"A lot of serendipity was involved with the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games,” suggested John Nicholson, for whom the 16 days in September and October were the climax of a 16-year dream.

“People were doing things 30 and 40 years ago that led to these Games, when they really didn’t know that they were doing it.”

Sue Lightner is one busy woman. In between teaching lessons, riding, training and supervising horses on the farm for rehabilitation, she breeds some of the nicest young hunters in the country.

Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum is back in the tack and winning after giving birth to a daughter last February. She’s agreed to periodic interviews about her life during the Rolex World Cup season. Read her thoughts about becoming a mother and winning a team gold medal at the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games.

Q. Tell us about your Christmas holiday?

If it’s happened in international horse sports, Michael Stone has probably been involved in it, someway, somehow, somewhere.

Born and raised in a horsey family in Dublin, Ireland, Stone began riding at the age of 4. He’s played polo, ridden as an amateur steeplechase jockey and been long listed for the 1984 Los Angeles Olympic Games in eventing and short listed for the 1980 Moscow Olympics in show jumping.

Attend any West Coast horse show, and you’re likely to hear the name Karazissis frequently announced over the loudspeakers. It’s partially because there are so many of them—at any given time you might see Jenny, Kost, Nick, Nick Jr., Katrina or Cassandra standing by the in-gate—but mostly because they’re so successful as trainers and competitors. Far West Farms in Calabasas, Calif., has become an institution, known for turning out top riders and horses.