With the support of the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) and Equestrian Events, Inc., the Carr-Hughes network production of the Rolex Equestrian Championships will be broadcast on NBC Sunday, April 28 from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. ET. Leading up to the NBC telecast, USEFNetwork.com presented by SmartPak will offer live, wall-to-wall coverage of the dressage, cross-country, and show jumping phases, which can be seen on computers, tablets and smart TV/Google TV devices in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. Google TV users can go to http://www.usefnetwork.com/googletv for an enhanced experience.

For equestrian fans

throughout the rest of the world, FEI TV will air LIVE coverage of Saturday's cross-country and Sunday's show jumping competitions. To sign up for FEI TV visit www.feitv.org.

The broadcast schedule is listed below and is available under the Live Broadcast Schedule tab at USEFNetwork.com. Times are subject to change.
April 25: LIVE Dressage on USEFNetwork.com, 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. ET
April 26: LIVE Dressage on USEFNetwork.com, 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. ET
April 27: LIVE Cross-Country on USEFNetwork.com, 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. ET

April 28: LIVE Show Jumping on USEFNetwork.com, 1:15 p.m. to 3 p.m. ET

Awards Ceremony on USEFNetwork.com, 3 p.m. ET

Rolex Equestrian Championships on NBC, 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. ET

The Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event is held annually at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Ky. and produced by Equestrian Events, Inc. The prestigious competition is part of the $350,000 Rolex Grand Slam of Eventing, which is awarded to any rider who wins three of the Rolex Grand Slam of Eventing competitions in succession. The Rolex Grand Slam of Eventing competitions include the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event, Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials, and Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials. Rolex Kentucky is also one of six CCI4*competitions that compose the HSBC FEI Classics™ and features riders vying for their share of $250,000 in prize money.

The Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event will crown the 16th Rolex/USEF National CCI4* Champion. The only Four Star event in the Western Hemisphere, Rolex Kentucky will draw an estimated 70,000 spectators and be seen by millions more on the worldwide telecast.

Limited advertising opportunities for the television broadcast and on USEFNetwork.com are available through Scott Carling, USEF Managing Director of Sales and Sponsorships, at (859) 225-6928 or scarling@usef.org.

For media inquiries, please contact Classic Communications at (508) 698-6810 or info@classic-communications.com.

For more information about the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event presented by Land Rover visit www.rk3de.org.

Thrush stinks, no question. That smelly black goo around the edge of the frog is a common infection that takes root in the soft tissues on the underside of the hoof. Thrush is usually not debilitating when treated promptly, but it can take diligence to get a stubborn case under control, especially in seasons when the turnout areas stay wet and mucky for weeks.

It’s far better to prevent thrush from taking hold in the first place, and that means minimizing the three conditions the infection needs to thrive: constant moisture, an anaerobic0 environment, and the presence of fungi, bacteria and other microorganisms. Here are some specific steps to take:

• Provide dry footing. If your turnout areas are constantly wet, bring horses into a barn periodically to give their hooves a chance to dry out. Providing dry run-in sheds and spreading areas of gravel in wet paddocks also allow horses to escape soggy footing.

• Keep stalls and paddocks clean. Manure and urine foster the growth of pathogens. Muck stalls and small turnouts daily.

• Pick out your horse’s feet regularly. Horses who live in larger pastures probably won’t require daily attention, but do check their hooves at least once week to make sure no problems are developing.

• Stick to a farriery schedule. Horses with hoof imbalances and lameness issues are at higher risk for thrush. Regular farrier visits will help keep your horse’s feet healthy and sound.

• Take more care with acidic footing. Chipped or shredded wood is a common choice for bedding in some areas of the country, but some trees, especially conifers, tend to be acidic. When these materials decompose in wet paddocks, they can change the

pH of the soil and foster the growth of bacteria that cause thrush as well as abscesses. If you use these materials, be extra vigilant in monitoring the health of your horse’s feet.

