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.