So, not everything is amazing and glamorous at the one and only Winter Equestrian Festival. We’ve all been there, done that, and experience those things that make us *cringe*, and sometimes our horses also shrug at those annoying situations while competing or schooling on the show circuit in Wellington, Florida.
Here are just a few of those things we try to keep to ourselves, and sometimes we just can’t hold it in any longer…
1. Those “maniac” riders and insane horses in the schooling areas shouting “RRAAAHH” and whipping their horse over every jump (even when it’s not doing anything wrong). I’m not kidding. one day I was riding at pony island and this woman gallops next to my pony on the other side of the “median” and screams “YAAAH RRAAARRH” and whips her horse right next to me– the poor pony I was on literally thought it was me for a second and scooted over like he was thinking “W-T-F?!”
2. Riders in the schooling area who are cantering directly at you— one minute they are on the inside, the next minute they’re on the outside. I think they do it to just get a thrill out of playing “chicken” on their horse… Seriously! For goodness sake, just PICK A SIDE!
3. Walking up to a food truck only to realize after you’ve already ordered, they tell you they only accept CASH. Seriously people, it’s 2018 and it’s not that hard to set up a square account. Accept credit cards! No one carries cash anymore.
4. Getting all the way to the ring only to realize you forgot your number (or spurs) at the barn… If you’re lucky, your groom can run back on the golf cart and grab it for you. However, it just puts a damper on your trainer’s mood.
5. Leaving treats in your breeches’ pockets and then put them in the wash… whoops!
6. You have a perfect trip until the very last jump where you either chip, knock the rail, or get dumped.
🤬
7. The one week you decide to watch Freestyle Dressage at Global the speakers are blown and you can’t even appreciate the choreography since you can’t hear the music well at all. Â Then, it rains…
8. You’re in the hunter ring and suddenly a loose horse comes flying around the corner, then it lights up your horse…
9. Restaurants in Wellington are packed and have a wait of an hour or more on the weekends. #WeNeedMoreRestaurantsinWellington
10. Your horse show mom (or dad) has more “words” to say to you when you come out of the ring than your trainer… You realize you messed up, and you don’t want to hear it again.
11. The Winter Equestrian Festival Season is more than half way over… It goes by WAYYY TOO FAST!