• Make sure your horse gets plenty of exercise. With every step a horse takes, his hooves expand and contract. This constant flexing pushes out dirt and debris. Horses who stand for long periods in manure-laden footing are more likely to develop thrush. If regular turnout is not an option, hand-walking or riding the horse over dry ground will help clean his feet.

This article first appeared in EQUUS issue #425.

While writing the “Extreme Wylene” feature about Wylene Wilson, H&R talked to many of Wylene’s friends. They all had wonderful things to say about the cowgirl. So much so, in fact, we weren’t able to fit it all in one article!

Watch her! Check out the video (bottom of page 2) to watch Wylene and Smarty Pants in the finals of the 2012 Supreme Extreme Mustang Makeover.

Who We Interviewed
Pam Minick, a former Miss Rodeo America and world champion calf roper. Minick and her husband also own the popular honky tonk Billy Bob’s Texas in Fort Worth, the largest honky tonk in the world.

Stephanie Sell, a childhood friend of Wylene’s. The two rode together as teens, and Wylene continues to help Stephanie with her horses.

Lizzie Iwersen, host of Rural TV’s Horse Talk LIVE TV show. Lizzie met Wylene at the Tournament of Roses parade two years ago, and the two became fast friends.

Learn more about Wylene in this Q&A with her friends.

H&R: How did each of you first meet Wylene?
Pam: I met Wylene when I announced the Mustang Makeover competition here in Fort Worth just a few years ago.

I do a lot of television, and I announce a lot of charity events. So Patti (Colbert) called me to announce the mustang makeover. At that first mustang makeover that I attended, I met Wylene. She’s from Arizona and she reminded me that I had known her mother when I was in Arizona for a brief time in the late 70s.

If you’ve met Wylene, then you know that she’s never met a stranger, so we became fast friends. She’s just so gregarious, and I was overwhelmed at what she’d done with that mustang. To be honest with you, I think she was the only female in the finals that year. Since then, our paths have continued to cross.

Stephanie: I’ve known Wylene since I was 13 years old; I’ve ridden with her a long time—just playing and mimicking her skills—because she is such an amazing rider.

We’re about the same age, and she’s made some of my pole horses for me for rodeos. She’s put the fine-tuning on a lot of my horses, that I couldn’t do. I couldn’t figure it out, but she found that little tiny thing that needed to happen to make my horse 100 times better.

Lizzie: I met Wylene at the Rose Parade in California, and she was there with the Cowgirl Historic Foundation in 2010.

H&R: What was your first impression of her?
Pam: Her personality is larger than life. You hear about people like that all the time, and she really is. I don’t think she’s ever met a stranger.

If I were to choose one word to describe her it would be friendly. I’m not sure that that friendliness isn’t also an asset to her when she’s training horses. The horse feels that confidence, that willingness to be its friend. Whether it’s a person or an equine, there’s a friendliness that exudes out of her.

Stephanie: She is the funniest person on the planet. Since I’ve known her, she can recite funny parts of Jim Carrey movies like nobody’s business! She has the best jokes. Some people can’t deliver a joke, but she is the best jokester in the world. She just makes things fun and funny.

She’s also very sisterly; I think that’s why she helps so many women. She makes you feel comfortable with her immediately. You feel like you could go shopping with her as soon as you meet her.

Lizzie: She was just very outgoing and very personable and loved to talk about horses. She’s been in this industry longer than I have, and she is definitely an inspiration to me because she is so outgoing. Her love of horses is extremely apparent no matter what situation she’s in.

I think the way she is around people is the way she is around horses, and I think she gives other people and her horses a good feeling because she’s always in a good mood. 
I think her personality really helps her horses gain confidence. I think that her outgoingness really helps her horses.

She is always positive, and always willing to talk and take time out of her busy schedule. She cares about what I have going on, too.

Para-Equestrian Dressage, the only equestrian discipline included in the Paralympic Games, has been a regular fixture on the Paralympic event schedule since Atlanta 1996.

