A more Western style of training than many international attendees and TV viewers are used to seeing will be on display this fall, at the first World Equestrian Games ever to be held in the United States. Clinton Anderson will be among the featured clinicians at WEG, which takes place at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, September 25 to October 10. He says WEG will be a unique learning opportunity for all.
Editor’s note: Clinton Anderson will be one of the featured clinicians at the Alltech *FEI World Equestrian Games, which come to the United States for the first time ever this fall. WEG will take place September 25 to October 10 in Lexington, Kentucky, where the world-class competition will include reining along with dressage, driving, endurance, eventing, jumping, para dressage (for riders with physical disabilities), and vaulting. (For a quick history of the Games, see box.)
The popular educator will be presenting his signature problem-solving and advanced horsemanship clinics at the Equine Village, WEG’s headquarters for education and trade-show exhibits.
We decided to find out what’s up with the man from downunder (he’s Australian by birth) with respect to this buzz-generating event.
H&R: You’re a busy guy. Why are you taking the time to be involved with WEG?
CLINTON: I want to be a part of history. This is the first time this event, which is literally huge in the eyes of horsemen all around the world, is coming to the USA. I want to be a part of that.
Then, too, it’s going to be a great way for me to expose Downunder Horsemanship to literally hundreds of thousands of horse people around the world. At my regular clinics, I can reach thousands of people at one time, but at WEG, it’ll be a hundred times that, from all over the globe. An opportunity like that doesn’t come around very often!
H&R: What do you personally hope to learn by being a part of WEG—what do you hope to take away from it all?
CLINTON: I’m really looking forward to seeing the best horses in the world in all the disciplines. It doesn’t matter whether it’s dressage or jumping or whatever; you have to respect how talented these horses and their trainers are to get to this point. I plan to do a lot of watching, both at the competitions and at other folks’ clinics. There’s going to be a smorgasbord of opportunities to learn.
Also, by participating myself, I’m going to meet trainers from around the world, so this will be a terrific networking opportunity. I’ll be saying, “Hey, can I come see you later, in your country?” There’s no better way to make connections.
H&R: Have you been to any of the Games when they’ve been presented in other countries?
CLINTON: No, but I’ve talked to Shawn Flarida and other reining competitors who’ve been overseas. They say it’s a wonderful experience. They say the crowds there are fascinated with everything about the Western horse world. Western isn’t part of their culture—though that’s beginning to change in some places. But in general, they’re eager for anything Western. Everyone wants to be John Wayne! It’s intriguing to them, because they find it so different.
H&R: Now that reining’s part of international equestrian competition and WEG, what does this mean for our reining industry? Obviously, it’s going to benefit from WEG coming here?
CLINTON: Very much so—it’s going to be a huge boost for reining, most importantly toward reining’s becoming an Olympic sport someday. We need more involvement in reining internationally—more competitors, more competitions. Reining needs to become more popular around the world, and WEG’s being here is certainly going to contribute to that.
