"The Road To Rome" — the Dressage Selection Trial for The World Equestrian Games, and The Intermediaire 1 Championships

Our early arrival Tuesday, June 16, allowed us the get settled and organized. After the drive from Florida, we pulled into the north field, where tents await the arrival of the driving and endurance horses.

While JJ unloaded our display, I took the dogs for a long walk around the property. I have been coming here for 20 years, and still get a thrill as I walk the grounds so many horses & riders have covered. Memories of the Essex Horse Trials, and Gladstone Driving Events I have covered in the past come back to me as I pass the water jump combination, which is now dry. By Saturday for the driving marathon, it will be full of water and surrounded by a large audience.

We go along the back trail, past the beneficial mansion, which will be the scene for Saturday evenings sponsor reception. I stayed there once, in "The Butterfly Room" a fringe benefit for doing a video of the Gladstone Driving Event. Past the helicopter pad, next to another cross-country driving hazard decorated with beautiful flowers in a grove of shade trees. Along the wooded trail, a deer jumps right out in front of us with a big green leaf in her mouth as she bounds through the surrounding forest. This is a common occurrence on these grounds. Deer have been known to join in the cross county action on more than one occasion throughout the years.

We come out of the woods behind the show jumping area. The tents are in place, and new footing has replaced the grass footing. The crews have just begun, a few people mill about, empty booths prepared for a packed trade fair.

In the front field a horse and driver school driving dressage. We wind around the road and up towards the hallowed halls of the United States Equestrian Team headquarters, a handsome brick building with a beautiful new roof. I deliberately made this the last stop on our walk, as I knew I would be sidetracked touching base with dressage friends. As I walk up the hill through the arched hallway, the first horse I see, is Graf George, and Guenter Seidel in The Brown Arena. George's owners Dick and Jane Brown's generous donation to the USET last year resulted in having the setting of so many great American rides named in their honor.

Coming through the building with the arena in full view, Steffan Peters on Grandeur, Debbie McDonald schooling her Intermediaire Championship entry Brentina, worked in the ring, as all were watched by a gathering crowd of fellow competitors, grooms, family, friends, and owners.

Robert Dover schooled through his new Freestyle. The music is beautiful, an Italian theme. Ken Acebal is trying to adjust to being an owner. He told me its much more nerve wracking playing this new role!

The Softer Side of George
As we walked past the indoor arena, where George Morris was giving a clinic, I still marvel that riders Can handle his sometimes harsh but honest comments! We have video taped his clinics in the past. Imagine listening repeatedly to a George Morris session as we make copies! Later in the day, I bought our remaining Corgi puppy, sold, but staying with us for now, by the barn to show her off. George was there and made such a fuss over her, I was able to see to see the softer side of George.

Up the hill JJ has the camper unloaded and is working on the display. I cruised the driving barns and ran into Suzie Buchanan an accomplished horsewoman and R rated dressage judge, Suzie was successful at both eventing and Dressage. Now she does combined driving almost exclusively. We made a date Thursday morning 7:00 AM for a carriage drive.

Horse inspection went well for most. Just she was preparing her horse for the jog; Anne Gribbons had some unusual bad luck when Don Extra was stung by a bee, right in his "privates". He kicked out and injured himself. Fortunately they were given time to treat him, and by the evening, he was jogging soundly again.

Stay tuned for more from Behind the Scenes at the Festival!

Phelps Photography & Video^* — the Official company for The Bayer/USET Dressage Festival of Champions.
^* We are doing videos for the riders only, no production.