"Let the Games Begin!"

Australian Entertainer, Horseman and award winning Poet, Guy McLean, will perform at 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games "Equine Village." In celebration of the games, McLean released an incredible 32-verse poem, "Let the Games Begin," especially dedicated to Dr. and Mrs. Lyons of Alltech, the State of Kentucky and the Kentucky Horse Park.

McLean will be appearing in an interview on the 2010 Radio Show, part of the Horse Radio Network, and to recite his poem to music as a part of the Games celebration. You can hear him on episode 110 that will be available to listen to at www.2010radioshow.com on Wednesday, Sept. 22, 2010.

(To read the balance of the press release, and to see Guys scheduled appearances and contact information, please scroll to bottom of the poem below.)

Let the Games Begin

There’s a rumble in the paddocks
In the stables, on the plains
The equestrian world is rolling
Towards the game of games

They’ve been preparing in arenas
In the forest, down the road
Honing skills and toning muscles
Now they’re ready to explode

Decades of breeding, years of training
Horse and man combined as one
Their time for glory, coming
Their chance to shine beneath the sun

Many hours of competition
Between the best in the land
Till the finest rise before their country
For their nation, make a stand

They come from many backgrounds
From the fortunate, to the battler, proud
But on the battle field, they’re equals
In the arena in front of a crowd

…Of loud and patriotic followers
Of everything that’s horse
They’ll ride each jump, piaffe and spin
With the rider on the course

Their gasps will note the brilliant
The dangerous and gallant
They have come to see the very best
And they’ll marvel at the talent

...That the world has placed before them
On this platform made of gold
Lexington will be the birth place
Of the history to unfold

Records broken, memories branded
In the hearts and minds and souls
Of all that come to witness
Champions, who dare to reach their goals

You will see their flags a flying
As the colours of the world
Light up the flag poles with their glory
As their destiny unfurls

So will it be the powerhouse teams
That set the stage alight
Will the champions of games gone past
Rise proud once more beyond the fight

...Or will there be an upset
As an underdog excels
That’s the glory of the games
The truth is, only time will tell

There is Germany in ‘Dressage’
America in ‘Reining’
They’re expected to win out
But you can bet that somewhere, straining

There are special individuals
Who have come to change the trend
To rise above their station
With a message yet to send

That one man alone is helpless
But when you combine him with a horse
He can be anything he dreams of
And as one, can change life’s course

From the beauty of the ‘Vaulting’
Where the equine gymnasts soar
To the razzle dazzle of the ‘Reining’
Where the audience will roar

Whilst somewhat more refined
You will hear the silent gasps
At the magic of the ‘Dressage’
As they’re held in actions grasp

Where the women and the men
Battle it out on the same stage
The equalizer is the noble horse
That puts them on the same blank page

To see a dainty lady
On over half a tonne of muscle
Compete and conquer all
Amidst the daring tussle

...Is what makes this World Games different
The fact that strength alone can’t win
It is balance, poise and bravery
A connection from within

From the power of the ‘Jumping’
To the pure finesse of ‘Driving’
To ‘Endurance’ and ‘Eventing’
You will see them, straining, striving

In the ‘Para Dressage’
You’ll be touched, but don’t be fooled
These combinations are exceptional
The humble horse, a powerful tool

They will rise above adversity
And prove themselves elite
For the horse will be their strength
Be their power, be their feet

A moulding pot of nationalities
Of traditions and of breeds
The Games, their sacred Holy Grail
The platform for their daring deeds

From ‘G’day Mate’ from the Aussies
To ‘Howdy’ from the hosts
There is sure to be some accents
Some stories, laughs and toasts

It is more than competition
More than victory and gold
It is history in the making
For the whole world to behold

From the toddler in the push cart
To the old man with his staff
They are all a part of the magic
As they walk along the path

That has brought them all together
To celebrate the bond
That man and horse has shared for centuries
Our job now, to carry on

From the exhilarating to the heartfelt
From the daring to precise
As we watch these luminaries
With veins jam packed with ice

From ‘Warmblood’ to ‘Quarter Horse’
From ‘Arab’ to ‘Thoroughbred’
They will thrill us with their brilliance
As they fill our hearts and heads

From foals, their lives pre destined
To excel above all others
To combine with human partner
To succeed as one like brothers

It’s time, the world is ready
All who witness it will win
WEG Kentucky, we’re all excited
So let the games begin

Written by Guy Mclean August 2010
Copyright Guy McLean August 2010

Award winning poet, horseman and entertainer Guy McLean and Clay Maier of the Equine Village at the Kentucky Horse Park announced today that Guy and his incredible horses will be performing at the Equine Village from October 7-9, during the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games. Maier stated, "We are thrilled that we are able to confirm Guy's act and to finally make public that he and his horses will be one of the many highlights of entertainment during the multitude of performances we have scheduled at the Equine Village. Guy is certainly one of the great talents of the equestrian world and is truly an entertainer in every sense of the word. Guy’s acts have thrilled the general public, as well as accomplished horsemen and women in Australia for many years. One of the core purposes of creating the Equine Village is to provide an educational, entertaining and introductory environment to people within the non-horse general public, and Guy’s act certainly provides those qualities."

McLean, who recently arrived in the U.S. with his specialty act horses from Australia, will commence his U.S.-wide tour starting with his appearances at the Games, and will also be doing preferred and personal appearances, acts and recitals at special events throughout the area as a part of the Games celebrations.

McLean stated, "I am incredibly grateful and proud for the opportunity to be able to perform for the Games, the State of Kentucky and indeed represent my own country. I wrote this poem with everyone and everything in mind that is associated with the Games worldwide, however I would like to especially dedicate my work to all of the incredible hard working and selfless people from top to bottom, who made these Games possible, and specifically those at Alltech, the Kentucky Horse Park, and to the people of the state, as well as Mr. Jamie Link and the organizing committee. Ms. Kathy Hopkins and Clay Maier of the Equine Village have been incredible in their personal support and efforts in accommodating and inviting me to perform for the spectators of the Equine Village, and I look forward to performing and sharing my craft amongst the world's finest equestrian athletes and clinicians at the Kentucky Horse Park."

About Guy McLean
Guy is a self taught horseman who can entertain, teach and engage a crowd for ten minutes or two hours. Whether the crowd has never seen a horse or they have spent a lifetime around them, the reaction and appreciation is the same. In 2005, Guy won the Australian Horsemanship Challenge, competing against the best in the country, whereby the contestants had two hours to start an unbroken young horse and perform a set routine. He is also a two-time Australian Bush Poetry Champion and was named "Ambassador of the Outback" in 2002 and 2006. Guy is an also an expert Australian whip cracker, which he incorporates into his acts.

Guy and his team of incredible horses have won the hearts and minds of millions of the general public on stages and in arenas across the nation in Royal Shows, at Outback Spectaculars, International Rodeos, State Exhibitions and countless special appearances, both live and on television, as well as major equestrian shows, such as Equitana Asia Pacific. Popular poems include: Our Outback, Without Faith & Heroes. These poems have been heard over radio and television networks across Australia.

ENDS