultant on Ag Services. I had to ask him to pay cash for his purchases because our system didn't like the Aussie VISA, mate.
Ended the afternoon at the AllTech Experience listening to a good band. Would've had a Kentucky Bourbon Barrel Ale but I was almost asleep already -- and I was designated driver (for Jenna). So I stuck to water.
Saturday, September 25, 2010
World Equestrian Games DAY 1
Thank goodness the hot weather has broken; the first WEG day is one of those perfect Kentucky fall days - sunny, brilliant blue skies, and a slow breeze.
Crowds were light here in the Equine Village all day; not the crushing crowds we were expecting.
Today was Reining Day. Two competitions were held in the new indoor arena, and meanwhile our artist Chuck Weber created an original oil painting of a reiner in a slide. He worked from 11AM until 3PM and then called it a day. Painting in oils for four hours is exhausting. Come by our booth and see the finished work tomorrow.
Chuck is painting every day in the KY Horse Council booth, and by the end of the 16 days of WEG, will have created 8 original equine paintings covering all 8 disciplines. Prints of the paintings will be available for sale, with part of the proceeds going to the KY Horse Council.
A few interesting stories from the booth today....
Robin and Roger Gollehon of Gollehon Quarter Horses stopped by to chat and check out our booth. Robin told me of an amazing girl who was staying with them for a week... She is bicycling across the U.S. - alone! - and wanted to stay on a horse farm in Lexington.
Dakota Stranik (www.dakotastranik.com: "Biking cross-country in search of agricultural enlightenment") is an Architecture graduate from Cornell. I talked to her about her experiences... and no, she isn't afraid of being alone on her ride. She started her cross country ride in New York(at Coney Island), and then slowly worked her way westward, through Princeton, NJ; then Horsham, Boyertown, and Lancaster County, PA; onward to Poolesville, MD, through Washington DC, into Floyd, VA; and then across the mountains into Kentucky through Hazard.
Dakota wanted to stay and work on a thoroughbred farm (she carries her own tent and sleeping bag) in order to learn the business, but didn't get any offers from those she contacted. Then (thanks to Google) she contacted the Gollehons and her sleeping space was found. A week later, she went to the WEG office about volunteering and got a last minute assignment.
Dakota is interested in agriculture and sustainable food systems and views her trip across America as an learning experience. Destination San Diego.
Another story from the booth...
Asian guy walks in, looks very interested in our farm brochures. I ask him if I can help... and find out he is from Korea, assisting a contingent of 7 Korean government officials who are "scouting out" for thoroughbreds to improve the racing industry in Korea. (is this for real???) They also want to increase their riding industry. He says they are looking to buy 1000 horses over the next two years. (Is this REALLY for real??) We sent them to a local QH farm, and offered to set up visits to Thoroughbred farms if/when they returned.
(Is this person a real Korean horse buyer or is this like one of those internet stories where you have to help some widow from an African country bring $2Million into the US if you just send her $40,000 as a deposit?) Well, he didn't ask for money or promises, so if he contacts us later we will be sure to help them spend their Korean money here on our Kentucky horses.
I'll be back tomorrow with WEG Day #2.
Crowds were light here in the Equine Village all day; not the crushing crowds we were expecting.
Today was Reining Day. Two competitions were held in the new indoor arena, and meanwhile our artist Chuck Weber created an original oil painting of a reiner in a slide. He worked from 11AM until 3PM and then called it a day. Painting in oils for four hours is exhausting. Come by our booth and see the finished work tomorrow.
Chuck is painting every day in the KY Horse Council booth, and by the end of the 16 days of WEG, will have created 8 original equine paintings covering all 8 disciplines. Prints of the paintings will be available for sale, with part of the proceeds going to the KY Horse Council.
A few interesting stories from the booth today....
Robin and Roger Gollehon of Gollehon Quarter Horses stopped by to chat and check out our booth. Robin told me of an amazing girl who was staying with them for a week... She is bicycling across the U.S. - alone! - and wanted to stay on a horse farm in Lexington.
Dakota Stranik (www.dakotastranik.com: "Biking cross-country in search of agricultural enlightenment") is an Architecture graduate from Cornell. I talked to her about her experiences... and no, she isn't afraid of being alone on her ride. She started her cross country ride in New York(at Coney Island), and then slowly worked her way westward, through Princeton, NJ; then Horsham, Boyertown, and Lancaster County, PA; onward to Poolesville, MD, through Washington DC, into Floyd, VA; and then across the mountains into Kentucky through Hazard.
Dakota wanted to stay and work on a thoroughbred farm (she carries her own tent and sleeping bag) in order to learn the business, but didn't get any offers from those she contacted. Then (thanks to Google) she contacted the Gollehons and her sleeping space was found. A week later, she went to the WEG office about volunteering and got a last minute assignment.
Dakota is interested in agriculture and sustainable food systems and views her trip across America as an learning experience. Destination San Diego.
Another story from the booth...
Asian guy walks in, looks very interested in our farm brochures. I ask him if I can help... and find out he is from Korea, assisting a contingent of 7 Korean government officials who are "scouting out" for thoroughbreds to improve the racing industry in Korea. (is this for real???) They also want to increase their riding industry. He says they are looking to buy 1000 horses over the next two years. (Is this REALLY for real??) We sent them to a local QH farm, and offered to set up visits to Thoroughbred farms if/when they returned.
(Is this person a real Korean horse buyer or is this like one of those internet stories where you have to help some widow from an African country bring $2Million into the US if you just send her $40,000 as a deposit?) Well, he didn't ask for money or promises, so if he contacts us later we will be sure to help them spend their Korean money here on our Kentucky horses.
I'll be back tomorrow with WEG Day #2.
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