My weekend in KY at the Rolex 3 Day Event

Every year, the last weekend of April, I travel to the gorgeous KY Horse Park in Lexington KY for the Rolex KY Three Day Event.  I "think" 2005 was my first year, but I'm honestly not sure.  I work as a member of the media. . . I photograph for various publications, organized by friends of mine.  It's super fun as there are many perks to working media.  But it is *not* paid and everything including hotel is on my dime.  As a member of the media we do get many free meals though which helps.  But it's not as glamorous as it might sound.

What is the Rolex KY 3 Day Event?  It's a 4-star 3 day event (the highest level of Eventing and the only 4-star held in the US).  It's an international level competition and often times part of the Olympic selections.  I'll summarize it in my next post when I share some competition photos.  First I wanted to share some personal pics of my adventures first.

First up was dinner the first night.  We went to Windy Corner Market. I had this gigantic po-boy called the "Kentucky Boy". . . .Pulled pork in Bourbon Barbecue Sauce, crispy fried pickles, Bourbon Barrel beer cheese, red onion, shredded lettuce and our Special Sauce.

 I would like to say that it was yummy but it was just ok.  I don't think this stop in on our list for next year.

Our group of 7 people divide the 2 days of dressage into shifts.  My friend Kristi and I had the Thurs afternoon shift.  So on Thurs morning we hit the trade fair and shopped.  Gotta get the good deals and the sizes you want before the crowd arrives.  There are significantly less people there on Thurs than the rest of the weekend.

The first place we hit is our favorite booth - Animals to Wear.  This place is expensive, but they run a show special of buy 3 get one free.  Kristi and I split that - we pick out 2 items each and split that discount for the free 4th item.  This year and last our items have all been the same price so it's just divide by 2 and we are good to go!  Most of the clothing is Kerrits brand.  I have a love/hate relationship with it. The sizing is hard.  Which is why we go here first, but I also wish they'd offer other brands.  Specifically Under Armour and stuff that is more sized for the average person and potentially that holds up better too.

I bought this purple ( yes it looks black) light weight vest and this pink/orange colored technical fabric shirt.  Here are the backs. . .

I love the backs.  So fun to wear!!!!

I bought too much stuff so I won't bore you with the details.
Thursday afternoon we shot our dressage session.  We had 13 horses.  The morning shift was much longer so we got the better deal this year!

Did I mention how few people are there on Thursday?  You can see the empty stands.  Those get more packed as the weekend goes on.

Friday we didn't have to shoot, but we did get invited to an Absorbine press gig - they gave us appetizers and drinks. . . . and told us all about their new fly mask, which seems super cool.  And we got a free one!

 I also played the Cosequin facebook game where I posted a pic of the Cosequin logo located somewhere on the park for a free prize.  We happened to go claim our prize at the same time they were giving away their buckets.  They do bucket giveaways a couple times each day and people line up well in advance.  I don't know what people do with the buckets.  But I got one.  I chose this cute little horse as my FB prize.

Saturday was Cross Country day.  This is the heart of eventing and brings in the most people.  It rained all day.  I don't have many pics from that day because I was huddled under an umbrella.  My expensive lens that I use for that day was not working and I'm really bummed.  Beyond bummed as I have to send it to Nikon for repair.  I wanted to cry.  But I did get a photo of before the rain started. . .  I lived in that jacket.  It's an Animals to Wear jacket that I got last year.  It's an icefil jacket so it's very lightweight and also blocks the sun.  I wore it every day.  Unfortunately I have the snags to prove it.  That material sucks in terms of durability. 

Saturday night we got media passes for the Hunter Hayes and Friends concert. . . 

This was the first time I've had a press credential for a concert.  It was so fancy!

You can see how close we were. That speaker was right next to the stage.  We had to wear ear plugs.

I'm not a huge Hunter Hayes fan, so we didn't stay for long. . .

What would a concert in a horse arena be without a horse?

Sunday was Stadium Jumping and I got rained on again.  I had a new cover for my camera and I don't like it.  It wasn't really meant for my camera, but the plastic window is shaped funny and I'm not sure I get what camera is shaped like that. 

My friend bought a spirit horse while we were shopping - to hand from her rear view mirror. Sunday morning when we got in our cars to drive to the park one last time I said "I want a spirit horse!"  So I got one. . . 

I went shopping. . . and bought a dress!

I love non scale victories.  I bought a pair of shorts in a size 14 in early May.  I was going to wear them to a ball game over Memorial Day weekend.  I felt they were a bit too big so I didn't wear them.  I finally got my act together and exchanged them last night for a size 12.  Whoop! :)  I love NSVs. 

Since I was at Kohl's and I'm pretty much in need of clothes, I decided to hit the dressing room.  I've always wanted a long dress or a long skirt.  Often they are never long enough for me, but someone told me to go to Kohl's.  I don't "need' a dress or skirt, like I *need* other clothing, but I ended up buying both.  And nothing else other than the swap of shorts.  I gotta work on focusing on what I need. 

So excuse the sports bra and crappy end of day hair. . . 

Here's the dress: 

I often think dresses make me look wide.  And maybe this does a tiny bit, but I knew as soon as I put it on that I liked it!  I have no idea when I will wear it, or with what bra unfortunately, but if I don't wear it by fall I'll return it. :) 

Please ignore the shirt here. . . . 

I bought the skirt and not the shirt.  I don't know if I have a top that will work for this.  So it might go back too.  I sound like a broken record huh?  This shirt gave me no shape.  As you can see I look much bigger in this photo cause you can't see any waist/hips.  But the skirt is long.  And I think I can find something to wear with it.  I hope!  

I'm so not a girly girl so these purchases were almost stressful to me.  But I love that you can return to Kohl's for up to a year and if it was bought on your Kohl's card you don't even need a receipt. 

I hate shopping

I remember back in the day when I'd go with a girlfriend and hang all day shopping at the mall.  Now that makes me just want to poke my eyes out.  But nonetheless off I went.  Why? Cause I'm lacking in dress clothes.  A week work trip of business casual means I need clothes.  I have clothes, but I also have clothes that are both too big and too small.  I hate that.  I don't dress up at work so dress clothes are low on my list of needs and wants.  

My problem is that I need long pants and the stores never carry longs :(   I actually bought a pair of black pants today in regular length and they seem long enough but I'm not 100% sure.  I might go to a different store and try on longs (the internet tells me that store has them)

But what I was surprised by is that I easily fit into a 14 and they were not snug.  I tried on a few tops and texted photos to my mom and my husband.  I thought I liked this red top, but they didn't so much. 

I like how my waist looks.  I hate my saddle bags.  I can't get rid of them.  I don't know when or why I got them.  Hell I don't know when I got hips.  I can look back at college pics and I have no real hips.  I'm kind of straight.  Why do I have these hips?  I want them gone! 

This is the shirt I got. . . It's the same shirt. You can see the gathers along the seam of the arm as well as the side of the body.  I feel like it's pretty flattering in real life. 

As well as another shirt that is also blue.  Lots of blue in my closet.  Oh well.  

I'm still in the 180's so what does that mean?  Tonight is pizza night!  I cannot wait!  I didn't run today.  Yesterday my husband and I did 3 miles.  He had new shoes to break in.  We did a run/walk.  I wanted to run today but after the mall shopping. . . my back hurt, it was later than I wanted to be and I was exhausted.  So here I sit.   Oh well.   

I hate how travel makes me stress.  But onto the pizza!  Have a good night!