WEG BLOG BY A BGA MEMBER

The BGA has so many members working at WEG 2014, too many to list here, but we wish them all lots of luck over the coming couple of weeks. BGA members work not just for Team GBR but also for AUS, IRE, JPN, USA etc etc...!

Alas we are not able to make it out to WEG 2014 ourselves, however BGA member Imogen Mercer (pictured above) has agreed to write a blog of her Games experience... over to you Imogen!

TUESDAY 2nd SEPTEMBER
Sunday was show jumping day and with Sam and Brocks lying individually in 17th, and the Australian team lying in bronze medal position there was all to play for.

First job was to get past the final trot up - both Sam and Brocks looked super smart (right!)

Wow well what an amazing experience going to the main equestrian arena. The crowd really were something else with how vocal they were and certainly something I'll never forget!

It was an hour to Caen from Haras and then the horses were put into boxes for the day so they could rest before the jumping started at 2.30pm. It can't have been easy for the horses having to travel again and to have another change in environment - it wasn't easy for us anyway!

We couldn't have been prouder of Brocks and the way she jumped and looked on the final day. She gave another amazing performance [Sam and Brocks had one unlucky pole down to finish in 17th, with the Australian team finishing in fifth]. Brocks is now enjoying a lovely long holiday!

There is no rest for us though and after a celebratory night on the ferry we have turned around and are currently en-route to Burghley! Not that I am complaining though, I am defo. feeling lucky to have just been to the World Championships and now off to one of the best 4* in the world!

Thank you for reading my blog, I hope you enjoyed a snippet into life as a professional eventing groom.


SUNDAY 31st AUGUST
So yesterday (Saturday) was an amazing day for team Australia and really showed the strength of our riders.

I always feel very nervous before they head out on course but what an amazing feeling when Sam and Brocks jumped through those finish flags!

She's pulled up great and is feeling very well so that always makes things nice and easy. She had some routine icing last night just like you would to any human athlete after a long run.

We are now in a police convoy on the way to Caen to go to the main stadium for the showjumping today.

The Australian team is currently in bronze position and Sam is sitting nicely in the top 20! Let's hope for an exciting day!

FRIDAY 29th AUGUST
Yesterday was test day and that's always stressful enough! We were on at 9.54 so Sam was up to ride at 7am. I always like to be prepared as you never know he may need to ride more than once before his test, so I was up to feed and half plait Brocks before 7.


I always feel very nervous at the big events when Sam is performing. I think it is because you know the time and effort that has gone in just for that one dressage test so you're just wiling for everything to go the best it can!

Today (Friday) is a rest day for Brocks and she'll go for a nice hack and plenty of grazing. The ground is still very wet here however the sun is currently shining which we are all enjoying!

Cross country tomorrow which is always the big test.


WEDNESDAY 27th AUGUST
Today is trot up day and that's a busy enough day, it means lots of cleaning and polishing! Sam has an arena familiarisation this morning at 10am then that gives me plenty of time to get Brocks ready to trot up at about 3pm this afternoon!

Dependent on her dressage she then may have another light ride after the trot up, or I will just take her grazing for an hour in hand.

When we come away you always have to remember what the horses would normally be doing at home and how much they would be moving around that's why we want to give her one or two rides a day and then the same amount of grazing. It's important for them to have their heads down and to keep moving around.

The atmosphere has built up within the stables as we were one of the first nations to arrive on Monday now the stables are full and it's all very exciting. We've got a lovely group of grooms and we've all been able to get to know each other well being in camp together last week which makes the whole WEG experience even better.


MONDAY 25th AUGUST 2014
We set off from Unicorn training camp at 6pm on Sunday to catch the 11pm ferry from Portsmouth to Caen and luckily we had a smooth crossing!

As we arrived in Caen we started to hear messages that they were stopping crossings from Portsmouth as the bad weather was heading in so we feel lucky to be here and settled. I am currently sat in the canteen at Haras Du Pin listening to the rain hammering down!

Today (Monday) is just a quiet day for the horses. We have had a team trot up to check that the horses haven't picked up any aches or pains on the way over and then they had a light hack around to loosen them off.

Standing on the lorry for about 12 hours affects each horse differently so you just have to be prepared for anything and hope they travel well don't get too stressed... eat and drink. What a dream that would be!

I'm lucky Brocks is sensible and does all those things and as we only had one other horse on the lorry - TS Jamaimo so they had plenty of space to put their heads down and move about a bit.

It was so exciting driving up to the venue and it has all become very real! I will be in touch again in the next few days!


SATURDAY 23rd AUGUST 2014

Hi I'm Imogen Mercer and I've been working for Australian 3 day eventer Sam Griffiths for three years now!

I've groomed at Badminton (we won it!) and Burghley before; WEG will be my first championship and luckily it's just across the channel.

We've made it into the Australian Team Camp which is being held at The Unicorn Centre at Stow-on-the-Wold which is great to get everyone together meet the Aussies who have flown over and get the finer details on training!

The days are jam packed with training sessions,physio and vet checks for the horses but also the riders doing fitness and us groom's together with the vets and physios and discuss how to get the best from our horses and how to organise getting all the kit to France.

There's a great feel amongst the whole squad and things are really starting to get exciting ready to leave on Sunday evening for Caen!

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