Taking the Kids to Upperville 2024

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I was asked the other day when I was going to start showing Stu. Showing hasn’t been on my mind in a long time. There’s the first problem, which is that Stu and I are in no way ready to go to a show, with our inconsistent rides. But there’s also a significant lack of interest in showing. I don’t have a competitive nature. I don’t care about winning ribbons. There’s nothing that draws me into spending a ton of effort into dragging my horse to a show, waiting around, and feeling stressed, even if I did win. The effort isn’t worth the potential reward. I’d rather just go ride.

I had bought Stu because I intended for him to be a show horse, but having kids changed my outlook. I have so little time to devote to horses, I’d rather just do the things I want to do.

kids drinking lemonade at a horse show

Lemonade break
toddle riding in a cart

Enjoying a ride in the wagon

That being said, I still love watching horse shows. I like admiring the pretty horses, seeing excellent riding, and taking in the whole atmosphere of horses at their best. Which is why I decided I was going to go watch Upperville this year.

the main hunter ring at Upperville Horse Show with person watching

The Main Hunter Ring
horses and riders watching ringside

By the second ring

In previous years, this was a simple thing. One simply shows up, pays the entry fee, if there is one, and walks around. But now that I have kids, it’s a bit more complicated. One of them is 5, so she listens to instructions and will behave, but the other two are two year old twins, and are basically feral. They sort of listen, if it benefits them and they aren’t otherwise occupied.

It has been hard to get out with them. I’m only one person, so I would have to limit my outings to times when my husband comes, or risk them running in opposite ways at the same time. Even going to the playground is hard. They need eyes on them at all times to keep them safe, and they like to explore separately. I can’t risk one of them running into the road while the other decides to take a solo hike into the woods.

lemonade stand at Upperville horse show with people waiting in line

The very popular lemonade stand
horse and motorbike at Upperville Horse Show

Lots of motorbikes driving around

It was easier when they were in a stroller, since they couldn’t escape. But once they learned how to walk, they didn’t want to be strapped down. They yearned for freedom. I did too, but unfortunately my version of freedom was way different than theirs.

For much of their young life, we didn’t leave the house much, unless I had help to manage them. It was a bit of a lonely existence.

But change was on the way, in the form of leashes. I know they are controversial. Lots of people are horrified by their use, but to them I say, you’ve never had two small children who can barely speak but will run opposite ways at the same time. I’d rather my kids be on leashes then running into traffic. I’d rather them be able to experience the world without being strapped to a stroller. They are so independent they don’t like holding my hand, so this gives them the illusion of freedom. They don’t feel anything until they get to the end of the leash and it stops them.

walking a horse to warm up

David kept saying “Apple!” and the man kindly showed him the apple he was eating.

Judge all you want, but the leashes give me the ability to get out and see the world with the kids.

Since I could finally get out, I decided we are going to go watch Upperville. I’m hoping the kids will learn to love horses like I do, why not use some of the best horses to get them interested?

handy hunter class in main Upperville Horse Show Ring

I think this was a Handy Hunter class. It was also hard to follow which class was what while also watching the kids.
horse jumping at Upperville with oak tree and fence in the foreground

horse trotting in hack class at Upperville Horse Show


To keep everything orderly, I had the twins on their leashes, and I brought my wagon for stuff. It can also be used as a stroller, since sometimes they like to catch a ride. I am but one woman, and I cannot carry them all at once like they desire, so the wagon will have to do.

We have to stay back from the fence at all time. I can’t risk the kids running around the fenceline and spooking horses. Since the kids follow me, it means I have to stay far back from the fenceline, too. This makes a lot of my shots pretty far away, but I just use it as an opportunity to incorporate the whole setting into the shot.

kids on a picnic blanket with a photographer photographing a horse at upperville horse show in the background

Getting the shot and also working on developing a mighty back hump

I will give props to the horses at the show. They all seemed unfazed by my gaggle of kids and the wagon. Riders didn’t need to avoid me, they just walked a foot away from the kids, with no one seeming to mind. I didn’t want to be in anyone’s way, so I’m glad no one seemed to care.

I did get a lot of people saying they loved the leashes, though. Lots of people told me they did the same for their kids, and how they made so much sense. The leashes were actually a great icebreaker with riders and spectators there. Lots of parents swear by them!

Even without the leashes, everyone I encountered was super nice. A few riders stopped and chatted with the kids. One nice woman brought her dog over when one of the boys started crying. Unfortunately, he still kept crying so we ended up leaving then, but overall, it was so nice to feel so welcome.

A really nice group was Sprout Therapeutic Riding and Education Center. They saw me taking photos and offered to watch the kids for a few minutes so I could get close to the ring. Two of the kids were for it, one was not. But the two that did go with them got to color horses for a bit. They had a lot of fun, and the people were so nice. It was great talking with them.

toddler doing

Upperville Vendor Tent Sprout Therapeutic Riding Center


Since the kids get tired, we could only stay for so long. But even though it was only a few hours, it was worth it. Once the kids are a little older, I’ll be able to stay out longer, and probably stretch my photography skills a bit more (although I think my horse show photography has vastly improved since the last time I was at a show!)

Sometimes (well, a lot of times) it feels like I’m out of the loop of current horse life because I’m always with the kids. Taking the kids out with the horses was so refreshing. Even though I’m not competing myself due to above mentioned reasons, it’s wonderful to see the horses go. It fun to share them with the kids, and I hope they’ll grow to love it, too.

Want to know more about Upperville? Here’s the history of the show.

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