World Equestrian Games in spotlight
HORSE RACING
Posted By SCOTT ROWE
Posted 2 months ago
The winter Olympics are coming to Canada soon, and most of us are aware of the importance of these games and Canada's role as host.
As most people know, the equestrian world has an opportunity to compete at the summer Olympics which alternate every two years after the winter disciplines.
Although those summer games are still a long way off, 2010 is a significant date on the calendar for show horse people because one of their most talked about competitions is scheduled to take place at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Ky.
Billed as the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games, it is considered probably the most prestigious event in a very prestigious group of sports.
Premiere sponsor, Alltech, is an internationally-based conglomerate world-renowned for animal health and nutrition, while FEI stands for the Federation Equestre Internationale.
The World Equestrian Games were first held in 1990, but conceptually were in the planning stages for many years before that. Up until 1990, each discipline held its own world championships and the country of the winning competitor was awarded the opportunity to stage the next world competition.
The first combination of these various equestrian sports was held in Stockholm, Sweden, and included dressage, jumping, driving, vaulting, eventing and endurance classes.
Like their Olympic counterparts, the World Equestrian Games have taken place every four years since Stockholm, adding the discipline of reining in 2002 and now, for the first time in 2010, the beautiful para dressage competition will be part of the show.
The excitement of next year's event is already growing and for good reason.
This represents the first time these games have been staged in North America. The economic impact on the city of Lexington and the State of Kentucky is estimated at more than $150 million, making it equivalent to the much hyped Pan-Am games which have recently been awarded to the city of Toronto for the year 2015.
Already, NBC has acquired the rights to show the games and has dedicated the largest amount of money ever to be spent on broadcasting in the history of equestrian horses.
Realizing the advertising potential of this enormous event, other companies have added their sponsorship, including Rolex, Ariat International Inc, John Deere, Meydan and the American Quarter Horse Association.
One of the most famous sponsors to join the show is the well known Breyer Animal Creations. Since 1950, Breyer has manufactured thousands of unique handmade horse models, many of which are now considered valuable antique and collector items.
Canada has more than held its own over the years in such international equestrian competitions.
It would be a tribute to the talents of all Canadian participants if the government were to build a suitable venue that would someday host such an event here and pursue its completion with the same dedication it has given to winning the Olympic bids.
Scott Rowe is the former chairman of the board at Georgian Downs.
