| 2018 World Equestrian Games | |
| Size: | 200px |
| Host City: | Mill Spring, North Carolina |
| Nations: | 79 |
| Athletes: | 702 |
| Events: | 29 in 8 disciplines |
| Website: | Tryon 2018 |
| Previous: | 2014 |
The 2018 FEI World Equestrian Games were held in Mill Spring, North Carolina, U.S. at the Tryon International Equestrian Center, from September 11 to September 23, 2018.[1] It was the eighth edition of the games, which are held every four years and run by the International Federation for Equestrian Sports (FEI). This was the second time that North America hosted the Games, the previous time being in 2010, also in the United States.
The initial bidding process for the 2018 edition of the World Equestrian Games started in 2011 with the initial application stage. Eight countries expressed their interest, and five of them became official candidates in 2012: Rabat, Bromont, Budapest, Vienna and Wellington. Australia, Russia and Sweden withdrew before the official candidature phase.[2]
By 2013, four of the official candidates dropped out, leaving only Bromont in the running. However, instead of awarding the Games to Canada, FEI decided to re-open the bidding process on July 1, 2013, as the Bromont bid was lacking financial support.[3] Bromont remained in the running and was joined by two USA candidates (Wellington and Lexington) as well as Great Britain.[4]
Great Britain and Wellington dropped out, leaving only Bromont and Lexington in contention. Bromont was finally awarded the hosting rights on June 9, 2014.[5]
Bromont withdrew from hosting in 2016, as the financial support was not secured.[6] Following Bromont's withdrawal, Mill Spring, North Carolina and Šamorín, Slovakia expressed their interest in hosting the event. Mill Spring was awarded the Games on November 3, 2016.
With the 2018 games, United States became the first nation to host the World Equestrian Games twice.
Appointment of (Olympic disciplines) officials was as follows:[7]
Anne Gribbons (Ground Jury President)
Andrew Gardner (Ground Jury Member)
Annette Fransen-Iacobaeus (Ground Jury Member)
Susan Hoevenaars (Ground Jury Member)
Cara Whitham (Technical Delegate)
Frances Hesketh-Jones (Ground Jury President) David M. Distler (Ground Jury Member) John Taylor (Ground Jury Member) Neill O'Connor (Ground Jury Member)
Leopoldo Palacios (Technical Delegate) Jane Hamlin (Ground Jury Member)
Andrew Bennie (Ground Jury Member)
Anne Prain (Ground Jury Member) Kristi Wysocki (Ground Jury Member) Suzanne Cunningham (Ground Jury Member) Sarah Leitch (Ground Jury Member)
Marc Urban (Ground Jury Member)Horses competing in the championships were flown in and out of Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport in Greer, South Carolina. They were then transported by horse trailers up to Tryon.
All times Eastern Daylight Time (UTC-4)
| ● | Event Competitions | 1 | Number of Gold Medal Events |
| style=width:18%; | September | style=width:4%; | 12 Wed | style=width:4%; | 13 Thu | style=width:4%; | 14 Fri | style=width:4%; | 15 Sat | style=width:4%; | 16 Sun | style=width:4%; | 17 Mon | style=width:4%; | 18 Tue | style=width:4%; | 19 Wed | style=width:4%; | 20 Thu | style=width:4%; | 21 Fri | style=width:4%; | 22 Sat | style=width:4%; | 23 Sun | style=width:6%; | Gold medal events |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dressage< | --12-->! style="background-color:#3399ff;" | ● | 1< | --14-->! style="background-color:#ffcc00;" | 1 | 1< | --17--> | 3 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Driving< | --12--> | ● < | --22-->! style="background-color:#3399ff;" | ● | 2 | 2 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Endurance< | --12-->! style="background-color:#ffcc00;" | 2 | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Eventing< | --12--> | ●< | --14-->! style="background-color:#3399ff;" | ● | ●< | --16-->! style="background-color:#ffcc00;" | 2 | 2 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Jumping< | --12--> | ●< | --20-->! style="background-color:#3399ff;" | ● | 1< | --22--> | 1 | 2 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Para-dressage< | --12--> | 3< | --19-->! style="background-color:#ffcc00;" | 2 | ●< | --21-->! style="background-color:#ffcc00;" | 1 | 5< | --23--> | 11 | |||||||||||||||||
| Reining< | --12-->! style="background-color:#ffcc00;" | 1 | ●< | --14--> | 1< | --16--> | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Vaulting< | --12--> | ●< | --19-->! style="background-color:#ffcc00;" | 1 | 1< | --21--> | 3< | --23--> | 5 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Total gold medal events | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 8 | 3 | 29 | ||||||||||||||