In 2006, the FEI became one of the first International Federations to govern and regulate a sport for para-athletes when Para-Equestrian Dressage joined the ranks of the FEI’s seven disciplines. All equine athletes competing in the Paralympic Games are now tested according to the FEI’s Equine Anti-Doping Rules.

“All human and equine samples taken during the Paralympic Equestrian events in Greenwich Park have been confirmed negative,” said Ingmar de Vos, FEI Secretary General.

“This is an extremely proud day for the FEI and the international equestrian community - equestrian sport has been clean at both the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

“Today’s news demonstrates the resounding success of the FEI Clean Sport campaign, which has been fully embraced by the international equestrian community. The International Paralympic Committee and the World Anti-Doping Agency have also gone to great lengths to ensure a clean Games.

“The London 2012 Paralympic Games have been truly astonishing, touching the hearts and minds of millions of people around the world, and key to the success of future Games is this focus on clean sport and fair play.”

Record-breaking Paralympic Games
A total of 78 human and 77 equine athletes from 27 nations competed in London’s Greenwich Park.

London welcomed a record-breaking 4,250 athletes who competed in 503 events over 12 days at the London 2012 Paralympic Games, making them the biggest since the first Paralympic Games took place in Rome in 1960.

Over 120,000 tickets were sold for the six Para-Equestrian Dressage competition days, and with additional tickets sold at the gates of Greenwich Park, the previous ticket sales record of 33,000 at the 2008 Beijing Paralympic Games was easily surpassed.

In total 2.7 million tickets were sold for the London 2012 Paralympic Games, compared to the previous record of 1.8 million for the Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games.

Pictures of this year's Paralympics were shown to a global audience of over a billion people in over 100 countries, thanks to the International Paralympic Committee’s broadcast partnerships in place around the world and its own broadcast system ParalympicSport.TV.

“The London 2012 Paralympic Games were simply the biggest and the best yet for many reasons,” explained International Paralympic Committee President Sir Philip Craven.

“To ensure the cleanest Games possible, there was the most robust testing programme in place at any Olympic and Paralympic Games, and this has proved to be a winning formula.

“We are delighted that the equestrian events at Greenwich Park were clean. Clean sport is fundamental to the future development of all sports, whether they are already in the Paralympic programme or want to one day join us.

“Clean sport at the Paralympic Games is also the best example we can make to youngsters who dream of representing their country in the future.

“The Para-Equestrian athletes who competed in London have inspired warm welcomes on returning home, and the International Paralympic Committee hopes to see them again at Rio 2016, for the first Olympic and Paralympic Games to take place in South America.”

The number of FEI Para-Equestrian Dressage events has increased by 120% between 2008 and 2011, and as the popularity of the sport grows the number of events being held around the world is steadily increasing.

August 18, 2012 -- The third day of competition at the FEI World Vaulting Championship was a full day of world-class vaulting as all four Championship divisions competed. In the Pas de Deux Championship, Megan Benjamin (Saratoga, Calif.) and Blake Dahlgren (Santa Clarita, Calif.) had a very impressive first round Free Test performance, putting them in Bronze medal position with a score of 8.549. The pair vaulted on Jarl, lunged by Lasse Kristensen.

Benjamin and Dahlgren agreed, "Our Freestyle with Jarl gets better and better each time we do it. We're looking forward to our round tomorrow."

Not far behind in the Pas de Deux Championship were Devon Maitozo (Palmdale, Calif.) and Rosalind Ross (Venice, Calif.). The pair's solid performance aboard Escetelli 2 lunged by Kurt Isensee earned them a score of 8.421 putting them in sixth place. After another Free Test round tomorrow, the medal winners in the Pas de Deux Championship will be determined. With Benjamin and Dahlgren already in position to receive a medal and Maitozo and Ross not far behind them, the conclusion of the Pas de Deux Championship is sure to be an exciting one.

