By Mim Coleman

What an amazing morning!  We arrived at the venue knowing that Charlotte was going to be seeing her fans at 10am at the Equipe Stand or at 10.30 at Kingsland. We arrived at the Thomas Mack Centre in the brilliant sunshine at 9am and were 6th in line to get into the doors when they opened at 10. By 10am there were hundreds of people, and it was a race up the stairs to get your ticket scanned and around to wait to finally meet Charlotte. It was literally a sprint up the stairs, thank goodness for years of gym training.

We rushed (no running that would look uncool) and joined the line at Equipe. I was shaking with excitement. I have a question I had brought with me all the way from Tasmania Australia that I wanted to ask Charlotte.  The line shortens we get close I start to shake. Should I ask ?? Would it be too presumptuous of me?  I'm struck with fear, what if I choke ? 

We were advised that we were only to ask for one autograph due to time constraints. So my idea of asking her to sign my program, ticket stub, hat and card was amended to a signed cap, a photo and THAT question.
It's my turn - oh I think I'm going to faint. I tell her I am so nervous " oh don't be nervous" she says with a beaming smile. Belinda my best friend forever is my paparazzi and well it's now or never this moment has been gifted to me. So i ask the question.  She was so incredibly generous with her words, she stopped to think and asked me to clarify. She wanted to be sure what she was giving was exactly what her fan wanted. She is beautiful, generous, gracious and petite.

I came away shaking and in tears. I quickly wrote down the answer and took a good 10 minutes to compose myself. What an incredible moment, I'm so grateful for all the moments that lead to this.
Wow !

A quick dash around the trade stands and now we are in the grandstands.

Spectators are streaming in, the upper stands starting to fill, it's going to be a full house. We have the start list and first off will be Tatiana Dorofeeva on Kartsevo Upperville.

Well the lights are off and the spot lights are on as the announcer's voice booms through the speakers.

Up we stand for the National Anthem. The excitement is building its a heart filled with joy, it's a chest filled to bursting with emotion its tears brimming in eyes in anticipation of a visual symphony of horse and rider that was to come. We listen to "Let it Go" sung by a 12 year old girl with a voice beyond imagining.

Then Uptown Funk booms from the speakers to whip us up into a frenzy.

Have have you ever ridden a freestyle? It's like nothing else you will ever feel. The horses respond to the music so beautifully. To ride to a beat, to tell a story about your friendship, to take the art of dressage and match it to the art of music is beyond compare. So promise yourself that you will one day ride a freestyle. That's 2 promises you have to keep now. The first one is to attend a FEI Word Cup Dressage Final - no regrets I promise.

It's time.
 

Tatiana our first rider, enters, there is still smoke in the air. The big chestnut is looking happier in the environment today. The bell rings the hand goes up and cue music we are underway!!!

No surprise we are listening to classical Russian symphonies. Fantastic, the transitions perfect, making full use of the arena. Double canter pirouette, I think we will see a few of them today. Ones on the circle were spot on as were the twos another double pirouette and the music builds for the extended canter. Piaffe at X pirouette of course and into passage. The choreography showing off their strengths. A halt and an ecstatic rider and a very appreciative crowd. Score of 69.357% 70% for the artistic - nice work.

Agneta is next, there is still smoke in the air, the cable camera suspended from the roof follows them for your viewing pleasure. The phone rings, and we start with Lady Gaga's "Telephone". Modern pop bursts through the speakers. The music fills you with happiness. Beautiful piaffe and passage to the beat of Adele. Flowing soft half pass in trot and more passage into a piaffe pirouette perfectly timed. A big relaxed walk the combination looking relaxed and at home on the world stage. A lovely final centre line and the crowd is already hooting and hollering before the halt. The halt and the crowd LOVED it!!! 74.036% fantastic

Elena enters on the big dark brown Romeo Star they float around the arena as they wait for the bell.  Big brass notes start us off with more Russian themed music it's great ! Clapping whistling you just want to dance in your seat. Oh no!!!!! She missed her music, lost for three seconds and a professional recovery - whew she has caught up. The beauty of a freestyle is you have wriggle room and it's a relief to see that even the top ranked riders need to use it. The music matches the combination beautifully.  Miscommunication in the entry into the canter pirouette -  it happens - move on - stay with your music. Quiet pats on the neck as they stroll out of the arena. We wait for the score - 68.5%

Terhi enters a welcoming round of applause from the Finnish supporters in the crowd. A gorgeous black stallion, such an elegant combination. The bells chime and horns sound the music so atmospheric their entry music sets the scene. The music starts, big strings and deep base of the drums with a gorgeous extended trot. My chest tightens - its beautiful. A heavenly female voice leads them through the piaffe - my first tear. The music is big and bold and lifts this light and elegant partnership. The crowd claps in recognition of the very technical positioning of the movements. They are giving all they have. Canter pirouette and into piaffe!!!! Mind blowing!!!!!  The stallion walks out with ears pricked and relaxed, Terhi clearly pleased. 71.214%
Time to grab a tissue.

