Over the weekend, I went to the Old Field Farm horse show in Setauket, NY to support some of my barn mates who were competing. Candidly, I had been looking forward to going to this show all week to watch them ride in their classes and see the renovations and upgrades that had been made to the beautiful showgrounds that sit right across the street from West Meadow Beach. Seriously, could you ask for better views?
The day of the show turned out to be a beautiful sunny summer day, so I wore my Genevieve shirt and Joanna hat from Equisite Elements of Style and paired it with white jeans. This is now my go-to look for horse shows, as it’s equal parts fashionable and comfortable. In addition to attending the show, I was also running around to help some riders and horses get ready for their competition, and my Genevieve shirt kept me cool while the hat kept the sun off my face. Despite walking around the dusty showgrounds all day, my Equisite shirt looked just as clean when I left to go home after a long day as it did when I put it on in the morning (sadly, I can’t say the same for the white pants).
Aside from the nice breeze and beautiful views, I enjoyed spending time with my barn mates and getting to know them better. Usually, when I head to the barn, I have so much to do before or after I ride that it often feels like I’m on the run. But being at the show was a great way to bond with some of the riders I see in passing when I go to the barn. One of the things I’ve always appreciated about being an equestrian is the sense of community. It doesn’t matter if you ride every day or haven’t ridden in 15 years, you are still part of the hose community, and that’s the best feeling.
It’s been a long time since I’ve competed, but being at the Old Field Farm show made me reminisce about my younger days in the sport when I used to travel with my trainer and other riders from the barn to shows near and far. It always felt like such an adventure, and the excitement was palpable. Now, as an adult returning to the sport, I watch these junior riders and imagine they must feel much the same way. Overhearing some of their conversations took me back to when I was their age, and it was really sweet to witness.
When I took my hiatus from riding all those years ago, I was never quite sure if or when I would return. At times, it saddened me, and I missed my community so much. At other times, I felt like riding had its time and place in my life, and maybe I would never fully return. I certainly didn’t think I would become an equestrian influencer (they definitely didn’t have that as a job back in my day). But I am so grateful to have found my stride again in the sport and feel blessed to be embraced by such a wonderful barn full of true equestrians. Now, going to the barn is my sanity for the week, and attending local shows and seeing familiar faces from years ago and meeting new ones today is a bonus!
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