Seaton Hackney Stables Horse Show

Yesterday was a great day at Seaton Hackney Stables! Dozens of riders and even more spectators came out to embrace the day for the Winter Schooling Show. It felt like Spring and, at one point, I actually found myself taking off my jacket after announcing, "It's hot! It's actually hot!"

As an (almost) life-long resident of Morristown (42 years and counting), I have a lot of history with this town. When I was a child, I rode at Seaton Hackney Stables. I longed to own my own horse and I loved to ride there. However, at that time, there were fewer horses and a long waiting list to ride. There were no volunteer opportunities for someone of my age so really getting involved with the horses was limited to getting on, riding, and getting off. 

Back then, it was disappointing. And expensive. 

Not so today! Yesterday, I saw young children riding small ponies in a little Petite Equestrian competition (which, according to the judge, was so hard to judge because each rider was more adorable than the next!) to special needs competitions with cheering fans in the bleachers. New riders performed remarkably well in the lower division classes. Intermediate riders showed off their advanced skills to the applause of their parents, siblings, and friends. 

And then there was the Itty Bitty and Open Jumper classes. Wow. I love watching the magnificent skills of both rider and horse as they run their courses. Breathtaking!

Horses have a magical way of touching people's hearts and souls. There is a special bond between a horse and its rider. Whether it is an eight-year-old falling in love with a small pony or a fifty-year-old learning how to ride for the first time, it is truly wonderful to watch the development of these relationships.  

It's amazing to me that now it is such an integral part of my life. My daughter rides there, I met my husband there, and I was married there (on horseback, of course) almost four years ago. However, even more beautiful is the fact that so many lives have been transformed by the stables.