United States Eventing Association

Photos by The Red Horse.

Having never been to the Irish Draught Horse Society of America's Annual Breed Show and Inspection, I didn't know what to expect. And since I was so busy the week prior due to Playland Farm hosting another Irish Inspection, I had very little time to dwell on the hugeness of this event. The morning of departure, I simply threw some tack and essentials in the trailer and headed down Route 81. After three-and-a-half hours sardined between semis, we arrived safely in Lexington, Virginia.

As I pulled into the Virginia Horse Center, memories came back from my teenage years when I competed here for the US Pony Club Championships in 2000. I won at USPC nationals: First-place show jumper overall at the 3’3” division won a hand-painted portrait plate of myself and my horse. I remember going as a naive 18-year-old with no expectations other than to have fun tearing around the jumper courses. Who knew that I would I end up coming home with a championship ribbon?!

For my second trip to the Horse Center, I brought three of Playland's homebreds: PL Catnip, PL Cha Cha, and PL Lucky Regina. All three mares -- each 5 years old -- have been actively competing in USEA-recognized events this summer and fall. They are all sired by It's the Luck of the Irish and out of talented Arabian and National Show Horse mares. As a lifelong eventer, I definitely felt a little out of my element at this breed show, but was looking forward to trying my hand at the different classes offered.

To make this trip even more exciting, it would be the first overnight trip for the mares. I was a little concerned about how they would handle the unfamiliar stalls, and the hustle and bustle of 100-plus strange horses and riders running around. But I was amazed at how each of them took to their new homes so quietly. Not even the stallions and their macho calls distracted them. My girls ignored all the calls from the boys and were just happy to be in their stalls, munching on hay, saving their energy for the days ahead. I guess they are just as competitive as I am!

Being an eventer, I signed the girls up for the Combined Test classes. This was the first year that dressage and the combined test classes were offered at the Irish Annual Show. Maybe next year we will be able to get them to throw in a cross-country round! After all, aren’t these horses known around the world for their sturdiness in the hunt field??

Getting three horses braided and turned-out makes for a busy morning. But the effort was well worth it as each of them strutted their stuff in the Horse Park's famous Coliseum. Cha Cha pulled off a particularly spectacular test to take the lead after dressage!

The next two days of the show were mostly in-hand classes. Being an eventer at heart, I passed on these in-hand classes, figuring my horses would prove their worthiness through their performance. And right I was! Cha Cha did a fantastic job impressing the crowd with clean round after clean round. She ended up being the Novice Combined Test and Level II Jumpers Grand Champion. Having three horses of the same age means that they're often competing against each other. So I shouldn't complain that Catnip came home with the Reserve Grand Champion in the Level II Jumpers right behind her sister. I could not be happier with how the girls performed.

I think Cha Cha particularly enjoyed the big atmosphere of the Coliseum. Every time she entered the arena it was like she got bigger! Her presence was enormous, yet calm. It was as though she was saying, "I'm finally where I should be ... in the spotlight! Let me show them what I'm made of!" And that she did, with her knees tucked up as her splashes of color brilliantly lit up the coliseum.

Riding multiple horses in multiple jumper rounds in one day was exhausting, but really all I had to do was steer! The girls really took the reins and shined, as they're meant to do. Driving home, I felt as though I could have burst with pride!

This Irish Show was like no other that I had been to before. I met a ton of other breeders and got to admire some famous stallions. The Stallion Parade was a lot of fun to watch, and I'm planning on bringing our own stallion, PL Diamond Hill (Coile Mor Hill x Ballygarris Black Diamond) to show off his brilliance next to the other stallions.

The sense of camaraderie between breeders was astonishing. I have never met a group of friendlier people. Everyone went out of their way to ensure that I was welcome, and anytime I needed something, someone was right there to pitch in. I'll definitely be coming back next year to defend my title. My “lucky” babies really came through for me this year … after all, they are Irish! To learn more about my horses and breeding program, please visit www.playlandequestriancenter.com