2002 World Equestrian Games

Opening Ceremony, Royal Andalusian Extravaganza

Presentation of the Nations

The presentation of the participating nations is long, routineous parade of all the competitors. It is probably more exciting for the riders themselves to make the honorary lap than for the audience. Yet, the spectators got all spiced up for applause when the Spanish team came in. They made an honorary lap almost similar to an award ceremony at the end of the competition.

The show really burst open after the nations pre-show victory lap when about fifty military horses came parading in with carriages and canon carts while they were escorted by an Andalusian cavalery. A minor incident took place then. The shaft of one of the carriages drawn by coldblooded horses broke and the man in the carriage had the scare of a life time but he jumped off the cart successfully at the end of that segment of the show. One of the horses, however, got seriously cut in the leg.