05/27/2026
Some horse shows are golden sunsets and perfectly groomed arenas. And then there are the shows that test everyone’s grit. 💪
The Blue Water Horseman's Association show was one of those days.
It rained almost the entire day. Not the kind of light sprinkle you can laugh off either — the steady, cold rain that slowly works its way through your jacket, your boots, your gloves, and eventually straight into your bones. The kind of chill that doesn’t really hit you until you finally get home, peel off your wet clothes, and realize you still can’t warm up hours later. My boyfriend would not let me touch him with my cold hands until the next day. 😂
But despite the weather, every single rider showed up ready to go.
That’s one of my favorite things about horse people. Rain, mud, cold, exhaustion… somehow everyone still finds a way to smile, crack jokes, and head into the ring like the weather doesn’t stand a chance against them.
One of the biggest blessings of the day was being able to hold Showmanship inside the cattle barn. Not only did it give everyone a little relief from the rain, but it also gave me the perfect opportunity to test out my new lens in indoor lighting conditions. Indoor arenas and barns can be tricky for photography, so I was excited to really put it to work — and honestly, I loved getting to experiment with it in a real show environment.
Even soaked and freezing, everyone stayed in good spirits all day long. You could hear laughter around the barns, see riders helping each other get ready, and watch people cheering each other on despite shivering under rain jackets and hoodies.
Meanwhile, the real MVPs of the day may have been the wonderful ladies running the office and concession area. They kept hot drinks flowing and chili simmering all day long, and I’m pretty sure that food stand single-handedly kept half of us functioning. I’d love to say I showed restraint… but those homemade cookies absolutely won that battle. I spent an embarrassing amount of money at that concession stand, and honestly? Worth every penny.
Of course, no horse show is complete without at least one unexpected moment.
We did have a small incident during the day that got hearts racing for a second, but thankfully everyone involved was okay. In true photographer fashion, though, the timing created one absolutely incredible action shot. Sometimes the most intense moments happen in a split second, and somehow the camera catches exactly what it felt like to be there.
Rainy horse shows are never easy, but they always seem to create the best stories. They remind you how tough this community really is. Riders, families, show staff, judges, photographers — everyone pushes through together. And somehow, even in the cold and mud, horse shows still manage to feel like home.
Thank you to everyone at the Blue Water Horseman’s Association for another memorable day in and out of the arena. Wet boots and all, it was absolutely worth it.
