HorsesDaily Behind the Scenes
The US Dressage Short Listed Team for the 2006 FEI World Equestrian Games - Aachen

DressageDaily is in touch with the the short listed riders in Europe as they continue to compete for the top four position for the US Team for the WEG. They have all been great about sharing their experiences, so we can share with our readers. Enjoy!

Suzanne Dansby Phelps and Cooper - Dressagedaily 2006 WEG Journals

It was an honor being here with such a good group of folks: Debbie, Guenter, Tuny, Catherine, Leslie, and Steffan. We had a blast, and everyone was supportive of one another. Real team players.

We also need to express our gratitude to Gil Merrick of the USEF, who had to jump right in there with us. He did a superb job!

Our introduciton to Gil started with his arrival to Germany at Klaus and Judith Balkenhol's when we were all based there the week before our first show. He promptly presented to each of the riders, a well-organized notebook filled with useful information to help prepare us all for the upcoming events. Then, not only is he sharp, diplomatic, and able to respond with excellent judgment in moments of crisis, he also speaks fluent German, which was a tremendous help in all sorts of situations!

Thanks, also, to Judith for arranging the hotel rooms, for arranging the entries to the shows, and for being such a great host to the riders and their horses! And, of course, thanks to Klaus, our team coach! We couldn't have survived without all of you!

Now it is time to cheer on our dressage team: Debbie and Brentina, Steffan and Floriano, Guenter and Aragon, and Leslie and Tip Top. We wish you all of the best.

Aug 7 - With our European team-qualifying horse shows behind us, the U.S. riders and their horses are now safely tucked in at Judith and Klaus Balkenhol's. Since the last horse show, Verden CDI, is further north, Heather Blitz opted to head on home to her new home in Denmark. Best of luck, Heather!

The Grand Prix took place on Friday, and there were 38 horses and riders, representing 14 different countries. In the Musical Freestyle on Saturday night, Heather Blitz and Arabella represented the U.S. It took place in the big stadium, where people arrived from all over to fill it up! They were crowd favorites, riding to "Ava Maria," and "Swan Lake," choreographed by Marlene Whitaker.

After the Freestyle, there was a big party with a live band in the tent adjacent to the stadium during pas de deux classes and demonstrations on horseback. To conclude the evening, there was an elaborate display of fireworks.

The Special took place on Sunday. Catherine Haddad and Maximus anchored the U.S. Leslie Morse and Tip Top, and Tuny Page and Wild One also put in some great rides. Go USA!

The horse shows here in Germany are more like entire, weekend-long festivals. With food and drinks served in tents wth tables as well as lots of booths with vendors selling all sorts of wares, and there is also "eis" (ice cream) served everywhere! They love their beer and ice cream!

As a "new kid on the block," competing in Germany was an eye opener for me, to say the least. Because of my anonymity with the judges (I didn't know any of them, either!), I suffered a few "bumps and bruises" with lower-than-expected scores. I naively believed the judges in a country where dressage is such a dominant sprot, would be more objective. Not the case! So, we Americans still have to work twice as hard to make them believe we can do it, or are doing it! Next time, I will come here to compete and train awhile before going into the qualifying competitions to make the team as a short-listed or alternate rider.

I gained a much better perspective on how important it is to already have your presence established here before "going for it" with the team. No matter how good you and your horses are, if you are only performing in the States and not here, even if you were the best pair in the world (I'm not saying I think Cooper and I were, please), you have to compete here in Europe "neck-to-neck" with the other European riders. It is as simple as that, without getting into the details.

Later his week, Cooper and I will go to Frankfurt for a couple of weeks to train with Conrad Schumacher before returning to the States. Then, what next? Training for the World Cup, of course! We are already working on choreography for a new freestyle to the music of "Superman II." It is guaranteed to knock everyone's socks off! We'll see you, Stateside, soon! Adios!

Aug 1 - After spending time training at the farm of our U.S. team coach, Klaus Balkenhol, the six riders and their horses based there, traveled 3.5 hours to a little town in northwest Germany, called Elmlohe. The day before departure was spent packing and organizing the incredible amount of things needed for our venture as a group. There were two lorries (vans) for the horses, and another trailer attached to the back of one of the lorries -just for the equipment! We all arrived at Elmlohe smoothly, thanks to our navigation systems! Don't know what we would have done without them! The U.S. riders shined in both the Grand Prix and Grand Prix Special, topped off by Debbie McDonald and Brentina in the GP, followed by Guenter Seidel on Aragon, and Catherine Haddad on Maximus JSS . Debbie opted not to ride in the Special on Sunday. Guenter and Aragon were the stars, as were also Catherine and Maximus JSS, and Arlene Page and Wild One. Heather Blitz and Arabella put in an excellent performance to place fourth.

We will stable here until our departure for Verden CDI on Tuesday morning. Until then, continue to root for team USA!
Suzanne Dansby-Phelps