We had breakfast this morning with Mauricio Guererra, the competition manager for Equestrian, and got up to speed on all the things that going on in our sport here in Guadalajara. There are some changes, but flexibility is key at any Games so we are rolling with it. We met up with Kerri Macgregor, the Chef d'Mission from Canada and her assistant Tina and they came on the 3-hour-tour with Mauricio.
View from our Stables to the Warm-Up
We went to the venue with him and had a tour of the jumping and dressage venue. There are already horses here and although there was quite the variety of shapes and sizes - they all seemed happy. The venue is lovely, the Guadalajara Country Club is full of trees. They are still setting up the front of house but the stables are massive, deeply bedded and light and the horses that have arrived look happy and comfortable in their new home.
Stables Are Already Busy
Everyone is very friendly and helpful. They have done loads of work on the footing and it is evident. The horses were getting across the ground well as we watch both jumping and dressage riding together. There is a great area that will be used for grazing or waiting to go in the ring but there is a riders’ canteen in the middle of it and in a grove of trees would be a nice spot to have a coffee. Ironically it is on the practice hole of the country club’s golf course and they are playing golf on the other side of the fence.
Riders Canteen in Grazing Area
The tennis courts are really busy too – seems like life is going on as usual despite the influx of people, horses, equipment and set up crews. They are laid back here, and our horse show isn’t going to get in the way of anyone playing nine holes of golf. We also visited the grooms’ hotel for eventing, it is secured like Alcatraz.
We got back to the hotel where we set up our office and had some lunch. We then took our maiden voyage to Wal Mart (my third lifetime trip) to get some supplies for the stables. A lot of Spanglish flew around but we got most of what we needed extraordinarily cheap. My semester of living in Spain junior year of college is serving me adequately-ish. But we are getting along just fine.
Horse Path to Main Ring
My allergy to something here has been further localized to the hotel – I am only allergic to the indoors. Luckily for me, we spend a lot of time outside these walls.
The View from Where the VIP Seats Will
More (hopefully exciting) news tomorrow – the dressage horses arrive early afternoon!
Will write more then,
Joanie