2006 World Cup Finals

Arlene Page Living the Dream in Amsterdam

Arlene Page and her Hanoverian gelding Wild One made a stunning performance in the Grand Prix at the 2006 World Cup Finals in Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Scoring 71.00%, the landed a seventh place and qualified for the kur to music finals on Saturday. The pair is finally living the dream they have hoped and worked for for many years.

Arlene shared her impressions from Amsterdam with us and is thankful for the opportunity that has been given to her to compete in Amsterdam. "My "family" (Think extended and think 4 legged) have all traveled safely and are here cheering us on...can you imagine anything better than looking into the stands to see familiar faces beaming and waving the American Flag?," she said.

Her bay Hanoverian by Wanderer had no difficulties settling in at the RAI Exhibition center where the Finals are being held. "Wild One settled into the amazing environment here at the RAI Center with ease and worked well right form the get go. The venue here is amazing. the trade fair is huge and the warm up is right in the middle of it! I could easily ride up to the restaurant and ask for a cup of coffee!"

Besides her outstanding performance in the Grand Prix, the Amsterdam experience has been full of wonderful events. "My day yesterday started with a walk through the main entrance and the trade fair where I noticed a vendor displaying the Dutch version of the Chronicle of the Horse called "Hoefslag"," she stated. " I thought that the cover looked beautiful with this gorgeous horse in a correct piaffe so I looked closer only to discover that the horse was Wild One at the League Final in Wellington! Yes, to answer your question, Dave has purchased a carton of them! I decided right then and there that my day was off to a good start."

Page's Grand Prix ride was thrilling and they were the first pair to break the magical 70% barrier. "Wild One was all that I could have hoped for at this point: concentrated, secure and accurate. We finished on a score of 71% which held the lead until Anky's ride (13th in the order) which was lovely and so full of expression. In the end we were 7th and hence invited back for the prize giving ceremony."

Page and Wild One qualified for the finals on Saturday where they get another chance to perform even better. "I've drawn 7th to go in the Freestyle tomorrow (good spot for us) and my goal is to "give gas and have fun." It was so important for us to put down a solid GP and now, with that done, I feel like I can take a few more risks. We rode through 5 minutes of the freestyle today for a sound check and Wild One seemed fine with it."

The 2006 World Cup Finals have been a dream come true. "I can only begin to tell you all how proud I am, yes, of myself and certainly of my magical "Double V" but more than anything I am proud to have the honor of being here to represent all of you. Thank you for my chance to Live the Dream."

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