Lexington & KHP

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September 1, 2009

blue skies and sunshine

Posted by Jennifer under Lexington & KHP, Lexington CDE, the National Drive
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It was quite chilly here this morning … sweater weather, almost. Once things warmed up to daytime temperature, the skies were a beautiful autumnal blue, the sun was shining, and the thermometer (well, weather.com) registered in the low 70s. Delightful.

One of our local weathermen* said this morning that this “cold air” was about a month early. Soooo … let’s all keep our fingers crossed that we get this gorgeous weather or something very similar (and neither drought nor too much rain nor ridiculous heat) this time next month, for the Lexington Combined Driving Classic and the National Drive (also here at the KHP, the weekend after the CDE, and hosting CAA Driver Proficiency Program evaluations).

*Bill … the geeky one. And I mean this in a very good way. I think meteorologists should geek out over the weather and not just report it. Weatherman Bill gets visibly excited about weather patterns and events; he presents Weather 101 classes to local school kids; and he has a blog where he can (and does) talk at length about the weather.

August 31, 2009

one more new marathon obstacle

Posted by Jennifer under Lexington & KHP, Lexington CDE, WEG 2010
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This new KHP marathon obstacle appears to be in a more nearly-finished state than the “hill” illustrated last week. We’ll check back on the progress of the hill later this week. This new obstacle is in the area known here as the “in-field” … that area surrounded by the KHP’s permanent steeplechase course. The reflection at the base of this obstacle is more water so this one, too, will incorporate a splash.

© Jennifer Singleton –do not copy or save without permission

another new KHP marathon obstacle with a water splash

Stay tuned for more updates on the evolving marathon course.

August 26, 2009

under construction … new WEG marathon obstacles

Posted by Jennifer under Lexington & KHP, Lexington CDE, WEG 2010
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In preparation for next year’s World Equestrian Games, construction of several new marathon obstacles is underway here at the Kentucky Horse Park. This one (below, from several angles) has a large hill at one end and will have a ditch filled with water at the base of the hill. According to the course designer, Richard Nicoll, the “splash” will make this particular obstacle one of three (!) with water.

Five of the marathon obstacles being used for this October’s Lexington Combined Driving Classic & WEG Test Event will be used again next year for the World Equestrian Games. Two of these (the “head of the lake” and the “hollow”) will be used jointly by the driving and eventing competitors, for their respective marathon and cross-country phases.

one of the three water obstacles planned for the WEG driving marathon, currently under construction at the Kentucky Horse Park

at the lower left, you can see the ditch that will be filled with water to give this obstacle a "splash"

at the lower left is the ditch that will be filled with water to give this obstacle a “splash”

a close up of the hill at the new marathon obstacle

the polo field where the driving dressage and cones arena will be situated for this year’s Lexington Combined Driving Classic and next year’s World Equestrian Games

The course designer is not only planning for the competitors but is also considering the spectators’ needs. Several of the marathon obstacles are (or will be) situated in low areas of the horse park’s rolling fields. With higher ground near the obstacles, spectators will be able to stand or sit to watch one or more from a bit of distance, for a good view of all the action.

We’ll have more photos … of more new obstacles during their various phases of construction and as the horse park prepares for the WEG test event and the WEG itself.

August 25, 2009

counting down to the WEG

Posted by Jennifer under Lexington & KHP, WEG 2010
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As you might imagine, the Kentucky Horse Park is (and has been for quite some time now!) in the midst of a flurry of activity in preparation for next year’s FEI Alltech World Equestrian Games. The beautiful new indoor arena is finished, and attached stabling is now under construction. The arena itself was inaugurated with this summer’s WEG test events in the sports of reining and vaulting.

The new outdoor arena was formally inaugurated earlier this year and has been used for the dressage and jumping phases of the Rolex KY Three-Day Event in April, the FEI North American Junior / Young Riders Championships this summer, and more.

the grandstand structure of the KHP's new outdoor arena, as seen from the "people entrance" on Nina Bonnie Blvd

the grandstand structure of the KHP’s new outdoor arena, seen from Nina Bonnie Blvd

The roads into and around the park are continually under construction, being widened, improved, and beautified. Nearly every week that we attempt to drive in to work, there’s a different road closed, re-done, or re-routed.

And … here’s the most exciting part as far as we’re concerned … construction has begun on the new marathon obstacles for the driving portion of the WEG. I’ll post photos of one amazing-looking structure tomorrow. Stay tuned!

August 1, 2009

it’s all video, video, video

Posted by Jennifer under competitions, Lexington & KHP, WEG 2010
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[Extra-credit points for anyone who can name the movie!]

Spent part of this afternoon testing out our new little video camera, at the Kentucky Cup vaulting event. This international event (CVI*/**) features competitors from eight nations and is being contested in the (beautiful!) new indoor arena here at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington. This is also the second of the test events for next year’s World Equestrian Games. (Unfortunately, we didn’t have our new-fangled video capability for last month’s reining test event.)

So, if you’re not familiar with vaulting and would like to see what it’s like, here is a video clip of the final freestyle performances for one of the competitors in the CVI* Individiual Women’s Competition. This young woman received the highest score in this round of all the ones I watched. Her three-day total put her in second place overall as of the end of her performance (there was still a third of the class to go when I had to leave, though).