WEG: Official Horse Deals Coverage Week 1

Swedish Team rider, Tinne Vilhelmson-Silfven is pictured with her 'Favourit' (Fidernmark/Worldchamp mare) that earned 66% in the Grand Prix. The Swedish Team finished in 10th place.

Austria's Peter Gmoser acknowledges the cheers of the Austrian supporters as he leaves the arena riding his 'Cointreau' (Canastier 1/Figaro mare). They earned 67.70%.

Belgian Team member, Jeroen Devroe earned 67.53% in the Grand Prix Team competition riding his Apollo van het Vuverhof' by Welt Hit II.

"The ecstacy and the agony". For many spectators at WEG, there were two horses they wanted to see in the dressage competition and Dutch Team member, Adelinde Cornelisson's 'Jerich Parzival' was one of them. Tragically and in the midst of scoring marks above 80% he was eliminated in the Grand Prix this morning. Article 400 30.7 of the FEI dressage competition rule book states that any trace of blood in the horse's mouth results in elimination. The vocal crowd were silenced when it was apparent that the European Championship combination were out of the WEG. The cause of the blood was a tiny nick on the tip of Parzival's tongue. Adelinde commented, "I am really disappointed that I could not finish the test, as he was feeling amazing, but I am relieved that the horse is unhurt and I can start training again tomorrow".

Who said Andalusians can't extend? Spain's Jose Antonio Garcia Mena demonstrates a super extension with 'Norte' by Cortiesano 1V during the Grand Prix competition this morning. They earned 68.63 fro their efforts.

Yoav Suger from Israel comes to a sliding stop riding Holly Casey's 'Strike Em Out' (Rowdy Yankie/Great Pine mare) in the second Individual qualifier. They finished in 18th place.

Holland's Hubertus Heule produced a good run this morning riding 'Chrome Shiner (Custom Crome/Shining Spark mare) to score 215.4 for equal fourth place in the second Individual Reining qualifier. The effort earned them a place in the Final Individual Medal run.

Riding for Great Britain, Dough Allen produced a great run aboard the eight year old stallion, 'Don Julio Whiz' (Topsail Whiz/Hollywod Jac mare) to take second place in the second Individual qualifier with a score of 216.5. The top five in the second qualifier go through to the Final.

Warren Backhouse really showcased his talent this morning, producing a great run with Kaitlin Townsend's 'Whizs Bronze Star' (West Coast Whiz/Rollin With The Flow mare) to score 215.5 for equal fourth place in the second Individual qualifier and a place in the Individual Medal Final.

Michal Rapcewicz amd individual from Poland produced a good test riding 'Randon' (Czuwaj/Famino mare) for 69.19% and 18th place in the Grand Prix.

Portugal's Daniel Pinto demonstrated the delights of the Lusitano riding the stallion, 'Galopin de la Font', (Espantio MTV/Zorro mare) in the Grand Prix Team competition and first Individual qualifier this morning. The Grand Prix competition determines the team medals and the top 25 go through to the Grand Prix Special which has it's one set of medals and then the top 15 or so go through to the Freestyle competition on Friday night.

Anyone who thinks dressage is boring would change their mind if they were at the WEG competition this morning. Not long after the shock elimination of the Dutch horse, Parzival, Australia's darling of the Beijing Games in Hong Kong, Hayley Beresford was devastated when her Hong Kong horse, the Luisitano stallion, 'Relampago do Retiro' was eliminated due to unevenness. It has been a dramatic morning in the dressage arena.

Tina Konyot riding for the USA earned 69.91% with her Danish Warmblood, 'Calecto V' that is by Come Back II, the same sire as Lady Clarke's Come To Me ridden by Charlotte Pedersen.

Italy's multi disciplined Susanna Bordone, a member of the Italian Carbinieri rode her 'Dark Surprise' (D Day/Purioso mare) to earn 64.34% in the Grand Prix.

Well known in Australia, Belgian professional, Stefan van Ingelgem rode the Ferro stallion, 'Withney Van't Genthof' to earn 66.63% in the Grand Prix.

We came to see Moorlands Totilas (Gribaldi/Glendale mare) and like the other 20 odd thousand dressage enthusiasts, we were not disappointed. Videos do not do this horse justice that in the flesh looks impossabily talented. It is like another breed of super horse has been invented. Under a lot of pressure, Edward Gal rode beautifully, Totilas did his part with plenty of 10's for 84.04% and lead the Dutch Team to their first ever Team Dressage World Championship.

I've never seen a standing ovation at a horse show, until now for Moorlands Totilas.

A handsome pair! 'Moorlands Totilas and Edward Gal.

The wonderful Andalusian stallion, 'Fuego XII' (Uterano VII/Elegido mare) produced the goods for Juan Manuel Munoz Diaz to claim fifth place in a strong Grand Prix field with 73.95%.

Dressage superstar, Isabel Werth rode the giant 'Warum Nicht' (Weltmeyer/Wenzel 1 mare) FHR' to take fourth place in the Grand Prix and lead the young German Team to the Bronze medal.

Veteran Japanese Team member, Hiroshi Hoketsu produce a good test with his 'Whisper 115' (Wolkenstein II/Grenadier mare) to score 68.68% and take 24th position in the Grand Prix and ear a ticket to the Grand Prix Special.

Canadian Team member, Ashley Holzer looks composed during her Grand Prix test riding the charming 'POP Art' (Amsterdam/Cabochon mare). They earned 70.38% and 12th place in the Grand Prix.

Brazilian Team member, Marcelo da Silva Alexandre's 'Signo Dos Pinhais' (Zique/Icaro mare) demonstrated the qualities of the Lusitano horse during their Grand Prix test.

Regular Australian visitor and Danish Team rider, Princess Natalie zu Sayn-Wittgenstein produced a good test aboard her 'Digby' (Donnerhall/Sandro mare) to score 73.83% and take sixth place in the Grand Prix.

Brett Parbery anchored the Australian Team in the best possible way with Carolyn Lieutenant's 'Victory Salute' (Salute/Victorieux) by scoring, 70.08%, the best percentage by an Australian combination at an Olympic Games or World Championship. The Australian Team finished eighth out of the 14 Teams competing.

Steffen Peters did his best to try and lift the US Team in to a medal , but they just missed and finished in fourth place. Steffen and 'Ravel' (Contango/Democrat mare) took third place individually in the Grand Prix with 78.56%.

Anky Van Grunsven was not going to miss an opportunity to ride in the Main Alltech Arena. Just before the Dressage Team Medal presentation, Anky gave a Reining display, and was clearly having fun aboard her 'Whizashiningwalla BB'.

The Orange Army are always in force when the Dutch are riding.

Great Britain took out the Silver Team Medal which was the first ever World Championship medal for the horse mad country. They were led by Laura Bechtolsheimer and her wonderful, Mistral Hojris that earned 82.51% and second place in the Grand Prix. This picture taken during the victory gallop is of British Team member, Fiona Bigwood and 'Wie Atlantico De Ymas' (Wie Weltmeyer/Rondo mare)

The International Museum of the Horse, a permanent fixture at the Kentucky Horse Park is a must see for any visitor. This photograph depicts the arrival of the first horses brought in to America by the Spaniards.