In the Team Championship, the Woodside Vaulters of Woodside, Calif. performed an impressive Free Test with Stanford, lunged by Julie Divita. The efforts of Tessa Divita (Emerald Hills, Calif.), Kalyn Geisler (Redwood City, Calif.), Kathryn Jaggers (Portola Valley, Calif.), Siddartha Kreaden (Sunnyvale, Calif.), Samantha Matson (Los Gatos, Calif.), and Katherine Salisbury (Atherton, Calif.) were rewarded, earning them a total score of 7.593 and putting them in fifth place.

The Individual Male Championship continued with second round Technical Tests today. Gabe Aniello (Redwood City, Calif.) sits in ninth place after earning 6.828 for his Technical Test with Forrest Cump and lunger Agnes Forst. Also paired with Forrest Cump and lunger Forst, Kristian Roberts (Moss Beach, Calif.) earned a 6.446 putting him in tenth place. Patrick Stevens (Martinez, Calif.) sits in 15th place after scoring a 4.781 while vaulting on Maxwell lunged by Anouk Dory.

Alicen Divita (Redwood City, Calif.) remains the top U.S. vaulter in the Individual Female Championship. In her second round Technical Test, Divita scored a 7.488 with Pino del Rio and lunger Elke Schep-Lansing, putting her in 14th place. Mary McCormick (Woodside, Calif.) sits right behind Divita with a score of 7.254 after vaulting on Anyway 54 lunged by Kristensen.

Competition wraps up Sunday with second round Free Tests for all the World

Championship divisions. The Individual Females start the day off at 10:00am local time followed by the Individual Males at 11:45am. The Pas de Deux pairs begin at 2:15pm and the day finishes with the Teams at 3:45pm. A Prize-giving Ceremony will take place at 6:00pm presenting the new World Champions with their medals.

FEI TV will be providing a live broadcast of the FEI World Vaulting Championship on their website. To see the broadcast schedule and watch, click here: http://www.feitv.org/page/Live

For start lists and results, click here.

The U.S. will be represented by:

Name/Age/Hometown/Horse/Age/Breed/Sex/Owner

Jan Ebeling/53/ Moorpark, Calif./Rafalca/15/Oldenburg/Mare/Amy Ebeling

Shawna Harding/42/Aiken, S.C./Come On III/13/Danish Warmblood/Gelding/Shawna Harding

The draw for order of go for Friday's Grand Prix was held later in the afternoon and the U.S. could not have hoped for much better positions. Harding was drawn as sixteenth in the order, while Ebeling will be the eighteenth and final rider of the class.

USEF Dressage Technical Advisor Anne Gribbons is pleased with how the horses and riders have been training and believes they will benefit from their experience competing last year at the Reem Acra FEI World Cup Dressage Final.

"Both horses are in better shape than they were last year. They are schooling better, there is a 'been there done that' feeling this year. The riders are in a good place; they're ready to roll-up there sleeves and go to work."

Gribbons is a firm believer in FEI World Cup Finals utilizing a straight draw opposed to a drawing by groups according to world rankings.

"I believe the straight draw for a World Cup is the right thing. I've been fighting hard for this." Gribbons said of the U.S. starting positions tomorrow. "We lucked out and are going in a nice order."

Competition officially begins Friday with the Grand Prix at 12 p.m. CEST. Harding will ride at 2:45 p.m. CEST and Ebeling will begin his test at 3:05 p.m. CEST.

The biggest news to come out of the morning's horse inspection was defending champion Adelinde Cornelissen's Jerich Parzival being sent to the holding box. He will be reinspected in the morning, if he is found fit to compete the Dutch pair will be the second combination in the ring.

Watch live action from the Reem Acra FEI World Cup Final on http://www.feitv.org.

Follow the 2012 U.S. Dressage Team; http://www.usefnetwork.com/featured/2012Dressage/

Details about the Finals are available at http://www.indoorbrabant.com/

Tick-tock. Tick-tock. Zzzzzz.

