Horsing Around In Vermont
After working all year training days 6 days a week, challenging lessons, bad weather, hot days at the shows, remembering different courses, different shows every other weekend, early wake ups and late goodnights all to accumulate points to qualify for the Vermont Horse Show, we’d did it. We’d qualified. With a 7 hour ride ahead of us, my supportive family and I trailered the horses and headed up to Manchester, Vermont.
Passing through Salem, NY and so many other beautiful places. Once we got to Vermont, the mountains, the town, it was all so unique. It was old fashioned and historical. When we settled into our rooms, we looked out and it seemed as if we were on top of the mountain from the way our rooms sat on the hill. It was incredible. So peaceful and serene.
When it came time to show, our mornings started at 3am, 4am, 5am, it all depended on the day. Getting to the show grounds, going to wake up my soul horse, Maddie was my favorite thing to do. We’d go see them, give them good morning treats, walk them around the show ground to familiarize them with their new surroundings and noises to make sure there were no surprises come showtime. After we’d acclimated the horses to the show grounds, we took out our dirt bike to ride around the shows grounds until it was time to go on.
Once it was time to show, we geared up and headed to the ring. Walking into the arena was almost surreal. With a whole mountain in the rearview of the arena, it was as if time stopped and only Maddie and I were the only two there.
Through several courses, what seemed like a thousand flat rounds, we’d come out with 3rd place. I couldn’t be more proud of my teammate.
Ending on a high note, we packed up and headed home. After a great weekend with my supportive family, amazing teammate and feeling gracious as ever I couldn’t help but feel fortunate.
Travel Essentials:
A Check list! You don’t want to show up hours away from home without essentials!
Comfy clothes for after a long, tiring day at the show.
Two sets of everything! You never know whats going to get dirty or ruined at the wrong time.