The crown jewel of my suburban Pennsylvania neighborhood is a large pond. Its sparkling waters, ample supply of freshwater fish, and small manmade beach attract sunbathers, swimmers, canoeists…and Canada geese.

A year-round flock of the large, stately (and territorial) birds has taken up residence at our pond, lured by the good swimming and the ample food supply. Unfortunately, the geese are rather messy, and community volunteers regularly have to go on “goose poop duty” to clean up the beach and other common areas. (As the owner of two Greyhounds, I’m regularly implored to please walk my large dogs around the perimeter to help shoo the geese away.)

I can therefore sympathize with officials at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, site of the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games. The KHP, for those of you who haven’t been there, also features a large pond, similarly set amidst a lush green expanse. Said pond happens to be adjacent to the gorgeous new (it just opened last year) outdoor stadium, complete with state-of-the-art footing, in which WEG opening ceremonies and several disciplines’ competition will take place.

You can guess where this is headed, right? Scenic, fountain-graced pond; vast expanse of perfect blond footing…and goose poop. Or worse, a goose (or several) making a low fly-by or coming in for a landing during a competition, giving some poor horse and rider a fright in the process