| The rapidly approaching 2010 FEI World Equestrian | | | | following over the past 8 years as a result. |
| Games are moving onto U.S. territory for the first time | | | | The coming 2010 games bring forth another first time |
| since their inception in 1990. There have been a few | | | | event for the prestigious global competition: Para |
| near disastrous occurrences which threatened to | | | | Dressage. In this, the 8th discipline inception to the |
| postpone or dismiss the games over the years, | | | | games, those with physical handicaps will be given the |
| including a late cancellation by Dublin for the scheduled | | | | opportunity to perform and compete on the world |
| event of 1998, but the honor and endurance of the | | | | stage. This is an enormous step forward in the push |
| games seems to match that of the horse and rider | | | | toward the use of equestrian training and bonding as a |
| teams who participate in them every four years. | | | | therapeutic tool for children and adults with mental and |
| Residents of Kentucky and fans countrywide who | | | | physical disabilities. Because the most demanding and |
| have never been given the opportunity to see, smell, | | | | difficult maneuvers are performed through slight |
| experience, and celebrate the event first hand are | | | | pressure and cues, dressage offers the perfect |
| flocking and scrambling for tickets, reservations, and | | | | opportunity for both horse and rider to achieve |
| home rentals in the Lexington area. | | | | miraculous and beautiful unison. |
| The games begun with only 6 disciplines and in 1998 | | | | Before 1990, the six original disciplines which now |
| the eventing leg of the world games was held | | | | compete in the World Equestrian Games were |
| separately from the remaining 5 legs. The 2002 | | | | contested separately every four years. As the |
| games brought reining into the arena, and this seventh | | | | championship grand slam continues to grow, reeling in |
| discipline did not disappoint the deeply traditional and | | | | fans from all places, ages, and walks of life, horses are |
| ever-so-slightly biased crowd. Historically, quarter | | | | once again changing the course of history and taking |
| horses had been considered as beautiful, strong, and | | | | their place at the helm of yet another revolution. The |
| worthy competitors, but not suitable for the World | | | | games become more accessible and tangible, offering |
| Games arena. Reining is as artful, difficult, spell-binding, | | | | inspiration and determination to a new generation of |
| and skill demanding as dressage, the crowd soon | | | | true horse people, and an awesome spectacle of |
| learned, and the new circuit has drawn an enormous | | | | beauty and sportsmanship to us all. |