| Cumulative total | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 9 | 9 | 12 | 15 | 16 | 18 | 26 | 29 |
| Event Date | Starting Time | Event Details | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11 September | 19:30 | Opening Ceremony | |
| 23 September | 17:30 | Closing Ceremony |
| Event Date | Starting Time | Event Details | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12 September | 08:45 | Grand Prix Day 1 | |
| 13 September | 08:45 | Grand Prix Day 2 | |
| 14 September | 10:30 | Grand Prix Special | |
| 16 September | 08:30 | Grand Prix Freestyle |
| Event Date | Starting Time | Event Details | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 21 September | 11:00 | Dressage | |
| 22 September | 11:00 | Marathon | |
| 23 September | 09:30 | Obstacle Cones |
| Event Date | Starting Time | Event Details | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 13 September | 09:00 | Dressage Day 1 | |
| 14 September | 09:00 | Dressage Day 2 | |
| 15 September | 11:00 | Cross Country | |
| 16 September | 15:15 | Jumping |
| Event Date | Starting Time | Event Details | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 19 September | 09:00 | Speed Competition | |
| 20 September | 09:00 | Team Competition Day 1 | |
| 21 September | 13:30 | Team Competition Day 2 | |
| 23 September | 10:00 | Individual Competition |
| Event Date | Starting Time | Event Details | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12 September | 08:30 | Team Competition & 1st Ind. Qual. Round 1 | |
| 13 September | 14:00 | 2nd Ind. Qual. Competition | |
| 15 September | 18:00 | Individual Final Competition |
| Event Date | Starting Time | Event Details | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18 September | 09:30 | Compulsory Competitions (Men's, Women's, Squad) | |
| 19 September | 09:30 | Freestyle Competitions (Men's, Women's), Pas-de-Deux Qual., Team Freestyle Final | |
| 20 September | 12:00 | Freestyle Competition (Squad), Technical Competitions (Men's, Women's), Pas-de-Deux Final | |
| 22 September | 12:00 | Freestyle Finals (Men's, Women's, Squad) |
| Event Date | Starting Time | Event Details | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18 September | 08:30 | Ind. Champ. Test Grade II, IV & V | |
| 19 September | 08:30 | Ind. Champ. Test Grade I & III | |
| 20 September | 09:00 | Team Test Grade II, IV & V | |
| 21 September | 09:00 | Team Test Grade I & III | |
| 22 September | 09:30 | Ind. Freestyle Test Grade I, II, III, IV & V |
68 nations are scheduled to take part.[8]
Argentina (16) Australia (30)
Austria (23)
Bahrain (5) Belgium (26)
Bolivia (2)
Brazil (32) Canada (34)
China (5)
Colombia (6)
Czech Republic (12)
Ecuador (6)
Egypt (4)
Finland (7) France (29)
Georgia (1) Great Britain (31)
Hong Kong (5)
Hungary (7)
India (1)
Ireland (15)
Israel (7) Italy (33)
Japan (18)
Jordan (1)
Kazakhstan (1)
Lebanon (1)
Luxembourg (1)
Macedonia (1)
Mexico (14)
Morocco (2) New Zealand (13)
Norway (5)
Peru (2)
Poland (3)
Qatar (4)
Romania (2)
Russia (14)
Singapore (2)
Slovakia (4)
South Korea (2)
Spain (17) Sweden (17)
Thailand (1)
Ukraine (1) United States (43) Venezuela (4)| Individual special dressage | ||||
| Individual freestyle dressage | Competition cancelled due to Hurricane Florence[9] | |||
| Team dressage | Jessica von Bredow-Werndl on TSF Dalera BB Dorothee Schneider on Sammy Davis Jr. Sönke Rothenberger on Cosmo Isabell Werth on Bella Rose | Steffen Peters on Suppenkasper Adrienne Lyle on Salvino Kasey Perry-Glass on Goerklintgaards Dublet Laura Graves on Verdades | Spencer Wilton on Super Nova II Emile Faurie on Dono di Maggio Carl Hester on Hawtins Delicato Charlotte Dujardin on Mount St John Freestyle |
| Individual driving | ||||
| Team driving | James Fairclough Misdee Wrigley-Miller Chester Weber | Bram Chardon Koos de Ronde IJsbrand Chardon | Dries Degrieck Glenn Geerts Edouard Simonet |
| Individual endurance | Competition abandoned due to excessive heat and humidity[10] | |
| Team endurance | Competition abandoned due to excessive heat and humidity |
| Individual eventing | ||||
| Team eventing | Rosalind Canter on Allstar B Piggy French on Quarrycrest Echo Tom McEwen on Toledo de Kerser Gemma Tattersall on Arctic Soul | Padraig McCarthy on Mr Chunky Sarah Ennis on Horseware Stellor Rebound Sam Watson on Horseware Ardagh Highlight Cathal Daniels on Rioghan Rua | Thibaut Vallette on Qing du Briot ENE HN Maxime Livio on Opium de Verrieres Sidney Dufresne on Tresor Mail Donatien Schauly on Pivoine des Touches |
| Individual jumping | ||||
