Second Observation

Location: Plantation Acres (Volunteer Park)

This past weekend I had the pleasure to be an spectator in a hunter/jumping competition. Before I begin to talk about this amazing experience, I would like to explain a little bit more about this sport. Equestrianism makes reference to horseback riding. In this blog, I'm specifically going to be talking about the branch of equestrianism called hunter/jumping. In the hunter, the horses and the riders are judge based on accuracy, grace, elegance and the ability to maneuver the course. In the jumping, the horses and the riders are judge based on the performance over jumps and the speed in which the course is completed. The horse with the fastest, cleanest, round is the winner.

The horse show started at 8:30am. The horses were loaded into the horse trailer at 7:30am and arrive at the site were the horse show was held at about 8:00am. Because it was a rather small show, the Hunter Creek Farm didn't get stalls to keep the horses before the show, the horses were brought out of the trailer in time to get them ready before the performance. While they waited, horses were given hay.

Around half and hour before each class, the horse was brought out of the trailer and was groomed. As for the riders, they all arrived dressed for the ocation, blouse, jacket, tall boots and showing breeches. Horses and riders looked impecable.

Before each class, the rider has time to warm up. Once the class starts, is all about the rider and the horse, trainers are standing on the fences giving instructions to their riders. Depending on the class, the winner is annaunced as soon as the class ends; otherwise, it might take minutes or hours depending on how many riders were in the class.

I might say I was quite impressed watching the little kids ride their horses. It was a wondelful experience from which I learned a lot about the sport. Hunter Creek Farm got one champion and three reserved champions.

I my next observation i will make referenceto the characteristics of each rider and his/her horse.