WEG 2014 U.S. Dressage Team

 With the WEG almost here, it's time to look at the dressage U.S. Team and see what horse and rider combinations will represent our country in these coming weeks. Let's take a look!

 For the first horse and rider combination, we have Laura Graves, currently training in Florida, on her 2002 Dutch warmblood gelding, Verdades. In 2002, Laura's mom bought Verdades as a yearling from Holland after only watching sales video. In 2013, the pair started competing in Grand Prix. Earlier this year, Laura and Verdades competed in the Global Dressage Festival in Wellington, Florida. There she met Olympic dressage rider Debbie McDonald, who became her trainer. Laura believes that without the help of Debbie, she would not have made it to WEG. Soon, Laura made it to the U.S. WEG qualifying competition. Though she placed out of the top fifteen that would be invited to qualify for the team, several riders dropped out and she earned a spot. After that, she travelled to Gladstone for another competition, where she placed 2nd behind Steffen Peters on Legolas. With that high placing, Laura earned her spot on the WEG Dressage Team.

 Next on the team is Steffen Peters on Legolas 92, a 2002 Westphalian gelding. Steffen has been competing for the past eight, earning an impressive record. He placed fourth in the 2006 Aachen WEG on Floriano. For the 2008 Olympics he placed fourth on Ravel, a year later becoming the second U.S. rider to win the World Cup, also riding Ravel. In his previous WEG in Kentucky(2010), he won two individual medals on the same horse. In 2011 he earned double gold on Weltino's Magic. Most recently, he won the national championships at Gladstone on Legolas, qualifying for WEG.

Laura Grave and Verdades credit

Our next rider is Adrienne Lyle, who will be riding Peggy Thomas' 1999 Oldenburg gelding, Wizard. Originally, Debbie McDonald rode Wizard, but upon recognizing the talent of young working student Adrienne, she handed the reins over the Wizard's present rider. according to Adrienne, the pair clicked and in 2008, they won the Brentina Cup. In 2009, the pair competed in Grand Prix for the first time-neither of them had done it before. I love this pair because it shows you don't need an top rider to get a horse to that level, or vice versa.

 The final team member is Tina Konyot and Calecto V, her 1998 Danish warmblood stallion. Tina has competed in the WEG before, in 2010 in Kentucky, and is experienced at competing at this level. She also competed in the Olympics in London. She has qualified for 2014 WEG, her second one.

Selle Français

History
 The Selle Francais is a French warmblood that was developed in Le Pin, Normandy in the 1800s, at the famous state studs. When breeding the Selle Francais, French horse breeders focused on making different types a various purposes, using the Anglo-Norman, Norfolk Roadster, and Thoroughbred, as well as other French horses.

A Selle Francais is similar to a Thoroughbred.

 The Norfolk Roadster-Thoroughbred cross went on to become the French Trotter, while the Anglo-Norman(Thoroughbred and Norman horses) was used for draft work. This continued until after World War II, when breeders began focusing on creating good riding and sport horses, rather than work horses. Anglo-ArabsIn 1958, these horses were name le Cheval de Selle Francais(French Saddle Horse) by the French government.

Breed Description and Uses
 The Selle Francais is a strong, athletic horse that is often described as a more muscular and substantial Thoroughbred. They have the same strong legs, sloping shoulder, long neck, and prominent withers. Though the breed used to be classified into several types, divided by size and weight, that classification stopped in the 1980s. The breed can range from as small as 15.2 hands high to as tall as 17 hands high. All colors are found, but bay and chestnut remain the most common.

 Lighter Selle Francais horses are used as racehorses in France, while the heavier ones are used for jumper, dressage, and eventing.

Percheron

History
 The development of the Percheron breed began when Moors invaded the Perche region in Normandy in AD 732, bringing with them Barb horses. These horses were left behind after the Moors were defeated and were put to great use in creating the famous Percheron. They were crossed with huge Flemish horses, creating a large, muscular breed.

 Originally, the Percheron was used as a war as a war horse, bringing many soldiers into battle, but as time went, such horses were no longer needed, so the role of the Percheron changed to that of a carriage. The Percheron was well-fitted for the job for several reasons. It was(and still is) elegant, strong, and able to trot all day.

Percheron credit

 When the train was invented, providing a faster means of travel, the Percheron was once again out of a job. It didn't last long, though. People wanted fast horses to replace the oxen in agricultural uses, and others needed a strong, sturdy animal to haul heavy loads from the dock to the railroad, to be loaded onto trains. The Percheron fitted the job description.

 Americans, too needed heavy draft horses, so a few Percherons were imported in 1839 and 1851, followed by a large number in the 1870s and 1880s. The Percheron increased in popularity, though World War I and the use of cars and trucks threatened the survival of the breed. By 1954, only 85 remained. Several people, however, were dedicated to breed, persevering until that number grew to over 2,000.

 Today, Percherons have a much different purpose: sport. People cross them with various athletic breeds, including Thoroughbreds, warmbloods, and Spanish breeds, creating a large and strong, yet athletic horse that can be used in dressage, jumping, and eventing.

Breed Description and Uses
 Though large and strong, standing 16.2 to 17.2 hand high, Percherons are more energetic than your typical draft breed. Their legs have no feathering, also uncommon among draft breeds, and they are born black, graying as they mature.

 Many people use the Percheron for driving competitions, hay rides, and even dressage.

2014 World Equestrian Games

 For most people, big sport events of 2014 means the Winter Olympics, but for us equestrians, it means the World Equestrian Games, which will be held in Normandy, France this year. This year, 1000 competitors will be there, competing in the eight most popular disciplines: dressage, jumping, eventing, reining, endurance, vaulting, driving, and para-dressage. Unlike in Lexington in 2010, this year's World Equestrian Games will be held in multiple locations, rather than just one site. Most of the competition will take place in Caen, the regions capital. The dressage and cross-country phase of eventing will be Haras du Pin, one of the national stud farms, and the endurance competition will be over an hour away from Caen. I can't wait to watch it, but for now I'll leave you with the official trailer, by Alltech.