2018 FEI World Equestrian Games


The 2018 FEI World Equestrian Games were held in Mill Spring, North Carolina, U.S. at the Tryon International Equestrian Center, from September 11 to September 23, 2018. It was the eighth edition of the games, which are held every four years and run by the International Federation for Equestrian Sports. This was the second time that North America hosted the Games, the previous time being in 2010, also in the United States.

Bidding process

The initial bidding process for the 2018 edition of the World Equestrian Games started in 2011 with the initial application stage. Eight countries expressed their interest, and five of them became official candidates in 2012: Rabat, Bromont, Budapest, Vienna and Wellington. Australia, Russia and Sweden withdrew before the official candidature phase.
By 2013, four of the official candidates dropped out, leaving only Bromont in the running. However, instead of awarding the Games to Canada, FEI decided to re-open the bidding process on July 1, 2013, as the Bromont bid was lacking financial support. Bromont remained in the running and was joined by two USA candidates as well as Great Britain.
Great Britain and Wellington dropped out, leaving only Bromont and Lexington in contention. Bromont was finally awarded the hosting rights on June 9, 2014.
Bromont withdrew from hosting in 2016, as the financial support was not secured. Following Bromont's withdrawal, Mill Spring, North Carolina and Šamorín, Slovakia expressed their interest in hosting the event. Mill Spring was awarded the Games on November 3, 2016.
With the 2018 games, United States became the first nation to host the World Equestrian Games twice.

Venues

Appointment of officials was as follows:
;Dressage
  • Anne Gribbons
  • Katrina Wüst
  • Mariëtte Sanders-van Gansewinkel
  • Andrew Gardner
  • Hans-Christian Matthiesen
  • Annette Fransen-Iacobaeus
  • Susan Hoevenaars
  • Cara Whitham
;Jumping
  • Frances Hesketh-Jones
  • David M. Distler
  • Joachim Geilfus
  • John Taylor
  • Neill O'Connor
  • Leopoldo Palacios
;Eventing
  • Anne-Mette Binder
  • Jane Hamlin
  • Andrew Bennie
  • Stephan Ellenbruch
  • Martin Plewa
;Para-Dressage
  • Hanneke Gerritsen
  • Anne Prain
  • Marco Orsini
  • Kristi Wysocki
  • Suzanne Cunningham
  • Sarah Leitch
  • Marc Urban
  • Jan Holger Holtschmidt

    Logistics

Horses competing in the championships were flown in and out of Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport in Greer, South Carolina. They were then transported by horse trailers up to Tryon.

Schedule

All times Eastern Daylight Time
●Event Competitions1Number of Gold Medal Events

September12
Wed		13
Thu		14
Fri		15
Sat		16
Sun		17
Mon		18
Tue		19
Wed		20
Thu		21
Fri		22
Sat		23
Sun		Gold medal events
Dressage●1113
Driving●●22
Endurance22
Eventing●●●22
Jumping●●112
Para-dressage32●1511
Reining1●12
Vaulting●1135
Total gold medal events31113033128329
Cumulative total34569912151618262929

Ceremonies

Dressage

Driving

Endurance

Eventing

Jumping

Reining

Vaulting

Para-Dressage

Participating nations

68 nations are scheduled to take part.

Dressage

Driving

Endurance

Eventing

Jumping

Reining

Vaulting

- individual, - squad

Para-dressage

Medal table

Host nation

Hurricane Florence

Hurricane Florence hit the Tryon International Equestrian Center and the surrounding area during the first week of the World Equestrian Games. Reported impacts included heavy rainfall and increased gusts of wind. A special contingency plan has been addressed for the situation.
The contingency plan included accommodating all horses on-venue in permanent barns, moving grooms accommodated on-site to permanent buildings at the venue, advising shelter locations for all personnel, continuing discussions with airports and the airline Emirates on any necessary steps regarding horse arrivals/departures, ensuring smaller tents in the vendor area are tie-strapped together for security, carrying out additional drainage/water channeling to prevent flooding, purchasing additional fuel tanks and filling all fuel tanks to run the generators, preparing to remove fence scrim already installed and taking down flags.

WEQx Games

Alongside the World Equestrian Games, Tryon International Equestrian Center was supposed to host the inaugural WEQx Games. WEQx Games were scheduled to feature nine spectator-friendly equine competitions that should "highlight the accessibility, diversity, athleticism, and passion for horses and horse sport for athletes of all ages".
WEQx Events:
The program got cancelled amidst Hurricane Florence and various organizational setbacks.