Para Equestrian non Team Competition Day - thanks WEG

After the trot up we had a 'family portrait'.

We were all at the Horse Park bright and early for the vet trot up. As the same trot up area was used for all disciplines we had quite a hike with our 7 horses (in crocodile formation) to go to the area which was adjacent to the cross country course. It was quite an expedition as the horses had to go past the show jumping practice ring (I hope our horses did not watch their odd dressage) on a tarmac road which was shared with pedestrians, golf carts decorated with nations flags and streamers, and tractors pulling shuttle carts. We all survived and all our horses passed the vet inspection. Some unlucky riders have to represent tomorrow morning as their horses were not passed as sound to compete.

Some of us arrived in the dark this morning and it was quite an adventure in our headlight-less golf cart. It was really cold, so with one hand holding the hood of my jacket around my chin and both hands inside the sleeves and one hand holding the steering wheel we wound our way between vehicles and other golf carts. As there is no windscreen the faster we went the quicker we got there but the colder we became - it was a lose-lose situation.

They have done a really good job of the athletes dining room. Its just a matter of making healthy choices!

I caught a glimpse of Megan Jones and Sonia Johnson (event riders) helping the Aussies with the trot up. Even though I am with the Canadians I was really happy to see this exchange of expertise and support between the disciplines.

Uneducated people think 'para' is some kind of a 'pony ride' until they get involved and realise that many of the riders are actually far braver than some of the event riders!

For those countries that do not have a Para Equestrian team of 3 or 4 and for those countries that have more than 4 riders, today was an opportunity for the non-team members to ride the test that the team members will be riding tomorow. We had three riders and we were pleased with how they all went. For all of them it was their first taste of top competition. Originally these riders were not going to be given the opportunity to ride a test prior to the Championship test. This, of course, made the Championship and Freestyle competitions an unequal playing field for all athletes.

We are so grateful to WEG who managed to reschedule today so the Individual Championship is fair for all. A big 'thank you' to the organisers who made this possible.

We had an hour today with nothing to do!

Andrea and I escaped after our last rider and saw some of the show jumping.  Of course we were the 'experts' from the side lines. It was interesting that the really good horses go with a great quality canter and with lovely rhythm.