FOR HORSE PEOPLE • ABOUT HORSE PEOPLE
SIDELINES OCTOBER 2014 17
Shamwari 4 and Boyd Martin. The WEG Prep Trial’s electric
atmosphere and appreciative crowd didn’t faze the former
Swedish Olympic team horse: first after dressage and show
jumping, one of seven double-clear rounds.
their final outing to prepare for WEG, and the weekend was
deemed a roaring success on every level. Unlike most horse
trials, the Great Meadow Prep Trial wasn’t really about winning.
The goal was to test the preparation of the horses and riders
before they flew to Normandy and the world championships.
The spectators enjoyed a very unique “up close and personal”
view of the equestrian triathlon and some of the world’s best
eventers.
Great Meadow Foundation, in The Plains between Middleburg
and Warrenton in the heart of Virginia’s horse country, has been
the permanent home of the Virginia Gold Cup and International
Gold Cup steeplechase races since 1985. The equestrian and
outdoor activities facility doubled its land to nearly 400 acres
earlier this year, thanks to the purchase of the adjacent Fleming
Farm (see May 2014
Sidelines
). With that acquisition, the WEG
Prep Trial became reality in a matter of months.
The new cross-country track and arena at Fleming wouldn’t
be ready for another year, but Great Meadow had everything
to showcase the small field of WEG contenders. Dressage and
show jumping took place in the arena used for Twilight Polo
and Jumpers, putting spectators extremely close to the action.
Attendance was spectacular: more than 1,000 for dressage on
Saturday morning and 5,000 for that evening’s show jumping,
with a turnout of 2,500 to 3,000 for Sunday morning’s cross-
country, staged on the Gold Cup course. The track, designed
by David, himself a 2004 individual Olympic gold medalist, was
enhanced by additional jumps built by Aaron Rust of Lexington,
Kentucky.
The future looks very “starry” and Great Meadow Foundation
president Robert L. Banner said: “David O’Connor is seriously
considering Great Meadow as the site for all future prep
trials, including the 2015 Pan American Games and the 2016
Olympics.”
For more information, visit
.
