August 27, 2006

World Equestrian Games Journals from Aachen
Mack's Musings
By Father Mack (a.k.a.: Father Larry David McCormick)

“Learning From History” - My Two Cents Worth! Page Two
Special to Dressage Daily #18

BE AS FAMILY FRIENDLY AS IS HUMANLY POSSIBLE - Moms and Dads in the audience who have ever attended almost any horse show on the face of the planet know what I am writing about. We go to an event, we have a finite amount of money in our pocket and we have the kids in tow, and we arrive on the show grounds to find food priced in the stratosphere of Aristotle Onassis, precious few places to sit down and eat what food we can afford, and absolutely nothing to do or to look at that does not involve an intense interest in horses.

Got the picture? Good. Now go and find a solution to the dilemma. I offer as a role model the show which puts on the most welcoming face for family units: Spruce Meadows in Calgary, Alberta. Marge and Ron Southern (and their staff, I am sure) make sure that the humongous crowds who attend every event in the foothills of the Canadian Rockies not only hear the words, “Thank you for coming to share today with us,” but they also guarantee that this sentiment is displayed throughout the experience.

Since several of the boy children present in Aachen and reconnoitering the situation were big time golfers, I have a ready-made example from Spruce Meadows. While Mom (and such children as she has infected with the equine disease) are glued to their seats in the arena, Pop and the rest of the munchkins are strolling the show looking for something (anything!) to do. The last time I was privileged to attend Spruce Meadows there were TWO vendors in the stall area selling golf clubs, bags, and accessories sufficient to satisfy the most sybaritic golfer.

Aachen had its fill of saddle makers, leg wrap sellers, and every flavor of horse paraphanelia you can imagine. It also had at least one merchant selling chemise scarves and mufflers, several home improvement suppliers, and enough electronic gadget salespeople to keep the non-horse aesthete rapt for a couple of hours. There was also a portion of the area set apart with a sort of children’s playground (including the “bouncy castle” that will send a chill down U.S. litigators’ spines). Give the non-horsy spouse/significant other and whatever kindern who attend something fun and worthwhile to do. Got it?

BE AFFORDABLE - Yes, I do understand that you sold the governor of Kentucky and the local chamber of commerce on the idea of hosting (and underwriting, I suspect) the 2010 games grounded in the idea that the event will bring buckets of money into the state. The citizens of Kentucky (as well as the supporters of our down home horse shows) have a right to make a dollar. At the same time, charging 45 Euros for a collared polo shirt with the WEG logo embroidered thereon borders on the obscene.

Like the food that the family members require (lest we all faint and fall into the dressage arena at an inopportune moment), we would like to go home with some souvenirs and other memorabilia that don’t require us to mortgage the house. Mom (and perhaps Dad) will want a shirt that doesn’t begin to unravel the fourth time it goes through the wash, but little junior coming in the day after the show with his over-priced shirt covered in grass stains is not going to make Mom’s day. A key chain with the Horse Park/WEG logo or the regional dressage society’s insignia that costs less than the 7 Euro Karli (the Aachen WEG’s mascot) key chains I left behind (sorry, nephews and nieces…really I am!) will be welcome.