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- The WEG opening with plenty of pomp and circumstance
- © Nancy Jaffer 2006
Aachen, Germany, August 20, 2006 -- Horsepower in all its glory was on parade as the World Equestrian Games (WEG) officially opened this afternoon, celebrating the beauty, grace and diversity of the animals we so admire--as well as the people who ride and drive them.
There were 37,500 enthusiastic fans packing the stands, clapping in time to the music and doing the wave, so happy (like me) to be at the world's biggest horse show.
The WEG's breadth was epitomized by the moment when reining horses were spinning, a vaulter was leaping off the back of her mount, four-in-hand drivers toured the ring, show jumper Christian Ahlmann cleared a fence, endurance riders trotted around, world champion dressage rider Nadine Capellmann put her horse through its paces and eventers tore around the turf. Now I've mentioned all of the seven disciplines that will be showcased here for the next two weeks, and if today's kick-off was any indication, it will be a time of excitement and drama that goes by far too fast.
Germany is known for the excellence of its horseflesh, and as you can imagine, this fabulous opportunity to parade its four-legged treasures before the world wasn't missed.
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- A 64-stallion quadrille enthralled the crowd at Aachen
- © Nancy Jaffer 2006
The most impressive display during a series of "ooh" and "aah" exhibitions was the quadrille performed by 64 stallions from the 10 state studs. The riders were all in different but stunning uniforms, some wearing cocked hats, others in fawn and green livery neatly tucked up at the thigh, others in red and shades of blue trimmed with glittering gold. I alternated between trying to decide which uniform was the snazziest and which horse I'd most like to take home with me. (Note to hubby: It's okay. I'm really not buying a horse!)
I couldn't make up my mind about the uniforms, they were all so neat, and as for the horses, I'd take any one of them. They were breathtaking, performing patterns that included the wagon wheel and carousel circles.
But there was so much more!
A herd of ponies, mares and foals running loose set the tone for the show, as the pure elegance of horses doing their own thing reminded us of their basic nature. It was a nice contrast to the well-trained creatures we saw later in the program. This reminded everyone about what the horse is at heart.
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- Emperor Charlemagne returned to Aachen for the opening ceremonies
- © Nancy Jaffer 2006
There was a retrospective of all four previous WEGs through video with a team of riders carrying each host nation's flag. The Andalusians (or PRE, as the Spanish call their horses) representing the WEG at Jerez in 2002 were particularly impressive.
The historic angle was thoroughly explored with costumed side-saddle riders and vintage vehicles, including an old horse-drawn Aachen street car. But they went a whole lot further back too, as Charlemagne (gee, I thought he was dead) returned to his former seat of government so he could throw a lance that started fountains spouting.
One of my seatmates wondered how the dressage would turn out if the fountains, which are next to that discipline's ring, began spraying during the Grand Prix. We decided it would add some extra interest!
The ceremonies began in the rain but ended in sunshine with the parade of athletes. I think how much equestrian sport has expanded in the last few years, as I watched teams from Bahrain, Belarus and the Philippines marching with the usual suspects, Britain, Germany, the U.S., France, etc.
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- FEI President Princess Haya on the jumbotron
- © Nancy Jaffer 2006
One symbol of the change is the fact that Princess Haya of Jordan, rather than a European, is the president of the FEI (international equestrian federation.)
The Princess, a former athlete herself, made a great speech in which she said, "If you are part of the world of horses, then you are part of a global family which spans all boundaries and all generations... Whatever the outcome of your endeavors during the competition, they will always be rewarded with the memory of your time here. And we will be richer as humans for having the privilege of watching you."
Different uniforms and native costumes made the athletes' procession a delight to watch. The U.S. team was busy waving American flags -- dressage rider Debbie McDonald flourished two of them at one point -- and they looked overjoyed in their red and blue jackets that had real sporty style.
