World of Showjumping
World of ShowjumpingWorld of Showjumping
Menu

Sean Lynch: Hello from across the pond!

Tuesday, 09 March 2021
WEF 2021

Photo © Ashley Neuhof Photography Team Double D has been unstoppable at the Winter Equestrian Festival! Photo © Ashley Neuhof Photography

Hey everyone, me again – feels like forever since I did my last blog, meaning we are still in the corona situation. Although now that seems to be the new normal, taking the mask in the morning before the telephone.

I would just like to take a small minute of your day to think about the horses that have lost their battle with the EHV-1. My thoughts go out to each and everyone involved and to those who have suffered tragic losses. 

For now, we are in Wellington with Daniel and Zoe who have 13 horses in total here. The days are busy and long, showing and running around. I must say the horse show protocols are taken seriously. There are limited accreditations and no public. Every time you enter the show, temperature is taken, masks are on 24/7, accreditation scanned everywhere you go. It’s very well organised and run. I would like to say thanks to everyone involved, for us to have a normalish life over here jumping at top level and having horse shows going. Apart from that, off the show ground, I must say here it’s like corona never even happened – everything is open as normal.

Photo © private collection Tobago is now here, which makes me happy as anything.

Photo © private collection Our home stables in Wellington.

So week 7 at WEF was an amazing week for Team Double D! Tobago is now here, which makes me happy as anything. He won the WEF Challenge Cup and was 2nd in the 1.50 Sunday Grand Prix! Hey USA, the small pony is here! We also won the 1.45 speed on Friday with Kiana. Plus, a little 4th place in the 5* Grand Prix on Saturday night with the fabulous Killer Queen! What a week, not sure that happens too often! It’s nice to have long days when the ponies are being that good! 

Last Monday was beach day! The sun was shining and I’m trying to fix my t-shirt tan as it’s a little embarrassing! Again, it’s a bit normal here, I mean everyone keeps their distance but there are still people enough on the beach! 

The one thing I realised I missed was the restaurants; you know someone else cooking! I mean, I don’t mind being a house-wife but I run out of ideas on what to cook! At one point before leaving for Wellington I was already googeling “what to make for dinner tonight”. 

Photo © private collection Show stables at WEF.

America is actually amazing; drive-thru for everything – banks, coffee, pharmacy and food! And everything delivered too! Having a busy day, click the button and Starbucks is at the home stable! I will come back poorer and fatter than when I left! But at least we are enjoying the moment in these crazy, scary and unsure times.

Last week, it was the Nations Cup here and although Germany didn’t have a team, we jumped the other classes. Not here for holiday are we now! The horses were fantastic again, with Tobago winning the CSIO4* Grand Prix! 

Here we have a “check-in”-system, and it varies every week. Last week it was on a Tuesday, with the check-in you need to be at the show grounds between 9-11am or you don’t show! Vets wait outside the entrance to the FEI to check your numbers, passports (including up-to-date vaccines), check the temperature of the horse and the general their well-being. Then arriving at the security point, my temperature is taken with the temp-guns! I always feel like they are shooting me, I sometimes duck as a natural reflex! Then 12pm midday vet-check will start. It can be a longer process seeing as there is normally two events at the same time! So, there are enough horses to vet-check! 

Photo © private collection Last Monday was beach day!

I was praying that it would not be as hot as a couple of weeks ago! I honestly felt like I was at the point of melting! And that’s not good for someone of my body type (too many iced coffees and fast food later).

Would also appear I forgot the Nations Cup vet-check rules, like order of country! And seeing as I vet check Daniel's and Zoe's horses, would appear Belgium was the country first up and I completely forgot – was going along at my own pace no stress, to be running like a lunatic!! 

Once again, I would like to say to everyone involved in these crazy, horrible and unpredictable times to please stay safe.... Tell your loved ones you love them, give your horse an extra carrot and follow all protocols! 

Until next time!

Sean 



This photo has been added to your cart !

Your shopping cart »
This website is using cookies for statistics, site optimization and retargeting purposes. You consent to our cookies if you continue to use this website. Read more here.