DAY TWO GETS UNDERWAY AT THE KENTUCKY HORSE PARK by Louise Parkes

AUDIO LINK:
Interview with Dressage rider Isabell Werth (GER)
http://www.lloydbell.co.uk/access/client_zone/Isabell%20Werth-GER%20dres...

It's all happening at The Horse Park in Kentucky this morning where the closing stages of the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games™ Reining Team Championships are taking place in the Alltech Pavilion while the Endurance competitors are enjoying perfect weather conditions on their 160kms course.

Kentucky turned noticeably chillier overnight and the current temperature is about 60 degrees, but the cooler weather is ideal for the Endurance challenge, and horses were looking happy, keen and comfortable as they set off.  The Endurance result will be known by about 7pm this evening, but the medals will not be presented until tomorrow (Monday) morning, after the Best Condition Award has also been decided at 10.30am. 

By the time the Endurance horses arrived at Gate 1 this morning the team from the United Arab Emirates - His Excellency Sheikh Mohammed Al Maktoum (SAS Alexis), His Excellency Sheikh Majid Mohammed Al Maktoum (Kango D'Aurabelle) and Sheikh Rashid Dalmook Al Maktoum (Rukban Dikruhu Mmn) - had posted a combined time of 04:34.53 and were leading the team rankings ahead of the USA in second and Bahrain in third.  However there was still a long way to go. 

The very first medals of the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games™ will be presented later this afternoon to the winners of the Reining Team Championship which is due to conclude about 3pm local time.

Meanwhile the Dressage horse inspection is taking place, and this discipline kicks off in the fabulous new outdoor stadium tomorrow morning (Monday).  A total of 24 nations will be represented, including 14 teams and 66 riders pending the result of today's vet-check.

Above you will find a link to an interview with German dressage star Isabell Werth who talks about her decision to leave Satchmo at home, the strength of the Dutch team and her great rival Anky Van Grunsven. 

Attached is a photograph from last night's spectacular Opening Ceremony.
 
The Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games™ is the World Championship of equestrian sport and runs for 16 days, from Saturday 25 September to Sunday 10 October.  It includes eight separate disciplines - Reining, Endurance, Dressage, Eventing, Driving, Jumping, Vaulting and Para-Dressage - and this is the first time for the Games to be held outside Europe.

For full results and startlists go to www.alltechfeigames.com