Fabienne and the enormous QVD enter eating up the arena with his big strides. Oops a big look at the trophy on the side of the arena. We start with soft violins and immediately into music that conjures up images of an ancient battle ground. Tympani drums set the scene the strings are there to match it. The big chestnut reflecting the music in his expressive strides. Perfect big one time change straight down the centre line - oh my gosh!  The final line and the music is building to an incredible crescendo and the crowd goes nuts! 74.804% woo hoo and into the lead.

Mikala takes the stage. I love this mare who also eyes off the trophy. Mikala takes her past again to reassure the big mare with the soft ears. Into fabulous bluesy jazz perfect with this combination. They dance to 'All that jazz' from the musical Chicago. "Show a little more, show a little less welcome to burlesque"- fantastic!!!!! The crowd respond to this cheeky, saucy and a little bit sexy soundtrack. Here come the drums, clicking fingers and brass yes yes yes!!! In perfect time to the ones - applause. We walk to a raunchy rendition of 'Hey big spender'.  Back to 'All that jazz' and the crowd starts to clap to the beat - yes this is what it's all about!!! Standing ovations!!! 75.018 % huge technical scores 79% from some judges - great job.

It's Lars! A fun uplifting soundtrack, light, and upbeat. Our first bars from Harry Potter. All in perfect harmony with the big bay mare. There is so much going on it's sensory overload. So many changes of music it's hard to keep up. Every step in time around the arena with every inch used. 73.839%

Malin and Fleetwood the black gelding look super smart. A little pat on the neck as they commence. No surprise we are treated to a Fleetwood Mac soundtrack. What's not to enjoy about that? I see feet tapping as eyes stay glued to this stunning combination. A quick applause for the ground swallowing extended trot! My favourite track Rush ( 'Just tell me that you love me') the drums matched with a big scopey canter. Love it! Final halt and the crowd roars. 70.625% oh? What's this booing??? Some in the crowd disagree.

Paulinda is our last horse before the break. Piaffe in the warm up beautiful. More emotion strings that I love, matched with soft drums. Amazing piaffe and oh the passage - lovely so forward thinking big expressive steps. The music familiar a blockbuster soundtrack fills the stadium the tail swings to the beat from soft hindquarters and swinging back. Gorgeous ones down the centre line in to piaffe pirouette so easy. 71.0% is announced as the crowd thunders out of the stadium for the break.

In the break we are treated to a marriage proposal on the big screen. Of course she said yes, now that's a way to a horse loving girl's heart give her a diamond ring at an International dressage event. Nice work.

Inessa and Mr X prance into the stadium. Enter to piano lounge music and into the theme music to no other than Austin Powers, bam what an extended trot!  The suspension in the trot lovely. Frank Sinatra tells us to "ride me to the moon" perfect for the brilliant piaffe - brass blares and like a panther they sachet across the arena. Powerful and yet so soft. Extended canter down the centre line covers the ground effortlessly. The Beatle's 'Lady Madonna' streams through and the crowd clap along. A halt and everyone is standing applauding they loved it!! Inessa clearly delighted, blows kisses to the crowd. 76.911!!! There is an 80% for technical - absolutely deserved.  Yes yes yes the crowd agree.

Morgan and Painted Black are in next I can't wait to see what the do. They start to soft horns and tympani building a lovely story of unity and expression. More applause for the extended. Big big half passes they are really going for it in every beat in every stride. This is just a wonderful experience such harmony  a tiny mistake in the ones, will she try for them again? Let's see. Painted Black is a picture of vibrancy. Yes they did and a pat at the end. Good boy, good rider. He gives everything in his final piaffe and passage sequence down the centre line. Wow! Morgan is elated and waves to the crowd. The 18 year old stallion with ears pricked knowing he is a star. 76.161% fantastic so well deserved it was a wonderful dance.

