Carla Wennberg has done it all in her 40-plus years working with horses.

As a youth rider, she won three events at the 1977 American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA) World Championships in Tulsa, Okla.

As a trainer, she worked with singer Kenny Rogers’ Arabian horses at his 1,200-acre farm in Colbert, Ga.

As a coach and instructor, she has taught at the University of Colorado, the University of Georgia, and presently coaches the western intercollegiate team at St. Andrews College in Laurinburg.

She has judged the AQHA World Show 10 times, the American Quarter Horse Congress twice, and been a steward at several Nations Cups.

Wennberg, 52, who grew up in Southern Pines and now lives in Laurinburg with her long-haired dachshund, Gertrude, and appendix quarter horse, Lark’s Chaos, has been in Lexington, Ky., for the past week preparing for her role as an FEI steward in reining for the World Equestrian Games at the Kentucky Horse Park.

NBC Sports will broadcast 8 1/2 hours of live coverage from the Games on three consecutive weekends, and Universal Sports will air 15 hours of live action as well as taped coverage.

Some additional live coverage can be viewed on the United States Equestrian Federation Network at www.USEFNetwork.com or purchased through Pay-Per-View at www.FEITV.org. The full broadcast schedule can be found at www.alltechfeigames.com.

Q: You’ve been at the Kentucky Horse Park since last Monday. What’s the atmosphere like?

A: I’m just enjoying watching the horses warming up and training. There are so many wonderful horses … I just watched a stallion from Sweden that was brilliant. For me it’s great to be able to see the best of our discipline.

The mood is so upbeat. I’ve been taking special care of some of the Brazilian reiners and every time I do something for them they give me a pin!

Everybody tries to become instant friends and ambassadors. That’s the best part to me.

Q: Care to handicap the field?

A: The strongest contenders right now look to be the Italians, but the U.S. has really put together a “dream team” of reiners. If I had to guess, I’d put Canada or Germany in there next.

Q: How long have you been involved with horses?

A: My dad (Carl) worked for Goodrich, and when I was 7, we moved from Boston to Lumberton so he could bring the plant south. I told my dad I wouldn’t move unless I could have a horse.

Q: Did that work?

A: Some friends of the family had a farm in Lumberton so my dad bought a paint gelding, about 14-hands and 1,000 lbs. He was the best beginner horse you could ever wish for … I used to crawl on his neck while he was grazing.

Q: Who was the first horse that really taught you something?

A: When I was 13, I got my first registered quarter horse — Step Leedy. He was just a great all-around horse. We showed in nine events a day. He taught me everything. He was trained but he wasn’t a push-button horse … he had some quirky things about him but he taught me to be more of a horseman. He was a horse I grew and bonded with.

Q: As a rider, what was your proudest moment?

A: It had to be winning the World Championship in three events when I was 17. I had spent the summer in west Texas training, so I was really prepared. It was an amazing time for me … my parents really supported me going away to train.

Q: What was it like working for Kenny Rogers?

A: It was a fabulous time. He took a chance and hired these two young trainers— me and John Rannenberg — to train and show his Arabians. We worked 24/7 but we made it happen for him.

Q: Is it tough being a Western rider in an area so replete with event and hunter/jumper riders?

A: Growing up it was, but it’s better now … it’s far more accepted. They gave me a hard time at first but I think they appreciate it more now. The appendix gelding I won Worlds with showed 4th level dressage as an aged horse, and he was second level champion for greater Atlanta. — a great horse. He had a Western brand on his hip, and everybody thought he was a Trakehner. I went along with it.

Q: If you could own only one breed of horse, what would it be?

A: It would still be the American quarter horse, because of their mentality. I like Appendix because of their movement, but the American quarter horse is so wonderful to train.

Q: Is the World Games the most prestigious competition you’ve officiated?

A: Oh, yes. I got my first certification in stewarding for reining 10 years ago, and I’d done a lot of Nations Cups but never a World Games like this. That was always my hope. The fun part for me as a steward is that you get to know some of the nicest horses in the world, and the best competitors.

Q: What’s been the highlight of your time in Kentucky so far?

A: Probably seeing someone like Anky van Grunsven (the acclaimed Dutch rider who is a three-time Olympic gold medalist in dressage) on Holland’s reining team. I actually went over and thanked her. I said, “I am so happy to see you riding a reining horse!”