That sound you hear is that of time passing by and of you, worn out by the daily grind and put to sleep by the notion of yet another “stay-cation” spent at home catching up on chores. Is that going to put snapshots in your scrapbook or be something the kids remember fondly for life? Not likely!

Before another year gets away with no getaway, why not rekindle life’s fun factor by going on a vacation trip based on your love for horses? There are lots of ways to make that happen and plenty of price-point options.

As proof, we rounded up details on 50 great escapes that range from across the country and around the world to just down the road a piece. Tip: Many of the vacations presented here will allow you to bring your own horse, so if that interests you, be sure to inquire about it when you find a listing that sounds like it’s up your alley.

With eight categories to pick from in this article and multiple locales named within each, you can go on 50 vicarious vacations right now. Send us a postcard from the one you pick!

Cattle Drive/Cowboy Work
Help real ranch hands drive and sort cattle, plus perform other ranch chores. Don’t forget to bring your chaps.

Appeal: If you’ve always wanted to cowboy up, here’s your chance to try your hand at traditional ranch chores—up to and including cattle drives—on veteran, well-behaved cow ponies. Tip: Inquire about seasonal opportunities; cattle drives typically take place in the spring and fall.

Offered by: McGinnis Meadows Cattle & Guest Ranch in Libby, northwest Montana. Polish your skills with Buck Brannaman-influenced horsemanship coaching, then practice cattle sorting, cutting, and ranch penning on talented horses. You can also ride trails, plus help with colt gentling in the spring.

More info: mmgranch.net; (406) 293-5000.

CALIFORNIA. Hunewill Guest Ranch, Bridgeport. Try the Big Fall Cattle Gather; the Hunewill (pronounced “honeywell”) was established in 1861 by Napoleon Bonaparte Hunewill. hunewillranch.com; (760) 932-7710.

COLORADO. Sylvan Dale Guest Ranch, Loveland. Learn about low-impact rotational grazing as you help ranch hands move and work Red Saler cows and calves. sylvandale.com; (877) 667-3999.

MISSOURI. RS Ranch Gaited Getaways, Bourbon. Ride one of the ranch’s Missouri Fox Trotters or bring your own horse to help out on a 500-acre ranch that still uses draft horses to perform heavy work. rsranchtrailrides.com; (573) 732-4590.

OHIO. Smoke Rise Ranch, Glouster. Participate in cattle drives, team penning, cutting, and guided trail rides, plus enjoy pool parties, music, and dancing deep in the Hocking Hills. smokeriseranch.com; (800) 292-1732.

TEXAS. Running-R Guest Ranch, Bandera. Play cowhand in the Texas Hill Country; the Running-R adjoins a 5,500-acre state natural area with over 40 miles of trails. rrranch.com; (830) 796-3984.

Luxury and cowboy can go together at ranches like Lajitas Golf Resort & Spa. Try your hand at cutting and ride the range, or play the 18-hole championship golf course.

Photo courtesy of Lajitas Golf Resort & Spa

Resort Luxury With Horses
Pamper yourself at a handsome facility offering multiple actives, deluxe accommodations, and fine dining.

Appeal: Vacation at a multi-purpose resort, and the non- riding members of your family will have plenty to do, such as fish, swim, play golf, go touring—or spend a relaxing after- noon at the spa. Tip: Be prepared to open your wallet; resorts, especially the most luxurious ones, can be pricey.

Offered by: Lajitas Golf Resort & Spa, Lajitas, Texas. This full-service resort’s equestrian center offers riding lessons and trail rides through the desert mountains bordering Mexico. Its extracurricular activities include 18-hole championship golf; fossil explorations and bird-watching expeditions; and historical tours of Lajitas, where Comanche Indians and Pancho Villa once roamed.

More info: lajitasgolfresort.com; (432) 424-5000.

ARIZONA. Rancho de los Caballeros, Wickenburg. Ride all week and never see the same trail twice, or try your hand at team penning; other activities include tennis, golf, and trap/ skeet shooting. sunc.com; (928) 684-5484.

