WORLD EQUESTRIAN GAMES:Starting this weekend and continuing until October 10th, the games are being held outside Europe for the first time. Margie McLoonereports

THE SIXTH FEI World Equestrian Games start this weekend in Lexington, Kentucky, the first time the event has been staged outside Europe. With team and individual riders from 58 nations in eight disciplines, the largest ever commercial airlift of horses will see over 500 animals being flown to the United States for the 16-day competition.

When the games were first held in Stockholm in 1990 there were only six disciplines – dressage, driving, endurance riding, eventing, show jumping and vaulting – and the same competitions were staged when they moved to The Hague four years later.

Ireland was due to host the 1998 renewal but plans for this fell through and, with just a year’s notice, the Italians stepped in to hold the world championships in five disciplines with the endurance competitions being held in Dubai.

Reining was added to the programme for the 2002 games in Jerez de Frontera and kept its place when the event was last staged in Aachen four years ago. Para dressage has been included in the schedule at Kentucky and Ireland will be represented in this discipline and also in dressage, eventing, reining and show jumping. Col Ned Campion, a former Officer Commanding the the Army Equitation School and a competitor in show jumping at the Mexico City Olympics in 1968, is chef de mission for the Irish squads.

Campion’s son Ted is a bloodstock agent living in Kentucky and the Bluegrass State is home to many others from this country working in the horse industry. Coolmore’s Ashford Stud in Versailles, less than 30km from Lexington, is one of the Irish-owned farms hosting some of our delegation during the event. This country’s connection to the 2010 games is further strengthened by the fact that the title sponsor, Alltech, was founded by Dundalk-born Dr Pearse Lyons, president of the global animal health and nutrition company which has its headquarters in Kentucky and a research, development and manufacturing facility in Dunboyne.

The games are being staged in the Kentucky Horse Park, a 1,000-acre plus equestrian facility on the outskirts of Lexington which is dedicated to man’s relationship with the horse. For the games, some permanent additions and upgrades have been made to the park including the construction of a 6,000-seat indoor arena and a new 7,500-seat outdoor stadium. Temporary facilities include extra seating for the outdoor arena to cater for 30,000 spectators and a 6,000-seat driving stadium. As with all major international sporting events, temporary structures include hospitality chalets, a tradeshow village, a media centre, etc.

These championships are the first chance to qualify Irish teams for the 2012 Olympics in London and to achieve this goal the eventing and show jumping squads must finish in the top five. The six event horses, and Ireland’s sole dressage horse, arrived in Kentucky on Monday having spent 42 hours’ quarantine in Cincinnati following a nine-hour flight from Liege airport in Belgium. The show jumping horses leave for the US on Monday for the games.

A couple of combinations representing Ireland are based permanently in America including Cavan man Ollie Galligan, who competes in the individual reining championships which start on Tuesday while dressage rider Judy Reynolds will be among those taking part in the individual Grand Prix special the next morning. A number of Irish people are officiating at the games including Dubliner David Lee, who is on ground jury for the three-day event which begin on Thursday while the show jumping championships begin on October 4th.

The individual para dressage competition starts the next day and here Ireland will be represented by James Dwyer, who has been residing in Unionville, Pennsylvania, since 2004. The 40-year-old from Mooncoin in Co Kilkenny is based at the Blue Hill Farm of Missy Ransehousen, coach for American’s Paralympics dressage team, and he and his Dutch-bred gelding Orlando have every chance of winning a medal for Ireland.

BBC Television is providing extensive coverage of the games mainly through its red button service while British Eurosport will also have coverage. There will be an hour-long OB Sport highlights programme on the games on Sunday, October 10th at 8pm on RTÉ 2.

IRELAND'S SQUAD KENTUCKY BOUND

Chef de missionCol Ned Campion.

Team veterinary surgeonMarcus Swail.

SHOW JUMPING

Chef d'equipeRobert Splaine.

Competitors: Dermott Lennon(41) from Banbridge, Co Down. With the mare Liscalgot, he was World Champion in 2002. Rides Woods Rosbotham's Hallmark Elite, a 10-year-old gelding by Lord Byron Z.

Denis Lynch(34), a native of Tipperary town living in Germany. Supported by Swiss pharmaceutical industrialist Thomas Straumann whose Lantinus and Nabab's Son the rider will chose between before Monday.

Cian O'Connor(30), based in Karlswood Stables, Ashbourne, Co Meath. Has competed on over 80 Nations' Cup teams for Ireland. Rides Ashkirk Ltd's 11-year-old Calido mare K Club Lady.

Billy Twomey(33), a Cork native living in Cheshire. Bounced back from bad injury in 2008. Rides either his own and Sue Davis's Tinka's Serenade or Davis's Je T'Aime Flamenco.

EVENTING

Chef d'equipeGinny Elliot.

Competitors: Captain Geoff Curran(30), Dublin-based Waterford man. A late call-up to the team with Maurice Cassidy and the Minister for Defence's 12-year-old Cavalier Royale gelding The Jump Jet.

Mark Kyle(37), Wicklow native living in Leicestershire. He competed at the 1998 WEG in Rome. Rides the 11-year-old Step Together gelding Step In Time, bred by his father, Johnny.

Elizabeth Power(25), well-related Meath rider currently based in England. Best-placed newcomer at Badminton 2009. Partners Dermot O'Rourke's ex-racehorse Kilpatrick River, a 12-year-old gelding by Petardia.

Patricia Ryan(36) from Bandon, Co Cork. Competed at both the Sydney and Beijing/Hong Kong Olympics. Rides Fernhill Clover Mist, a 13-year-old Kiltealy Spring gelding owned by Americans Tom and Carol Henry.

Camilla Speirs(21) from Kildare but based in England. Made her Badminton debut this year finishing 14th on her Kentucky ride Portersize Just A Jiff, a 10-year-old by the Connemara Crosskeys Rebel.

Sam Watson(24) from Carlow and living in Worcestershire. Rides Horseware Bushman, an 11-year-old Puissance gelding owned and bred by his parents John and Julia. Sam is on a mission as his father won a silver medal at the eventing world championships in Kentucky back in 1978

DRESSAGE

Chef d'equipeBettina Hinneman.

Competitor: Judy Reynolds(29) from the Dublin/Kildare border now living in Germany. Competed at the WEG in Aachen. Rides Remember 143, a Dutch-bred 12-year-old owned by her parents Joe and Kathleen.

PARA-EQUESTRIAN

Chef d'equipeAvril O'Byrne

Competitor: James Dwyer(40) from Mooncoin but living in Pennsylvannia. Great results during the spring in the US with Orlando, a 14-year-old Dutch-bred gelding he owns in partnership with his father William.

REINING

Chef d'equipeBen Balow.

Competitor: Ollie Galligan(37) moved from Killashandra to California where he trains reining horses and their riders. Competes with Whizardrie 'n' Starlite, an eight-year-old sorrel gelding.