Sunday, September 21, 2014

UNIONVILLE: Plantation Field horse trials

The prestigious Plantation Field Three-Day Event this past weekend attracted high-level and up-and-coming horses and riders to Unionville from far and wide. We stopped by on Saturday, watched the stadium jumping part of the competition, and walked through the vendors' area (mostly tack, art and antiques, and of course the Dubarry boot guy standing in a basin of water). On Sunday we spent a few hours out on the cross-country course with two friends who were fence-judging. On both days we got to see to lots and lots of friends (if I tried to name them all, I know I'd miss somebody).
It's amazing to watch these human and equestrian athletes at work: they make it look easy. I was simply staggered by the way they can clear a jump that's barely wider than the horse's body, or defy gravity by taking a jump that's at the top of a steep slope.
In addition to the horses, I always enjoy watching the photographers and the dogs at equestrian events. We spotted one photographer friend (unmistakable in her giant hat) standing right in the middle of the stadium jumping ring, next to a jump that wasn't being used in that round. On cross-country day the photographers clustered next to the especially dramatic "ruins" and water jumps.
Two of my best pals know quite a lot about dogs, and they have a great time at equestrian events identifying less-common breeds and mixes. On Saturday, among many others, we saw a very animated Vizsla and three Great Pyrenees.
And I loved the two-page tribute to my friend and neighbor Denis Glaccum in the Plantation Field program.
Even if nothing else is going on, I enjoy just being at Plantation Field: the sweeping views over the countryside are spectacular. Especially so at this year's competition, which was a picture-perfect weekend (once the Sunday morning fog cleared).

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