CALIFORNIA. Alisal Guest Ranch, Solvang. Trail ride over 10,000 acres in the heart of Santa Barbara wine country, or play golf on a course designed in 1956 by the legendary Billy Bell, Jr. alisal.com; (805) 688-4215.

COLORADO. Devil’s Thumb Ranch, Tabernash. Explore trails on 5,000 acres of privately owned wilderness, then luxuriate at the nature-based spa and in a lavish private cabin or cozy lodge room. devilsthumbranch.com; (800) 933-4339. NEW YORK. Rocking Horse Ranch, Highland. Ride with confidence on a trail ride matched to your ability; kids will love the indoor water park—with 250-foot water slide. rhranch.com; (800) 647-2624.

NORTH CAROLINA. Pisgah View Ranch, Candler. See the Blue Ridge Mountains on horseback, mountain bike, or foot; enjoy nightly entertainment and games from horseshoes to volleyball. pisgahviewranch.net; (866) 252-8361.

WYOMING. Red Reflet Guest Ranch, Ten Sleep. Help with the working-ranch chores or ride out on the range, then retreat to a deluxe chalet with private hot tub and stocked wine cooler. red-reflet-ranch.net; (866) 766-2340.

July 8, 2011 -- Alltech, which gained international publicity as the title sponsor of the FEI 2010 World Equestrian Games, effectively has laid claim to the WEG concept.

Today it was formally announced that Alltech also will be the title sponsor of the 2014 World Equestrian Games in Normandy, France.

The $10 million it originally pledged to Kentucky has become 10 million Euro, which is worth more than $14 million -- and that's just for starters. Alltech wound up spending about $32 million total while activating its sponsorship in Lexington; Normandy also can count on the support of Alltech where it is needed.

Explaining why Alltech has come forward again, its founder and CEO Dr. Pearse Lyons told me, "The idea of doing it once and only once never crossed our minds."

As he noted this morning, "It's crazy to step out after your first sponsorship and not continue what was the strategic plan."

And when he says continue, he means continue. In a conversation last week, Dr. Lyons told me that Alltech wants to bid for the 2018 WEG and bring it back to Kentucky.

He'll have some competition for that Games. Among those also planning to bid is Equestrian Sport Productions, which runs the Winter Equestrian Festival in Wellington, Fla.

Michael Stone, ESP's president, was on hand at the 2010 WEG to size up the concept, and we talked at that time about why ESP would bid.

Listen: Michael Stone

Michael Stone (right) and Mark Bellissimo of Equestrian Sport Productions.

Photo copyright by Nancy Jaffer

Seated next to Dr. Lyons during the internet feed of today's announcement was Fabien Grobon, the Normandy WEG's executive director, who formerly was involved with sponsorship, among other positions, for the French tennis federation.

When I interviewed him at the 2010 WEG, where members of the Normandy crew were keen observers, we talked about the pluses of having a WEG in his region.

Listen: Fabien Grobon

He outlined the vision of Normandy 2014, which will be as important to the region as it is to the global equestrian community.

"I think horse sports in general are undersold," said Grobon, who would like to see increased media interest. "To me, it's more than sport; it's horse culture. The WEG is a nice platform to bring the countries and disciplines together. I think there's a huge potential." With its racing and horse-breeding, Normandy, he pointed out, "is in the horse industry. Sport today is an accelerator of development for regions. It creates jobs and brings momentum."

Much of the infrastructure is in place, including a soccer stadium that seats 22,500, which cuts down on costs.

"We are starting with a $69 million budget from the region, the city of Caen, the state of France" and others," Fabien said during our 2010 interview, when he vowed the money will be "well-spent." And then Alltech stepped in to provide the further backing that was needed.

Dr. Pearse Lyons of Alltech.

Photo copyright by Nancy Jaffer

The announcement took place in Paris. That's Paris, France, not Paris, Ky., though Dr. Lyons emphasized the connection between France and Kentucky. While going down a whole list of links (the French settled Louisville, Kentucky has cities named Paris and Versailles) he stated, "Sometimes I wonder why in Kentucky we don't speak French."

