I can't wait for the next horse show!

by Cara
(Salt Lake City, Utah)

A photo of me and Piper in Arizona

Competing at horse shows is one of my most favorite things to do. As soon as the snow starts melting and the flowers start blooming, I don't think of spring, I think of horse shows. I think of packing my saddles, brushes and blankets, giving my horse, Piper, her first bath after the long winter, and getting her gussied up to travel to a show.

Now that I'm also a mom, I enjoy thinking about taking my family along with me to the show. After I pack my horse's stuff in the trailer, I'll pack my family's camping gear, some goodies to munch on during the drive, and some games to play in the car. When we arrive at the show, I know my husband will help me set up camp while I set up Piper's stall. My son, Leo, gets a kick out of sitting in his stroller and watching all the horses pass by. Sometimes he likes to watch our dog, Ayla, as she rolls around in sweet-smelling grass and yucky! smelling horse manure.

I don't really care whether I win a ribbon or not...I care more about my scores, if I have improved after the last show, and if my family has a good time at the show. If there are fun local attractions, even if they're not horse-related, we check them out. Sometimes we climb or hike, sometimes we swim. If there is a lot of open space, we'll take the horses on a trail ride.

After the fun weekend, it's back in the horse trailer for the drive home. We're tired but content! (And usually, during the whole drive back, I think about the next show!).