Photo courtesy of Kim Severson Eventing FB.
Tell me that you looked at that picture of Kim and Sparky and didn’t “Awww” in your head. Try to tell me that! The games have officially begun, with 98 horses progressing to the next stage: the tiny rectangle of death dressage! We are on full WEG lockdown, with two reporters on the ground, and one in the states who is trying to exist on French and American time zones simultaneously. By that I mean that Sally is sleeping approx 4 hours a night for the next five days, which should make for some progressively more hilarious live blogs from her. Bless her, up at 2:30 am every day to keep up with all the happenings!
Tate the French Princess is at home in Normandy, and looking quite spiffy! I heard that he even behaved himself on the jog strip today, which is basically unheard of.
.@sinead_c_Halpin and Manoir de Carneville “@PhelpsSports: #TeamUSA riders pass Eventing jog! @USEquestrian pic.twitter.com/NAIARihH7k” #hermes — Saut Hermès (@SautHermes) August 27, 2014
What an iPhone note. Casual but serious.
Here we go! pic.twitter.com/aRAGqXeRmf
— sinead halpin (@sinead_c_Halpin) August 27, 2014
Team USA looking snazzy in their official blazers.
Photo courtesy of Lynn Symansky Equestrian FB.
Look at Team Canada! Lookin’ sharp guys!
Photo courtesy of Hawley Bennett’s IG.
What you may not know is that this outfit, impeccably modeled by Max, was the original Canadian jog ensemble. I kinda wish they had stuck to it?
Photo courtesy of Hawley Bennett’s IG.
Pavarotti is excited for his very first CCI4*!!
Photo courtesy of Phoenix Equestrian Team FB.
Um, hello tiny and adorable Michael Jung! Not only do you use the most smileys on Facebook, you have the best pre-jog smile.
#WEG2014 The stage is set at the historic venue Haras du Pin for a great Eventing competition http://t.co/JNwcGU3ylx pic.twitter.com/rkiVerWAzU — The FEI (@myfei_home) August 27, 2014
The New Zealanders brought the style today, check out how swift Tim Price and Wesko look cruising down that jog strip! 
Apparently Nereo is SO over jogs on Wednesdays, he was looking to jog as fast as possible and right back to the stables. He’s like, “You guys, I’ve already been to a WEG as well as an Olympics, and this is pretty boring, can we get on to the important stuff?”
Photo courtesy of Eventing NZ FB.
Here’s a promise: by the end of this weekend, you will all be as obsessed intrigued with Maxime Livio as I am, if only because I will slowly but surely bombard you with photos of him and his horse. Here is his horse Qalao and his groom Matou taking a “petite selfie” before jogs.
Photo courtesy of Ecurie Livio FB.
I have to say, I really love Ireland’s jackets too. I love all the fashion!! I can’t help myself! Check out Camilla Speirs and Portersize Just A Jiff.
Photo courtesy of Camilla Speirs Eventing FB.
After jogs, everyone went in for some real ring familiarization, getting a taste of the competition ring before it all begins.
Photo courtesy of Kim Severson Eventing FB.
Photo courtesy of Kim Severson Eventing FB.
Photo courtesy of Kim Severson Eventing FB.
Photo courtesy of Kathleen Blauth-Murray.
From a different perspective, this dressage arena looks pretty tiny? I hope there are not too many spectators, because it does not look built to hold a huge crowd.
Photo courtesy of Ingrid Klimke.
