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Yesterday was a day off from the finals and I went with my family to the funfair in Gothenburg. The weather was not that good, but we did see the sun at some point and tried some of the carousels. In the evening I rode the Grand Prix with Wisconsin. He jumped really good, but the luck is not quite on my side this weekend and I had one fence down as well as one time penalty. Then I just had to wait for the final day to begin!

Carlo has jumped really well the entire weekend, but again the luck has not been on my side this weekend and you really need the luck to make it in a championship like this. Today in the first round it was a shit mistake. The pole might as well have stayed in the cup and then I would have won! That’s how close this race is. I am very happy with Carlo though. The clear in the second round was super super. We’ll come back!

Unfortunatley one down for Sergio and Carlo in Gothenburg today. Photo by Jenny Abrahamsson.I had another nice day with my family in Gothenburg today. We went for a walk in the city before I watched the 1.50 class. I also jogged Carlo a little at 4, and then the world cup started at 6 pm. The class had many clears. In my opinion maybe a bit too many clears to be a world cup final. Carlo was jumping very good, and I am a bit mad with myself for having four faults as I think it was my mistake. I went a bit too flat on the brown oxer and that was it. The rest was good, but unfortunately I think we are a bit too far from the top three on Sunday.

Our guest blogger from Gothenburg is the winner of the Western European League 2012/2013; Sergio Alvarez Moya. Photo by Jenny Abrahamsson.The final in Gothenburg is finally on, and I must say that my first time in Gothenburg has so far been really nice. I really enjoy it here and I have my entire family with me which of course is a big support. Somehow it never fitted into my plans earlier, but I will probably be back because it is a really good show. The big warm-up here is very good for Carlo and the stables are nice as well.

The last weeks I have not done that much extra with Carlo. When I first got him right before the World Cup season, I started doing shows straight away, and I never really had the time to check his blood and everything. In January when I knew that I had qualified for the final, I took a little break to be at home. My wife and I were expecting our first baby so I wanted to spend some time with them, and then I also took the time to check Carlo.

Clear in Grand Palais!!Today was an amazing day!!!!  O guess I was saving the best for last!!!We started this morning riding the two in the ring at 8- katie set an interesting line of rails on the ground. It was a very short one, easy one, medium one, long one, VERY long one- and I did it both directions on both horses to practice my control after going so fast on both. As it was set up, a couple other riders tried to do it as well but didn't realize that Katie likes to set things on ridiculous difficult distances for her students to make it hard and no one else could do it! Several tried- the funniest was Bosty! He kept trying to do it and chipping in two strides in the last one- several times! I love it over here, everyone has so much personality and really enjoys riding, even early in the morning on the last day :)

Reed and Bosti pair upDay 3 in Paris- I have very mixed motions about today- I was the fastest in both classes- by quite a big margin in the first- but had rails!

To be the fastest against the top 30 is quite an accomplishment but to be so close to glory and have a rail at the end is so annoying!!! No one was touching Hansi's time in the first speed of 54 seconds- I was 2 seconds faster but a bit too fast into the combination at the very end!! In the pairs class Bosty and I were both very fast but I had the last jump down. If I can just jump clean tomorrow I will be a very happy girl because I think I'm covered on the speed front...

Show timeDay two was what I would call our introduction back into "indoors". I think most of us who have been competing outside, specifically in the huge ring in Wellington, had a difficult enough first day transitioning back into an indoor arena, especially a very small indoor arena!

I jogged my two horses first thing then rode in the ring with the Cadre Noir- I tried to copy but their flatwork is better than mine I think.... The first class was a 1.45 2 phase not world ranking so most people used it to school. I was going to try anyways with Goose but I had an early rail and so I schooled and then pulled up after the first phase to save him for the rest of the more important classes.

Saut Hermes!Hi everyone!!!

It is a pleasure to be the World of Show Jumping blogger again for this week's Saut Hermes at the Grand Palais in the heart of Paris! My horses, Cylana and Ligist, shipped over last week and I flew over Sunday night. We spent a few days in Chantilly at Fursan's farm which was lovely. However there was one scary moment where a couple stallions broke out of their stalls in the middle of the night and came for Cylana. Unfortunately for them, they picked the wrong mare! If you know anything about her personality, you know that she is not afraid to express her dislike for behavior that does not suit her and that those two stallions ended up sincerely regretting bothering her.... She however is in beautiful shape! In fact, I think she quite enjoyed getting to take her rage out on someone/something without being yelled at... At any rate everyone was very lucky because these things happen and it could have been far worse!

Katie McVean with Leopoldo Palaccio and top trainer Jeff McVean.Hi !! The show has finished and it was an honour to be part if it. We didn't win the GP but we came out guns blazing for Speed Horse of the Year. First up was Zara ( Zehrenland) but a rail added to our score amazingly she was so fast she went into the lead anyway (time added)... Katie made a quick call to Emma to throw a bridle in Zoe (Zasjany); "Do you want a saddle?" Was Emma's reply!! Haha rush to the ring with dust and all Zoe jumped and turned didn't miss a beat finished in first place - clean fast and clear!! What a super pony she was on fire!

Team McVean minus Katie... L to R ....Yours truly, head groom Helen, Emma , Veteran australian Olympic rider Jeff McVean, and Vicki McVean, (Katie's Mum).Day 5 of the Horse of the Year show in Hastings New Zealand and the champions sashes are merrily decorating the Team McVean headquarters.

Last night the big class also incorporated a team competition between Australia and New Zealand. As usual there were a lot of starters but only one double clear, we had 3 horses in the class and our best finishing score was 9 faults. That earned Katie 6th place but Australia won the test match convincingly.

Breeze and Banderas having a sneaky lie in.Hi from down under!! Today was an awesome day by anyone's standards I'm not sure if it has been matched or equaled but to be part of it was very special! We had the lady rider of the year class here in New Zealand and Katie had 4 runners.... There were plenty of contenders for the class.. The course was set the sun shone shone and the riders warmed up their mounts....about 60 lady riders from New Zealand plus the Aussie squad tackled the challengeing course but only one girl... The Golden Girl was able to jump clear. Not only one horse but on three out of her four rides Miss McVean showed us why she is the Kiwi Queen and no one could question her skill... She produced the only 3 clears in the class!! It was an incredible result and another super 1st place for Springfield being the fastest clear she didn't go into a jump off against ourselves haha that would have been funny!