Oh gosh this is too much we are about to see Isabelle. She has the big bay fired up on the aid like you cannot imagine! Walk entry and straight into passage to David Bowies 'Lets Dance' and he does, then into Queens 'Under pressure'. A riff I'm familiar with as it was a signature for our very own Snowy River Blackwood Australian National Grand Prix Champion. Oh no!! He sees the gleaming trophy. Balks and beautifully recovered. Extended to Dancing in the Street woo hoo the toes are tapping, it's such a great uplifting experience. Extended canter straight into canter pirouette - fabulous. And then again - incredible! Oh my, the angle on that canter half pass is so steep and not a beat missed. They halt right on the final beat and the crowd erupts again. Isabelle is thrilled and pumps the crowd for more feedback as they casually walk out of stadium on a long rein. 77.875%

Hans Peter, oh boy it's getting too much. Let the dance begin. Spanish castanets start us off. Oh yes yes how do I describe this?  It's complex, technical, beautiful, resounding, music that has lifted Flirt into the Matador and Hans Peter is his cape. Everyone is mesmerised. I have goosebumps. What a display i could not take my eyes off them. The technical difficulty mark will be huge !
79.036% this is just crazy. So close to the 80's club.

Laura is in and about to dance for her country what a thrill. An upbeat unique musical score, violins, horns, flute, oboe - fabulous. Such style and grace such control of this big powerful horse. The rider so still in the saddle perfectly balanced. Extended trot into piaffe no problem. Wow that passage, piaffe at x amazing, back to passage and halt. Understandably the crowd erupts. Fantastic display from this talented young rider. 79.125% and the crowd roars she is in the lead.

I think I'm going to have a heart attack because now it's time for Valegro. Silence. The bell. And so it begins the flood of tears. Enough has been written,spoken and filmed about this freestyle. To experience it has been beyond my imagination. 94.196% precisely ! I'm overwhelmed. But I have to pull myself together because now it's Edward!

Here comes another heart attack.....

Such a beautiful score again a display of consummate control without loss of expression. The music perfection in its ability to reflect the power and elegance that is Edward and Glocks Undercover. 84.696% today - the errors in some of the movements let them down.  Not every day can be a fairy tale.

Steffen Peters is welcomed into the stadium by the crowd.  Wow, wow what a beautifully flowing effortless test! Well at least that's how it seems because Steffen makes it look that way. Breathtakingly refined, beautiful, and harmonious. Oh my that piaffe is divine. We hear 'Under Pressure' one more time. I'm sure all of these riders are feeling exactly that. Coldplay's 'Fix You' the central theme. As well as U2's 'Bad'.  Hilarious we even get a bit of rap - " ice ice baby " with customised lyrics did I just hear dressage being sung in a rap song?! What a showman and he makes every moment count as he works the crowd off their seats. 80.286% to be ranked third.

Jessica is our final rider on the stunning leggy Unee BB. " I have a dream" are the words we hear boom over the crowd as she commences her entry. The scene is set with these words with which Jessica frames her test. Canter pirouette into extended canter wow! Delicate piano and woodwind and strings. Ok make that, canter pirouette, extended canter into piaffe. Again we hear Jessica's story that she wants to tell with her stunning dance partner. " I have a dream that all living creatures can respect each other"  So to the beat the piaffe passage extended trot mind is blowing!! The music becomes more determined then balanced with delicate notes as the pair dance down the centreline and then an extended trot almost into the judge's lap - incredible !!! 80.393% oh wow into 3rd just pipping Steffen what a thrill!

Oh what a treat, my dancing shoes are worn out and I'm exhausted. I've been dancing for close to 3 hours!

Now it's set up time for the presentation.
 

I meant to mention that we hooted and hollered when our very own Maria Schwennesen was named 1 of the exceptional judges for the show. I have been fortunate to attend her workshops, seminars and be judged by her. Maria is a beautiful, generous and kind woman that has infinite experience and a burning passion to share it. Woo hoo go Maria !

Oh and the answer to THAT question.

I asked Charlotte:
How do you keep up the drive, enthusiasm and energy when you go through the tough times in training and competition? How do you realign to stay on the path you have set to meet your goals?

Charlotte: "I go home and I try to understand why things when wrong, I always seek to learn and understand the situation so I don't do the same thing again. I alway look to the positive I never see it as a negative."

There you have it everyone.

Thank you for taking the time out of your busy lives to read my musings.
Thank you to Equestrian Life for taking a chance.
Thank you to Roger Fitzhardinge for the opportunity.
Thank you for my beautiful friend Belinda Snooks for being such great support.
Thank you to my wonderful husband for saying yes when I asked 2 years ago if we could come to Las Vegas and watch the best horses in the world.

Exhausted, elated and now ready to party!

Bye for now!
Mim Coleman