I enjoyed Upperville so much that I went back for round 2: Loudoun Benefit. This show is held on the exact same show grounds the week following Upperville, which means another opportunity for pretty pictures underneath the oaks.
But I actually photographed on the other side of the road, the Salem show grounds. Not because I was trying to get photos at a different location, although that really have been the smart thing to do for variety. But no, it’s because I went to photograph someone who I thought would be on the Grafton side and then it turns out they weren’t.
I showed up with my kids in tow, searching for a parking spot. Upperville the show uses a nearby field as the assigned parking lot, whereas Upperville the venue uses “where ever you find a space,” parking. So I ended up parking on the hunter side, directly across from the warm up ring I thought she’d be using. It was right next to the ring I thought she’d be showing in. I thought I was doing pretty good.
Until I checked the class schedule and saw she was in a ring called, “Salem Hunter,” which is an awfully suspicious name for a ring located on the hunter side of the show grounds. I tried to justify it in my head for a few minutes before I admitted it would be really strange for a ring called “Salem Hunter,” to be on the Grafton side of the show grounds, when the Salem show grounds are also present. But just to be sure, I asked a random ride that I spotted, and she confirmed my suspicious – in a strange turn of events, a reenactment for the Salem witch trials had been held on these very show grounds, and they forever named the ring that.
No, actually, the ring was on the other side, in the Salem show grounds, to my shock and amazement. I didn’t have time (even though it would turn out I did) to go back and move my car, so I just hurried my wagon load of children across the street.
I ended up with about an hour before her ride, so naturally I’m just taking photos of everyone else nearby. The kids were collecting sticks to create a fire that they promised me they wouldn’t light, and I’m getting fried in the bright sunlight. I ended up with a burned face.
But still, all the pictures!
In the time I was standing there, two riders came off on the exact same jump. Each time I had to check to make sure my kids were not involved. Luckily for me, both times they were still collecting sticks for their bonfire, well away from the ring, so I don’t think they were the cause. I’d be horrified if the kids were spooking them.
Overall, the show went well. I was able to get lots of photos that I was happy with, although I’m still a bit limited in my movement because of the kids. Since they follow me, I can’t get too close to the ring. I also am not able to move around the ring, because then the kids might use it as an opportunity to free themselves and run wild into the sunset. I can see how those two statements might seem contradicting, but it’s true.
So the photos were limited in variety, but it was still a nice day. Plus my kids left a nice little bonfire pile if someone wants to light it, either in celebration or the for traditional show day s’mores. I just need to slather aloe on my burned face. Excuse me.