I wanted to post about this event because it's a pretty big deal and it's a pretty big deal that Omaha is hosting the even again. There is a good article about how Omaha landed this event again in the Midlands Business Journal.
Kara Schweiss
The FEI World Cup Finals, which take place April 4-8 at CHI Health Center, will bring in the world’s best equestrian athletes — human and equine — in the categories of jumping, vaulting and dressage. It will also bring millions of dollars to the local economy and thousands of visitors to Omaha from around the globe.
For five days, the CHI Health Center will be transformed into a world-class equestrian event venue complete with competition and warm-up arenas and stables for the international competitors (both human and equine). Equestrian sports fans from around the world as well as local visitors will be able to enjoy not only the competition, but also educational exhibits, special presentations, a shopping expo and even multiple dining choices.
The FEI World Cup Finals have been hosted in major cities all over the world. So, why Omaha?
“Why not Omaha?” said Jon Garner, the event director. “What you really need is a mix of two things: The physical ability to pull it off, the venue structure, that type of thing … CHI Health Center, that was easy. And then the only other thing you need is the will.”
A big part of that will was Burlington Capital CEO Lisa Roskens, who founded the Omaha Equestrian Foundation in 2010. In 2012, the organization introduced The International Omaha, a premier showjumping event repeated in years since. In 2017, Roskens’ vision of Omaha hosting FEI World Cup Finals became reality when Omaha was named the site for the individual world championships for jumping and dressage. The 2017 events, which took place at CHI Health Center (then CenturyLink Center), brought in 52,000 spectators from 38 countries and all 50 U.S. states and generated an estimated $19 million in economic impact including 11,000 room-nights for local hotels.
(Omaha, Neb.) — Four-legged athletes are now in Omaha for the FEI World Cup Finals. A Qatar Airways Boeing 777 arrived from Liège, Belgium carrying 47 horses from around the world plus their handlers. The horses were lowered from the plane and put in trailers. The Omaha Police Department escorted the horses to CHI Health Center. There the horses will quarantine.
Dozens of equestrian athletes from around the world are in Omaha and will be competing in the FEI World Cup Finals at the CHI Health Center. Horses and their riders will participate in jumping, vaulting and dressage competitions. There will also be a special nod to Native American influence in the Omaha area and eastern Nebraska.
The FEI World Cup Finals begin Tuesday, April 4, and end Saturday, April 8.
I became familiar with the world of dressage, jumping, fox hunting and steeplechase through my late partner, who was a competitor. Virginia horse country is just West of me in Loudon County. It’s a world that pretty much flies under the radar, sports wise, but it has an international appeal. I kind of compare it to Formula One racing. This is a big deal for Omaha. A lot of international attention focused on the city this week.
Horses and riders from 26 different countries are in town for the International Federation of Equestrian Sports (FEI) World Cup Finals. Although they were only warming up Tuesday, over the next few days, they’ll be competing in jumping, vaulting and dressage. "The athletes that you're going to be seeing here are multiple-decorated Olympians—many of them will be in Paris next year—they're former world champions," Omaha Equestrian Foundation board chair Lisa Roskens said.
She said her organization bid to have the event in Omaha and estimates it will have around $19 million in economic impact.
The biggest indoor competition for the world's top equestrian athletes kick off Wednesday night and it's happening right here in Omaha. The Fédération Équestre Internationale World Cup is taking place at the CHI Health Arena through April 8.
For the first time, an equestrian vaulting world cup final is being held in North America. And it's happening in Omaha.
3 News Now went to get a demonstration of the sport from Equestrian Vaulting USA.
It's described as gymnastics on horseback and it all happens while the horse is moving.
Some may wonder, how do they train for something like that?
“Typically we train on something that's called a barrel, which is a stationary horse that vaulters will train on first before moving what they're doing on the barrel to the horse. Vaulting, essentially you're learning to work in harmony with your horse as a partner,” said Vaulting Sports Director Lisa Zeilenske.
Vaulting is one of three disciplines happening at the FEI World Cup Finals along with jumping and dressage.
The vaulting competition got started on Wednesday and the final round is Saturday.
