Fleur finally convinced us in the third block to do a relay race at the end of the demo. Three Connemaras versus three Irish Draught/Sport Horses, doing a line of jumps with a baton and passing it to the next. This turned out to be a huge crowd pleaser and exciting part of the demo. The ponies and horses were neck in neck! But, my favorite moment came when our farthest traveling volunteer, Wouter van Voorthuysen from Holland, grabbed the microphone and told the crowd, “I am Wouter. I am from Holland. We cannot lose! Go horses!”
For those who have not had the pleasure of meeting Fleur yet, she is truly one of a kind. She was by far the heart and soul of the Irish effort at WEG. She was also our MC for the Demos, along with overseeing practically everything else. 
It began as an idea in Ireland, and after over two years, became a reality. Throughout, Fleur’s Irish brogue and heavy wit helped us all get through each day. 
We could write a book full of her colorful sayings, which we referred to as "Fleurisms." A true lover of horses, especially Irish ones, and a friend to everyone who meets her. 
Thank you, Fleur, for dragging me kicking and screaming into this unforgettable experience. 
And a special thanks to her other half, Debbie, for keeping our whole contingency fed, full of caffeine, and holding down the fort for 16+ days (she already deserves a medal for putting up with Fleur!).
This duo brought the house down the four days they performed their musical dressage freestyle. 
There wasn’t even standing room during their performances, and folks could be heard talking about them all throughout the park. 
We were honored to have an Olympian and Pan Am competitor in Tom Dvorak performing on a purebred Irish Draught stallion to spotlight the caliber and versatility of the breed. 
Tom’s wife, Ellen, and 
(Photo credit: 
We were also thrilled to have FEI Dressage rider Leslie Bean 
and FEI World Champion Driver Sterling Graburn of 
Gina stuck around to sign autographs and say hi to the demo team as well. What a delightful person, superb athlete, and a special treat it was to have her come by.
He stayed for a few minutes to visit with us and congratulated us on a good job promoting the Irish horses and Ireland. 
Amidst the chaos, I would find peace each day when the demo’s were over and our team headed into the “Meet & Greet” corral. 
I would stand at the rail and watch as hoards of kids and adults alike came to the fence to pet our horses and talk with the riders. 
So many people don’t know about the Irish horse breed, and this was an unbeatable chance for them to not only see, but interact, with the horses and really appreciate their versatility, athleticism, and temperament. 
It was a moment of great pride for me, for the breed and my demo team, and made me remember each day why we took on this bear of an event.
Ashley Bailey-Classen brought three of her Irish Sport Horses from Texas, two of which showed their stuff, soaring over the top of the standards. If we’d have had bigger wings, they could’ve done 5 feet+! 
In the last block, Amy Hunter and Cradilo put on an extremely impressive jumping demonstration, showing what a purebred Irish Draught stallion can do! 
The crowd was floored and interest abounded over this great duo who are currently competing on the Grand Prix circuit. What a special treat to watch these horses fly.