2014 World Equestrian Games

A large group of riders comes in after the first leg of the five leg Endurance Championship. Conditions were very wet out at the start of the Endurance at Sartilly about an hour from Caen.

An Australian groom looks quite concerned. Endurance is stressful for all concerned, especially the grooms.

Base camp is chaos, organised chaos, with horses, riders, grooms and plenty of water on hand and from the sky.

Alexandra Toft listens to the Australian Chef D' Equipe and her father, Peter Toft after coming in off the first leg.

A lot of horses, a lot of people and rain as horses are prepared to go out on the second leg of the WEG Endurance Championships.

The mud at the Endurance is only a fraction of what is expected to be encountered at Le Pin for cross country day on Saturday.

One hundred and seventy three horses started the WEG Endurance Championships.

Jaafar Merza Abdulnabi Hassan from Bahrain heads out on the second leg aboard 'Presage de Crouz'.

Andrea Smith from New Zealand heads out on the second led of the WEG Endurance Championships aboard the Arab, 'Glenmore Tariq'.

Contrary to the hype concerning the WEG Endurance Championships, the riders did not pass the beautiful Mont Saint Michel pictured. However, we went to see this spectacular site as well as some unimpressed dairy cows, makers of the famous Normandy cheese.

Germany's Alexander Ripper is pictured aboard 'Awesome Playboy' by Col Awesome Socks during the second Individual Reining Qualifier.

Alexandra Toff rode Charlotte TE in the the Endurance ride and this morning was the best of the Australians and at this stage has still not finished. Alexandra's mother Penny retired on the first leg.

Canadian, Cody Sapergia put in a good run aboard, 'Nu Chexomatic' to score 219 to take second place in the Second Individual Reining Qualifier and make it through to the Individual Finals on Saturday night.

Brazil's Laercio Casalecchi Filho took equal seventh place in the Second Individual Reining Qualifier with 215.5 riding, 'He's A Question QR' by Question Cody.

Rafal Dolata from Poland is pictured aboard, 'Twisters Hot N Spicy' during the Reining Second Individual Qualifier.

Doug Allan from Great Britain is pictured aboard the Hangten Surprise mare, 'Hang ten Shiner' that took seventh place in the Second Individual Qualifier with a score of 215.5.

Proud Aussies, Fay and Glenda Hinchcliffe supported the Australian Reiners on the Dressage day off.

Australian Team Member, Shauna Larcombe slides to a stop aboard Michael Schumacher's attractive mare, 'La Bigia Sailor' by Frozen Sailor for eleventh place in. the second Individual Reining competition

Italian rider,Stefano Ferri rode , 'Roosters Nic' by Gallo Del Cielo to fourth place in the Second Reining Individual Qualifier with a score of 217 and earn a place in the Final on Saturday night.

Australian team member, John Wicks is pictured during the Second Reining Individual Qualifier riding the Freckles Top Prize mare, 'Top Flash Cody'.

A very flashy GB Team member, Jessica Sternberg is pictured aboard her own and Francesca Sternberg's, Smart Like Juice stallion, 'Smart Little Valentino' during the Second Individual Reining Qualifier.

Australian Team Member, Shaun Saunders finished in equal ninth place in the Second Reining Individual Qualifier with 214.5 riding the Tinsel Nic mare, 'Sparkin Tinsel'.

Lots of wonderful new Ariat products are on display at the Ariat Stand in the Trade Village.

Australian, Andy Booth gave an impressive display in the Trade Village and in French with his Zorse. (Zebra/horse cross)

Aussie's everywhere. No event would be complete without Eventing and horse enthusiasts Sue and Chris Tufnell.

It was a beautiful evening and there was plenty to see, do and eat in the trade Village. If only the D'Ornano stadium was down this end of town, everybody would be happier.

These colourful horses move on tracks and the more the children rock, the faster they go.

There are many eating options in the Trade Village and some restaurants like this one are popular.

With few people in the Trade Village getting a taste of the beautiful Normandy cheese and butter was quite easy and quite delicious.

Some restaurants are not so well supported despite a delicious menu. Perhaps a menu in English alongside the French one would encourage more, or indeed some custom.