Articles: Horse News

This day was especially significant and he wasnt about to miss even one beat of the evenings performances.

As the first performers entered the arena, I felt a great sense of relief and a sense of achievement, commented Dr. Lyons after pausing fora moment to answer the question of how significant it was to have the Games start officially . That relief wasnt just for me but for our people at Alltech and for WEG. We all planned it and our people and the WEG people came together to get the job done. Its been a great example of a team effort. So, how do I feel? I feel really delighted, especially to see our people really get into it and get involved.

That three-hour spectacle showed off some of the most talented horsemen and horse lovers in the world from a variety of breeds, like the American Saddlebred, to the Standardbred, Thoroughbred, Friesian, Quarter Horse and more. These horses were showcased under saddle and in harness showing off the disciplines they do best from racing, to carriage driving, dressage, and reining, just to name a few. In addition, the evening featured the talent of some of the best singers in the world, from country with Wynonna Judd to opera by local talent. Celebrities also took part in the evening including a driving exhibition by William Shatner and a drive around the arena with famed boxer Muhammad Ali.

Opening ceremony spanned the globe, which was clearly demonstrated as the teams representing the 58 nations competing each took their turns to show off their pride for the nation they were representing. Since Alltech is also a company that spans the globe, being the title sponsor was the perfect blend for this evening and for the event.

Dr. Lyons had the best seat in the house as he watched and waved from within the car that drove Muhammad Ali around the arena. He was witness to a full house of cheering spectators clearly impressed with this taste of the United States. That five minute drive will be one he will look at often as it confirmed his decision to bring Alltech to the world. In addition to its worldwide reach, Alltech is a company that focuses on many types of animals and also does things for humans, and so horses are only one of the areas that Dr. Lyons has been exposed to. Id seen Aachen, where they held the 2006 World Equestrian Games. That was the only big event Id visited. So, to see this in my own country, in my own state is very emotional, he added.

Alltech also helped bring in some of the performers including his friend Ali. On an even more emotional note, they brought in the concluding act of 30 Haitian children, who sang the culminating song which was a reprise of Impossible Dream. As they sang those words about dreaming and achieving the impossible, the voices and meaning of the words touched the hearts and souls of every person in that arena. Those witnessing this moment and especially Dr. Lyons were honored to see these children who had been through so much show the world that that they will survive and they will succeed in doing the impossible thanks to Alltech and so many other companies and individuals who have come to the aid of the Haitians. In addition to the fact that Alltechs products help both horses and humans, Dr. Lyons is a strong supporter of worthy causes and helping the Haitians has been something he has been focused on. These children will help us launch a Haitian coffee and that coffee will support about 6,800 not people, but families, he explained.

Alltech Makes Its Mark

As the evening drew to a close it marked the beginning of two weeks of world class competition and continues to mark a milestone for Alltech. Over the next two weeks Dr. Lyons and his team would witness the competitors as they vied for the top honors in Dressage, Show Jumping, Vaulting, Endurance, Reining, Eventing, Driving and Para Equestrian.

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When Dr. Lyons made the decision to invest $10 million into the World Equestrian Games his goal was to gain recognition for his company.

This has undoubtedly been the smartest most irrational decisionI ever made but as we reflect back on it, this has changed the way the world looks at Alltech. And perhaps even more importantly, it has changed the way Alltech looks at itself. It has given us many opportunities to join together come in as a team, he continued.

Even more than that, when we think of new concepts, new products that we have, we have expanded the audience we can reach out to. For example, weve done some research on Alzheimers. There is no cure for Alzheimers, none, zero. Yet, some of the stuff that weve been doing we believe shows great promise not just other people say it shows great promise but some of the leading scientists in the world on Alzheimers agree. Well what better place to launch it than at a world event like this. And we have other products we can launch to a world audience. So, you name it all of a sudden now we have a platform. You name it all of a sudden we have a global audience to take our product to, he added.

When I think back on it, we spent 10 million initially and I suppose we will be out probably another 20 million but we are on BBC; we are on Irish television. Weve been on CNN. NBC covered it for 8 1/2 hours nationally and covered it live for that incredible opening ceremony in the surrounding states. You couldnt get that coverage.

So, yes, absolutely its been worth it. I dont think $130 million could have given us the exposure that weve gotten, because in many respects we stepped into an industry that didnt have this exposure but now it does, he noted.

As far as for us, well Alltech becomes the brand; Alltech becomes the security. Alltech is something that you know, that you understand oh yeah they are the people that did the World Equestrian Games. They are the people who perhaps took it to a whole new level. They are also the company with a heart.

Dr. Lyons didnt get much sleep until the Games were over. This has been a project he has clearly put his whole heart and soul into. Yet, for those who know the man, that is no surprise. He is a tireless ball of energy who is always looking for ways to do things better, to step up to the plate, to expand the audience for his company. In fact, thanks to Alltech, Kentucky and the U.S. now also have a chance to let the world see how much the United States follows those same scruples. There again its all about that team effort. Together Alltech and WEG have brought their vision to the world.