A very clever way of hiding empty stands at the beginning of the week: Give your sponsors some extra exposure!

A view over the big warm-up.

The arena.

Christian Ahlmann's Taloubet Z grabs a snack on the way out of the ring.

Is this what we can call hanging around?!

On every start list there was an explanation about the class. A great way to involve non-horsey audience in the sport.

At the prize givings, all the horses were served some gras in the hope that they would keep quiet: Here Henrik von Eckermann receiving his congratulations.

Well, one of us is a sucker for yellow flowers... (And she's Swedish)

Captain Canada Ian Millar and Dixson in action.

Kevin Staut relaxing ahead of the class (and we love the hat).

Maikel van der Vleuten waiting for his turn.

During the Parade of the Nations Canada's riders Ian Millar, Ben Asselin and Marius Deslauriers showed some up-and-coming stars.

Also Lorenzo De Luca had found a new star to take him to the top of the world rankings.

Pius Schwizer happy with Leonard de la Ferme CH.

Some show organizers could probably learn quite a lot from Spruce Meadows about how to take care of their sponsors. One thing they do is to seat the sponsors in the middle of the arena during their class, and when the riders enter the arena they salute the sponsor.

Scott Brash and Hello Forever in full focus.

Any holes in the ground are filled up with green sand, so it always looks like the grass is totally intact.

Just a bit of height difference there... Ian Millar and Kent Farrington during the course walk.

Henrik von Eckermann's Chacanno flying over the open water.

A smile from Steve Guerdat.

The only 15-year-old Thibault Philippaerts impressed a lot, and when clearing all the fences Extra deserved a hug.