WEG 2010: Eventing World Championship Gets Underway

Nearly 81 competitors from 22 countries presented horses at today's first horse inspection just 24 hours before the start of the Eventing World Championships, presented by Reem Acra, at the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games.

One horse from Mexico was the only competitor not accepted at the jog, leaving just 80 competitors from 21 countries competing in the championship.

Two horses—one from Portugal and one from Poland —were held and then accepted upon re-presentation.

None of the individual medalists from the 2006 World Games in Aachen are here to defend their medals, but the teams that medaled in Aachen are all here to see if they can improve upon their results from four years ago.

Countries that will field full teams include Great Britain, Japan, South Africa, Belgium, Brazil, Sweden, Australia, Italy, France, Ireland, USA, Germany, Canada and New Zealand. Those countries will also aim for individual medals in addition to Austria, The Netherlands, Portugal, Finland, Poland, Argentina and Denmark.

Eventing officials presiding over today’s horse inspection included: Judges Marilyn Payne (USA), Anne-Mette Binder (DEN) and David Lee (IRL); chief steward Sally O’Connor (USA); technical delegate Tom Ryckewaert (BEL); assistant technical delegate Gretchen Butts (USA); foreign veterinary delegate Gerit Matthesen (GER); associate veterinarian Lisa Krump (USA); and president of the veterinary commission Catherine Kohn (USA).

The competition will begin tomorrow at 9:00 a.m. with Day 1 of the dressage phase.