LIFE ON THE BARN SIDE

2012 Horse Shows by the Bay                                                            copyright 6/22/2012 Penny Stone


                                            

The populace at the Perfect Pavilion

Imagine temperatures in the 70's with partly cloudy skies. A gorgeous backdrop of rolling grassy pastures, white fences, tall trees waving in the breeze. Large, well manicured dressage rings and a giant warmup ring. Few flies. Tents to protect you from the rain or sun, with bleachers for viewing and a grassy bank to plunk down your tired body and watch the show with your glass of wine. Well organized, good food at the concession stands.... well, imagine your perfect horse show. On the east coast? California? No; half way in between in Northern Michigan at Horse Show's by the Bay near Traverse City, Mi.

Judi greets you at the gate.

You can see who is in charge here.

Look at the size of that warm up ring!

Is this really necessary?

Almost ready.

I followed life at the Horse Show  Saturday and Sunday June 22 and 23. With 98% of our time spent in caring for and training horses, compared to our 2% spent actually competing, I decided to focus on life Barn Side. Like most bigger shows these days, it was a bustling horse and human city. Golf carts and bicycles running to and fro, barn aisles filled with riders and grooms in various stages of show attire and grubby attire, grooms and owners at the wash rack, braiders calmly doing what most of us dread. Horses looking absolutely fahbulous, dahling, and horses and people looking more tired as the show goes on, until that moment in the ring, when they are rejuvenated and go in to perform.

Many of us never see the big world behind the competition ring.   Everybody has a story, the youngsters coming up, the elders hoping to fulfill their bucket list, the top competitors and the mid level competitors who carry the horse show world on their backs, , the legions of volunteers and families who generously make it all possible and last but certainly not least. For the next few weeks I'll be giving you a glimpse of that world at Horse Shows by the Bay.