Every August, I attend the week-long Hampton Classic Horse Show in Bridgehampton, to admire the beautiful horses and talented riders. As I travel to the show grounds, past the busy farm stands, I reflect upon this annual event, which marks the unofficial end of my summer.
Turning my car into the unpaved driveway, with my windows rolled down, I can hear the loudspeaker broadcasting the next classes and most recent winners. Overhead the sky is clear blue, and the grass is bright green. Combinations of horses and riders are jumping over fences in the various rings. Each horse has a braided mane, and each rider is impeccably dressed.
Many of these pairs have practiced all summer hoping to win a ribbon at this prestigious event. Near the in-gates and warm up rings where the participants are awaiting their turn, I overhear trainers providing last minute instructions to their students. Whenever a rider’s tall black boots are wiped clean, it signals to me that this combination of horse and rider is about to begin.
After each class, different colored rosettes will be presented to the best pairs, and the blue ribbon will be awarded to the winner. I love that both male and female equestrians compete equally against one another in this sport, and that riders of many different ages and abilities will participate.
Next, I walk behind the scenes, where there is less glamor but more grit. Busy grooms, who started working before sunrise, prepare horses for the show ring and complete their barn chores. These grooms work all day in the heat, stopping only briefly to purchase a meal from the food truck. Occasionally they will walk to the ringside, leading a horse by one hand and carrying their grooming supplies with the other. When I worked as a show groom, many years ago, I always worried that I would never finish my assigned tasks before dark.
As I walk, I breathe in the combined scent of leather and horses. All around me, pedestrians are carrying shopping bags, talking on their cell phones, or walking dogs, and some conduct all of these activities at one time. I look around carefully, hoping to spot a celebrity hiding behind their sunglasses, while dodging any golf carts, bicycles, or horses that cross my path. Depending on the weather, the well-worn pathways beneath my feet range from dusty to muddy.
Next, I shop at the “Boutique Garden”, a collection of tents where shoppers can purchase artwork, jewelry, or other horse-related products. You can browse through some smaller items, perhaps selecting a pair of socks displaying the iconic horse show logo, or look at something much larger, such as a Range Rover. Nearby, in the food tent, diners sitting at picnic tables are devouring the local specialties, such as lobster rolls or ears of roasted corn, while sipping lemonades, and discussing the day’s events.
A magazine rack nearby is filled with publications and attempts to attract potential readers. Each magazine is the summer issue, filled with real estate ads, horses for sale, and upcoming events. I pick up a copy, with the horse show poster on the cover and place it in my bag to read later. I wish that I could also pack my current carefree mood just as easily. My relaxed vibe always seems to fade away faster than my tan.
One highlight of the week is the leadline class, which features the youngest competitors, led by their parent or a trainer, atop adorable ponies. Joe Fargis, who is a former Olympian and a renowned horseman, judges this event. Joe asks each one of the children some questions, and then evaluates their riding ability to select a winner. Each participant leaves the ring with a wonderful memory to cherish.
The largest and final event, which awards the most prize money, is held on Grand Prix Sunday. International teams of horses and riders strive to complete the large and challenging course of jumps without any faults. During the jump off, the crowd always cheers as the winning team clinches their victory by a margin of only few seconds. After the awards presentation, I usually linger in the grandstand and to take more photographs. I try to savor each moment of the victory gallop as the winners pass by me.
Then, across the show grounds, each trunk will be repacked, every horse will be loaded onto a trailer, and all the tents will be removed. This bustling, trampled, Instagram-worthy hot spot will once again become desolate, or even try to return to the potato field it was many years ago.
Back at home, I flip over my horse calendar from August to September, as I become preoccupied by work e-mails and the upcoming school year. But still, I desperately try to cling onto my summer memories, by proudly wearing my horse show T-shirts to the gym and hanging up this year’s horse show poster.
My flashbacks of the horse show begin to fade as the seasons change from summer to fall, but every year I brighten when I learn about the new horse show dates for next year. I happily mark my calendar and remind my friends about scheduling our annual tradition. After all, who does not want to attend next August for another fun-filled week of horses and sunshine?
*My photos are from 2021 Hampton Classic.
Joann – another great article. I went to the horse show with you! (which I would someday love to do!)
Do you attend every day? I particularly like the Joe Fargis bit. Too bad it’s over, but glad you were able to capture it in words. ’til next year!
Thanks so much for reading my article. I wish we could go together too!