My non-horsey friend: “Where are you going on vacation?”
Me: “Florida – can’t wait!”
My non-horsey friend: “Cool – beaches or amusement parks?”
Me: “Neither – I’m headed to Ocala to help my trainer and ride horses!”
My non-horsey friend: “OK that’s weird, so you’re going to be, like, working?”

A week in Ocala has been part of my annual vacation schedule for the past few years. My non-horsey friends (and probably some of my horsey friends) can’t quite understand why I’m excited to spend a week working in a barn, grooming, feeding, riding, watching lessons and going to shows, but for me it’s a return to good times, it’s a chance to remember what life is like working a full-time barn job, and it’s a great boot camp to jump start my spring fitness. This year’s trip was no exception – gorgeous farm, amazing weather, beautiful ponies and fun people!

I’ve been a working student/groom and managed barns before, so I acclimated quite quickly into the morning and evening routines at the barn. It’s funny how some of the chores that drove me crazy back in the day are relived with nostalgia during this brief interlude – blanket changes, setting up feeds (we didn’t have SmartPaks back in my days in the barn!), haying the horses – all were fun knowing that I’d be back on desk duty in a week’s time. I always forget how much walking you do when you’re working in a barn – I averaged 8 miles a day, and one day I topped 13 miles! My feet were just getting into shape by the time I left.

My first full day started with my trainer asking if I’d go to a schooling show with them. “Do you want to ride?” “Sure!” I said, and I felt lucky to be riding a horse I’d jumped quite a lot before. We had an absolute blast, show-jumping around at both novice and training heights, no faults and a huge smile on my face. My trainer had great rounds on the two horses she rode, and a sale horse was beautifully catch-ridden by a fellow New Englander who was in the area for the winter. We managed to get around all 8 rounds with zero rails – I’d count that as a successful schooling show!

The days blended together as barn days do – up with the sun, feed the horses, ride a few, jump lesson, XC school, baths in preparation for the show this weekend, pack the trailer, clean tack, tuck everyone in for the night as the sun sets over the palm trees. Every day I was less tired and more relaxed, settling into the familiar rhythm of a show barn. We had some fun nights out and some quiet nights in, and one beautiful afternoon watching top eventers tackle a huge show-jump course at Scott Keach’s Eventing Prix Invitational.

After riding mostly just my horse for years, it’s so fun to sit on a variety of horses and remember what it’s like to adjust to different personalities and ways of going. All the horses in the barn are amazing and so different from mine! The German riding pony was especially fun, as was the sandy bay mare that I basically adopted for the week. I love seeing progress in my rides, and I went from not being able to stay in the dressage arena with that mare to feeling like we had lovely balanced trot and canter by the end of my stay. Jumping around on three very different horses brought its own challenge, and I had to remember to adjust my ride to suit each of them. It’s easy to feel like a good rider sitting such talented and well-trained horses, and I feel so fortunate to have had the opportunity.

It was over too soon as vacations always are, and I headed to the airport in my breeches after a few last rides (apologies to those sitting near me on the plane for the horse smell!) Many thanks to Denise, Sophie, Meg and Lila for sharing the horses and barn life with me, and to everyone at Marnick Farm for the warm welcome and fun times. See everyone back up north!

About Jennifer Bagley

Jen as a rider: Apparently I've been obsessed with horses since I was born, and I used to beg for pony rides on a regular basis. I started showing in 4-H, progressed to equitation and jumpers in high school and rode on the IHSA team in college where I also discovered the joys of eventing! After graduating I learned how to sit while working for a dressage trainer and now am a committed low-level eventer in the ever-elusive quest to put together three solid phases. Jen as a SmartPaker: As the Director of Web Merchandising, I get to work with a super talented bunch of designers, developers, buyers, and marketers to help you find just what you need (and a few things you didn't know you needed!) on our website. All about Intrinsic: Intrinsic, or "Trin," is a very sweet and snuggly dark bay 16.2 hand TB gelding born in 2013 who race trained but never raced. He loves hacking out with friends and is learning about dressage and eventing. He loves carrots but has no interest in apples, and makes very funny faces when he eats anything peppermint flavored!