The Slower Road

Back in 2000, the sidewalks in and around downtown Lexington (the “Horse Capital of the World”) were awash in painted and decorated fiberglass horses.

That first Horse Mania proved wildly popular, and so we’re doing it again … this time, in conjunction with the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games.

During the WEG, Lexington locals and visitors can marvel at both live horses and decorated horses.

To see a preview of the eighty-nine Horse Mania horses, click here: http://www.horsemania2010.com/horses.htm

And to see a printable map of where you can find them all, click here: http://www.horsemania2010.com/map.htm

I’ll post some photos soon of this year’s Horse Mania horses in their natural, downtown habitat.

With just about forty-five days to go until the start of the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games at the Kentucky Horse Park, work has begun in earnest on many of the temporary structures that will be put to use during the Games.

Stacks of building materials are scattered around the park; large trucks deliver all manner of parts and supplies, and the “s.ky blue” solar house has arrived on a flatbed trailer and now waits in the main parking lot. The s.ky blue house was the University of Kentucky’s Top 10 entry in the 2009 Solar Decathlon and, during the WEG, it will serve as a visitors’ center and the official entrance to the Kentucky Experience. To read more about the solar house and the students who built it, visit http://www.uky.edu/solarhouse/index2.html.

the s.ky blue building, in the parking lot at the KY Horse Park

Across the street from the outdoor arena, several enormous tent “buildings” are being erected to house the media center and VIP hospitality areas. Farther down the street, around what is normally a polo field, the grandstands for the driving arena are going up.

several temporary structures being built for the WEG

... and the skeleton of another, next to the steeplechase barn

... and another view of the ones in the first photo

one long side of the new temporary grandstands around the driving arena

... and the skeleton of the structure on the opposite long side

The temporary Alltech FEI WEG “city” is under construction, and it will be a sight to see when finished. Tickets for the World Equestrian Games are still available at www.ticketmaster.com.

The driving course designer for the upcoming Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games, Richard Nicoll, was recently on the grounds of the Kentucky Horse Park for several days to work with the course builder, meet with various decorators, and generally check on the progress of the marathon obstacles.

the course designer for the driving portion of the WEG, Richard Nicoll (left), discusses a marathon obstacle with the course builder, Mick Costello

According to Nicoll, construction is now about ninety-five percent complete on the marathon obstacles. Once everything is finished, all that will remain is the decorating. Some of this will need to be completed at the last minute because two obstacles contain portable elements that will be moved into place after the eventing cross-country phase (on the first Saturday during the WEG).

After his meeting with the decorators, Nicoll was pleased to note how enthusiastic and, with the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event having been at the KY Horse Park for so many years, how experienced they are. He expects that spectators familiar with driving, and those new to the sport, will be wowed by the beauty of the course.

The drivers themselves may not appreciate the beauty of the obstacles to the same degree that the spectators will, but they will have their own beautiful views earlier in the day. While he was here, Nicoll inspected the course he had laid out for Sections A and D of the marathon. The track does not just go “round and round a field,” as he said, but follows roads, pathways, and pastures through several working farms adjoining the Kentucky Horse Park. So the drivers will get a unique view of some truly beautiful Kentucky countryside and farmland.

Nicoll says that he’s “very encouraged and excited about all the progress that’s been made at the Horse Park.” And he encourages everyone to come out on Saturday, October 9, to watch the driving marathon, if for no other reason than this is probably the only time in our lifetimes that we’ll be able to see so many FEI-level four-in-hand drivers in one North American location. Nicoll recalled how, after the 1993 World Pairs Championship in New Jersey, a number of people said they had heard how wonderful the championship was and how much they regretted having missed it.

“This time around, don’t be someone who regrets not having come to see the driving championship,” said Nicoll. “This is going to be too good to miss!”

a beautiful view of the Bluegrass from the track on Section A of the marathon (photo by Richard Nicoll)

... and the start of the walk section ... what a lovely view (photo by Richard Nicoll)

this beautiful grassy field, beyond the trees in the foreground, will be the location of the driving arena (for dressage and cones)

detail of a completed portion of one of the marathon obstacles (photo by Richard Nicoll)

Lenny Courtemanche sanding a new post

a moveable element (in the eventing cross-country complex known as the "Head of the Lake") being put into place for Richard Nicoll's visit

an aerial view of a portion of one of the marathon water obstacles