| Team jumping | Devin Ryan on Eddie Blue Adrienne Sternlicht on Cristalline Laura Kraut on Zeremonie McLain Ward on Clinta | Henrik von Eckermann on Toveks Mary Lou Malin Baryard-Johnsson on H&M Indiana Fredrik Jönsson on Cold Play Peder Fredricson on H&M Christian K | Simone Blum on DSP Alice Laura Klaphake on Catch Me If You Can OLD Maurice Tebbel on Don Diarado Marcus Ehning on Pret A Tout |
| Individual reining | ||||
| Team reining | Casey Deary on Heavy Duty Chex Cade Mccutcheon on Custom Made Gun Daniel Huss on Miss Dreamy Jordan Larson on ARC Gunnabeabigstar | Dries Verschueren on Smart'n'Sparkin Ann Poels on Made In Walla Cira Baeck on Gunners Snappy Chic Bernard Fonck on What a Wave | Grischa Ludwig on Ruf Lil Diamond Markus Süchting on Spotlight Charly Robin Schoeller on Wimpy Kaweah Julia Schumacher on Coeurs Little Tyke |
| Men's individual | ||||
| Women's individual | ||||
| Squad | Thomas Brüsewitz Torben Jacobs Jana Zelesny Chiara Congia Justin van Gerven Corinna Knauf on Danny Boy OLD lunged by Patric Looser | Nadja Büttiker Ramona Näf Elisabeth Bieri Aline Koller Kyra Seiler Samira Koller on Rayo de la Luz lunged by Monika Winkler-Bischofberger | Lisa Wild Katharina Luschin Magdalena Riegler Barbara Hruza Nikolaus Luschin Leonie Poljc on Alessio l'Amabile lunged by Maria Lehrmann | |
| Pas-de-deux | Lorenzo Lupacchini Silvia Stopazzini on Rosenstolz lunged by Laura Carnabuci | Jasmin Lindner Lukas Wacha on Dr. Doolittle lunged by Klaus Haidacher | Janika Derks Johannes Kay on Dark Beluga lunged by Barbara Rosiny | |
| Team | Kristina Boe (i) on Don de la Mar lunged by Winnie Schlüter Jannik Heiland (i) on Dark Beluga lunged by Barbara Rosiny Thomas Brüsewitz (s) Torben Jacobs (s) Jana Zelesny (s) Chiara Congia (s) Justin van Gerven (s) Corinna Knauf (s) on Danny Boy OLD lunged by Patric Looser | Nadja Büttiker (i) on Acardi van de Kapel lunged by Monika Winkler-Bischofberger Lukas Heppler (i) on Acardi van de Kapel lunged by Monika Winkler-Bischofberger Nadja Büttiker (s) Ramona Näf (s) Elisabeth Bieri (s) Aline Koller (s) Kyra Seiler (s) Samira Koller (s) on Rayo de la Luz lunged by Monika Winkler-Bischofberger | Katharina Luschin (i) on Fairytale lunged by Maria Lehrmann Lisa Wild (i) on Fairytale lunged by Maria Lehrmann Lisa Wild (s) Katharina Luschin (s) Magdalena Riegler (s) Barbara Hruza (s) Nikolaus Luschin (s) Leonie Poljc (s) on Alessio l'Amabile lunged by Maria Lehrmann |
| Individual championship grade I | ||||
| Individual championship grade II | ||||
| Individual championship grade III | ||||
| Individual championship grade IV | ||||
| Individual championship grade V | ||||
| Individual freestyle grade I | ||||
| Individual freestyle grade II | ||||
| Individual freestyle grade III | ||||
| Individual freestyle grade IV | ||||
| Individual freestyle grade V | ||||
| Team para-dressage | Frank Hosmar on Alphaville N.O.P. Nicole den Dulk on Wallace N.O.P. Sanne Voets on Demantur N.O.P. Rixt van der Horst on Findsley | Sophie Wells on C Fatal Attraction Lee Pearson on Styletta Natasha Baker on Mount St John Diva Dannebrog Erin Orford on Dior | Regine Mispelkamp on Look At Me Now Dr. Angelika Trabert on Diamond's Shine Steffen Zeibig on Feel Good Elke Philipp on Fuerst Sinclair |
Host nation
See main article: article and Hurricane Florence. Hurricane Florence hit the Tryon International Equestrian Center and the surrounding area during the first week of the World Equestrian Games.[11] Reported impacts included heavy rainfall and increased gusts of wind. A special contingency plan has been addressed for the situation.[12] [13]
The contingency plan included accommodating all horses on-venue in permanent barns, moving grooms accommodated on-site to permanent buildings at the venue, advising shelter locations for all personnel, continuing discussions with airports and Emirates airline on any necessary steps regarding horse arrivals/departures, ensuring smaller tents in the vendor area are tie-strapped together for security, carrying out additional drainage/water channeling to prevent flooding, purchasing additional fuel tanks and filling all fuel tanks to run the generators, preparing to remove fence scrim already installed and taking down flags.
Alongside the World Equestrian Games, Tryon International Equestrian Center was supposed to host the inaugural WEQx Games. WEQx Games were scheduled to feature nine spectator-friendly equine competitions that should "highlight the accessibility, diversity, athleticism, and passion for horses and horse sport for athletes of all ages".[14]
WEQx Events:
The program got cancelled amidst Hurricane Florence and various organizational setbacks (delayed construction of venues, budget cuts, low ticket sales).