The dates for the 15-day WEG (one day shorter than Kentucky 2010) originally were Aug. 17-31, 2014, but a switch to Aug. 23-Sept. 7 is under consideration to avoid conflicts, including one with swimming's European Championships in Berlin. What's optimum for TV is, of course a prime consideration. It's also a better time to fill hotels, Fabien said.

There have been whispers that housing could be a problem during the Normandy Games.

As Fabien told me, "Like always, rumors are part true and part false. As far as hotels are concerned, our concern at the moment are 4- and 5-star hotels."

Calling the issue "minor," he said the organization is working on solving it.

Part of the answer is two cruise ships with 600 rooms total in Caen Harbor during the WEG, an approach that has been tested on anniversaries of the World War II Normandy invasion.

The organization also has optioned more than 600 other rooms in "good to great quality chains."

When it comes to lower-rated hotels, he said, there are 10,000 rooms with an hour drive of Caen. Bed and breakfast opportunities are available, as is camping, and house-swapping is another possibility. Free housing will be available in military and school facilities.

Meanwhile, he pointed out, 40 to 50 percent of tickets will be allocated for area residents, who will stay in their own homes.

Frank Kemperman, who ran the 2006 World Equestrian Games.

Photo copyright by Nancy Jaffer

Considering everything involved in running a WEG, from complicated logistics to enormous costs, there always are questions about the concept's future. At the 2010 WEG, I spoke about that with Frank Kemperman, who ran the very successful 2006 WEG at Aachen.

Listen: Frank Kemperman

All the WEGs have been very different from each other; that's natural, considering they each have been in different countries. And the Normandy WEG promises to have its own user-friendly personality, with so much based in a city with great food that it takes just 15 minutes to walk across.

The organizers also have to look forward to how things will be in 2014, the future -- how will people want to spend their money, what will they want to see? It's geared to be a project that is economically, socially and environmentally friendly, with a legacy that goes beyond the Games themselves.

Aside from the VIP area that cost $600, there was no central place at the 2010 WEG where people could really gather, relax and have a good meal. That will not be the case at Normandy, Fabien promised.

Considering how to make WEG 2014 work, Fabien said, "There's a family of athletes, what do you do for them, how do you make them happy?

"Then there's a family of media, what do you do for them? There are commercial partners, again, what is it they want? The general public needs a place to rest, to eat. What's happening in the stadium?"

Normandy is putting a lot of thought into the logistics of what it can do for these groups, and it seems certain they will be well-informed about all the possibilities at the 2014 WEG.

There will be maps and easily accessible schedules, but you can also bet there will an app for that.

"While we are disappointed that we have to postpone we feel it’s the only sensible decision to make. Until the extent and pervasiveness of this virus is fully measurable we choose to opt on the side of safety and continued protective care for our equine friends" This statement was issued by ACTHA's GM Tom Scrima and followed by a senior member from ACTHA responsible for organizing this event in 2011, Pam Campbell. "While I echo Tom's sentiments I am really excited how much bigger the event is going to be with the extra organization time allowed me now! We were poised to break the record but it's a tough record to break! We had over 1,700 entrants last year and all on one day. Imagine the horse trailers on the road that day!

“Our Herculean effort of the recently completed filming of America's Favorite Trail Horse, a new one our show series airing this fall on national TV, certainly placed enormous pressure on me and all of ACTHA to perform our best for the Mustang and the Mustang Heritage Foundation. Now we will blow the lid off the old record!”

The new date for the event is September 10th, 2011. Where??? "Everywhere, maybe even a surprise international field may appear,” grins Ms. Campbell. “The proceeds check will be issued by ACTHA and ADM Alliance Nutrition (tm) Equine at the Extreme Mustang makeover in Dallas the week end after the record falls....good luck to all.”

For more information see www.actha.us.