BreyerFest Friday, part two

After our trip to the Beer Garden, Tara, Kenzie and I decided we wanted some air conditioning and headed over to the Visitor Center.

Along the way, we were joined by Clarissa and Adam Quinn. They somehow managed to avoid my camera, so here's a picture of them in Maggie's booth from earlier in the day.

Our route took us past the Park's famous Chairs.

These oversized seats were part of the Giant's Table jump, which was featured in the 1978 World Three Day Event Championships. As the daughter of one of the hobby's original tack makers, Tara has attended BreyerFest on and off since she was a young child. She told me she has pictures of herself on the Chairs "at all ages." Here's the 2022 version.

Like the Chairs, this big duck is also a retired cross country obstacle.

Kenzie is a real life duck girl, so of course, she needed a picture with this one.

The auction models were displayed prominently in the Visitor Center lobby.

We spent some time admiring them and discussing which ones we thought would fetch the highest price.

I took pictures of the likely candidates.

Lol, we had no idea.

We made a quick pass through the Gift Shop.

Then it was on to the Museum!

I really love the museum. It definitely deserves a post of its own.

Screaming Man agrees!

After the Museum, we parted ways. I can't remember where everyone else went, but I ducked into the Visitor Center Theater to listen to Lesli Kathman's talk about horse color genetics.

I ran into Stephanie Blaylock and her daughter, Emily, on the way out. They were leaving the park to go tack shopping. Since I also love tack shopping, I asked to tag along.

Our first stop was Wise Choice Tack and Supply.

This store had a little bit of everything, including a basement filled with consignment saddles.

Our next stop was Red State Barbeque.

I'd already eaten lunch with Tara and Kenzie, so I got mine to go. It made a terrific dinner!

Then it was back in the car and on to the Tack Shop of Lexington.

I was sorely tempted by the amazing selection of saddle pads...

and gift items, but somehow managed to keep myself in check.

I checked in with Tiffany on the way back to the Clarion. She passed on the news that her 2020 NaMoPaiMo model had won the Overall Custom Performance Championship at BreyerFest Open. Woohoo!

When I caught up with her at the Artisan's Gallery later that evening, I learned that was only half the story. Her gorgeous custom Georg, Donnerklang, had also won an Open Show tricolor. Double woohoo!

The rest of my night was spent focussed on the Best Customs Contest. 

My fellow judges, Mindy Berg, Lauren Hoeffer and I inspected each entry, then went somewhere quieter to discuss. 

Let me tell you, there was a lot to discuss! We weren't able to make our final selections that night. With competition that tough, we all agreed that we needed to sleep on it.

And just like that, BreyerFest Friday was in the books. Somehow my day with no plans had become a day where I'd done so many fun things with so many wonderful people. I went to bed tired, happy and ready to do it all over again.