12 SIDELINES NOVEMBER 2014
FOR HORSE PEOPLE • ABOUT HORSE PEOPLE
Up Close and Personal
FEATURE
WORLD EQUESTRIAN GAMES
The Back Story of the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games 2014 in Normandy
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By Darlene Ricker
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FEI World Equestrian Games 2014 in Normandy, a
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Games, or what writers call the “back story” — the skinny on what
it was really like to be there. Even the best seat in the house won’t
let you see what it’s like for the competitors, human and equine, to
compete in the World Championships. Thrilling as it is to watch the
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product. Ever wonder what’s been happening before the horses
enter the arena or what’s going on in the hearts and minds of the
competitors and coaches?
That’s the kind of thing you have to discover for yourself by
exploring the nooks and crannies of the venues (to the extent that
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bus to get from one venue to another (that’s how I met South Africa’s
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with the Dutch dressage team the night they won the bronze medal,
all you had to do was walk across the street from the stadium to
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were happy to chat with fans.
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opening ceremony was a major hit.
Photo by FEI / Arnd Bronkhorst / Pool Pic
2: Chester Weber on the marathon
course.
Photo by Diana DeRosa
3: Boyd Martin on course at WEG.
Photo by
Diana DeRosa 4:
The USA vaulting squad
. Photo by Allen MacMillan/MacMillan
Photography 5:The USA team proudly smiles on the podium after taking Team Gold
for reining.
Photo by Dirk Caremans/FEI
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