a new profession

I have found a new profession for myself. It combines 2 things that I dearly love: horses and etiquette. Who thought I was going to say sleeping and eating?

Ok, so, I don’t even know if this is a real profession. If it’s not, it should be. Ooo! If it’s not, I could be the first!

Let me give you the framework…I’ve had some time on my hands this week and the weather has been beautiful so I have spent some time (not doing housework) at one of my favorite staycation spots…The Georgia National Fairgrounds and Agricenter (www.gnfa.com). On Tuesday morning, Emma packed a lunch for me – no, I didn’t ask her to do it, but when you get up at 5:30 every morning, you tend to look for things to do with all that extra time and she disagrees with me that sleeping is great fun - so I took my book and my sandwich to wander around the Fairgrounds in search of something interesting. Go to their website and click on the calendar of events. There is always something interesting.  

Turns out that one of the biggest horse shows this facility hosts is happening right now. Talk about hitting the jackpot! It’s the Region 13 Arabian Horse Championship and it lasts 5 days. The security guy riding around on a golf cart (that didn’t offer me a ride to the arena 4 acres away) said there are 600 horses registered to compete. My heart beats fast just typing out these details. This is a big deal kind of horse show. These aren’t backyard ponies. These horses are high-dollar and get the white glove treatment every day of their equine lives.And, they are stunning. Absolutely beautiful. Think Grace Kelly in the form of a horse. But, for the people who own these horses, this is all business. Coming to a show like this isn’t their hobby. It’s the way they market their product – their riders, their stock, their training, their barns. And they take it very seriously.  

Take a look…

Each of these elaborately decorated tents represents a barn that traveled from who knows where to show their horses at this show. And here’s where I discovered my new profession. Somebody had to plan it all out so the drapery would match the tent that would match the fabric on the outdoor furniture that would match the barn logo that would match the fresh flowers and so on.

I know how important it is to give those around you the impression that you are serious about your profession and the brand you represent. I wouldn’t put flowers around my tent that weren’t standing up tall and pretty. I wouldn’t use cushions on the chairs that were stained and mildewed. Best foot forward. First impressions. Show off your best attributes. I got all that. See? I wouldn’t even have to be trained.  

So, it seems like a natural transition to become a Stall Stylist (no, that profession doesn’t exist…I Google’d it). I’m sure there’s a real future in this sort of thing.