Rolex Stadium Jumping!!!!!!!!!!
So here is what happened. We went out to eat with our friends on Saturday night (they treated us to a really nice dinner for our anniversary). Toward the end of dinner they told us they had Rolex stadium tickets, but they weren't going to get to use them because the jumping didn't start until 1pm and that's when they had to leave. So they gave us their tickets!! These weren't normal stadium tickets! They were patron club tickets!! I was blown away. I still can't really believe it. It all felt like a dream.
I wanted to see stadium so bad, but we just couldn't afford it between the drive, food, campsite (unexpected hotel costs) and cross country tickets... we had basically maxed out our funds. There is no way we could ever afford patron tickets in our lifetime. It was such an amazing experience and I'll be forever thankful to our friends. :)
So on to some of the pictures...
Driving back to the park I spotted a few Friesians!! So I can say I saw the Friesians even though I missed the demo they put on Friday. :)
I wish I'd gotten better pictures of the parking. 30,000 vehicles is a LOT!
Security check in where they search our bags.
The regular grounds facilities (the patron club had much nicer porta potties hehe).
CUTE dog!
This is the grandstand where most people watched stadium from...
... this is where we watched from! Ringside! They served amazing food too.
We watched the riders do the course walk.
My arm band. I kept it hehe.
We saw the pony club awards first. They were so cute!
This isn't zoomed in. We were literally ringside!
Look at how many were eliminated/retired after or during cross country...
We watched them water the arena.
And drag it. These guys were driving fast!
First drone I've ever seen.
The drone was so cool. That's what films everything you see on T.V. It was so neat seeing all of the prep stuff you normally miss watching it on T.V. :)
Now before I share the stadium pictures I have to tell you... most of them came out blurry. :( I was so heartbroken when I got home and saw it. I was checking them on the LCD screen while taking them and they seemed perfect. Once I got them uploaded I could see how blurry they are. I am so disappointed. I don't know if it's the cheap Fugifilm camera, if I had something on the lens, if I was moving too much (shivering) or what... but whatever. The experience was way more important than photos and I'll never forget it. Here are the best photos that I got. The rest of the blurry ones will be shared another day (I seriously took 900 pictures on this trip...).
Yes, those are my knees... resting on the arena fence. ;)
Hubby was enjoying himself!
The victory lap went right by us.
There are a LOT more photos to share once I get them watermarked. I also have to tell about the drive back on Monday. I hope you've enjoyed the Rolex recap so far. Oh and I saw a Papillon!!
I think this is the second or third Papillon I've ever seen in person. They are so uncommon. I love them! I want one so bad!
Ôh so cool!
ReplyDeleteIt really was!
Deletewow that's awesome! seems like you guys got every lucky break on this trip - happy anniversary indeed! great pics too :)
ReplyDeleteWe really did catch every lucky break on this trip!! The whole time we were thinking "is this really happening??" because normally we aren't very lucky hehe.
DeleteLove the photos! Seriously so jealous!
ReplyDeleteThanks!! I hope you get to go someday!
DeleteWhat a wonderful surprise. Those tickets couldn't have gone to a more deserving couple.
ReplyDeleteAww thank you!! You're so sweet!
DeleteSo exciting that your friends shared their amazing tickets with you for stadium!!! KHP is so gorgeous, isn't it?
ReplyDeleteYes it is!! I hope if I go back someday I can meet you there. :D
DeleteThose are awesome seats. You're so lucky!
ReplyDeleteThank you! I'm normally not a lucky person, but apparently that weekend was meant to be because it all worked out perfectly.
Deletetruly awesome! thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteThanks! It really was!
DeleteWhat a great surprise! Glad you got to enjoy it. :-)
ReplyDeleteThank you!!
DeleteWow, how awesome was that! Congrats for the surprise, what a (hopefully more than) once in a lifetime opportunity!
ReplyDeleteThanks!! It was the best surprise ever! I hope I can go back someday when you will be there. :)
DeleteWhat awesome seats and perfecting timing with your anniversary too- it's nice when things all come together! Rolex is definitely on my bucket list of things to do
ReplyDeleteI can't wait for you to get to go! It truly exceeded my expectations! Want to know the funny thing? When we were planning for Rolex I didn't even realize it was on the same weekend as our anniversary until shortly before we left hehe. It worked out perfectly. :D
Deletethat was wonderful that you got to go! I'm so happy for you
ReplyDeleteThank you!! It was amazing!
DeleteWhat a great gift! Awesome photos. The drone reminded me... I saw a drone flying along the bridle trails and got upset thinking that someone with a model airplane hobby was going to start taking over my riding space with that buzzing annoyance. It turned out that my neighbor hired someone to take aerial pictures of her house and property in order to help sell the house. She wanted them to do it a second time, but they refused because they said that some of the neighbors complained about their privacy being invaded. I laughed and thought, "For once it wasn't me doing the complaining."
ReplyDeleteGood! I'm glad someone else spoke up!! I have mixed feelings on drones. They are great for things like Rolex and even for weathermen, but using them in residential areas just creeps me out. I'm glad they aren't going to do that again!
DeleteHow wonderful that you got patron tickets! I'm so happy for you. I am the worst at photographing jumping horses - I always get the wrong phase. I love watching the "preening" of the arena too. I also love how utterly calm the horses are before they enter the ring. They are so focused, not spazzy like endurance horses and barrel horses. Please blog again soon about this!
ReplyDeleteI actually found jumping a lot easier to photograph than I do dressage. I know the delay on my camera so well that I could time the shots perfectly. I just wish they hadn't turned out blurry. It's so frustrating to get a once in a lifetime opportunity to do something I love (take pictures of horses) at something as amazing at Rolex, just to have the camera hold me back. I used to think it was something I was doing wrong, but after using my friend's really nice Canon to take photos of their wedding I now know for certain it is the camera. Grr!!
DeleteHey, you mentioned how many cars were there. Can you tell me how many visitors? I'd love to have an idea after attending "The world's biggest horse fair" in March, which I doubt because Scottsdale Arabian horse show has more guests, I think. Hrm.
ReplyDeleteI think they said 31,500 people attended!
DeleteI have a good friend who used to show Papillons! Very lovely dogs.
ReplyDeleteCool!! I want one so bad, but I don't know if I'll ever be able to afford one from a quality breeder. *pout* They are so hard to find and so expensive!
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