The barn full of Team USA horses in Chantilly, France. Photo courtesy of USEF High Performance FB Page.
The travel is officially over! Yesterday was a long, long day for horses, riders and most importantly, grooms, as they shipped all of Team USA over to their stay over farm in Chantilly, France. Team Canada is at Maizey Manor, in England, for training before they head to Normandy later next week. The great news is that all of the horses traveled well and are excited to be overseas, where they undoubtedly know that a big competition is coming soon. Even better news is that the grooms and riders recovered enough to post fun stuff to Facebook and Twitter!
Horses on a plane! Photo courtesy of the USEF High Performance FB Page.
All the USA horses traveled on planes to get to Brussels, and then hopped on a van to head to Chantilly, where they will stay in training until they travel to Normandy.
View of the Indoor in Chantilly. Photo courtesy of Liz Storandt.
Another beautiful view of Chantilly from Liz Storandt.
Kim Severson Eventing’s top groom Liz Storandt is on her first overseas grooming trip, and is now officially Sparky’s slave for life, as he enters his first competition for the United States. Fun fact: This is Kim Severson’s FOURTH World Equestrian Games — do you know what the other three were?
Photo courtesy of Phoenix Equestrian Team FB.
Team Canada seems to be suffering from a little bit of travel mania (judging from Jessie Phoenix’s crazed expression), but they are thrilled to be trying on their new Canada gear. All new clothes! Everything with red maple leaves!
Photo courtesy of Hawley Bennett Awad’s Instagram.
Gin & Juice traveled like a champ — she’s used to it at this point! Pop quiz: How many CCI4*’s has Ginny completed? Answer: SEVEN!! She’s heading for her eighth one in Normandy, and her second WEG appearance. What a mare!
Photo courtesy of Lynn Symansky Equestrian FB Page.
Donner the deer is already fueling up on energy by taking a nap in Chantilly! Can he make it three for three with another double clear CCI4* cross country round? He’s determined to rest up for the occasion. “Donner is all settled in Chantilly after his long journey. Thanks to Kendyl for the photos and taking such good care of the Deer.”
All horses arrived safely in UK and now tucked in to a fluffy white bed!!! Sleep tight work Starts in the morning pic.twitter.com/WkFgxjs9aI
— Clayton Fredericks (@ClaytonFrederi1) August 16, 2014
Photo courtesy of Phillip Dutton Eventing.
While Mighty Nice is hanging out stateside for a few more days to recover from a mild colic episode, Trading Aces traveled to France with the rest of the group, ready for his WEG debut.
Photo courtesy of Liz Storandt.
What’s worse than the enormous packing effort required this past week? The UNPACKING and ORGANIZING that the grooms are now in charge of for the near future! I take my hats off to these ladies and their incredible skills. Above you see Meg Kep and Kathleen Bluth carefully transporting some of the gear to the barns.
