Vendor Village at Plantation Fields International. Photo by Colleen Peachey.
When attending the Plantation Field International Horse Trials (aka the Best. Event. Ever.), making sure to take a stroll through Vendor Village and the Food Court is an absolutely must. This year’s Vendor Village was bigger and better than ever, featuring over 50 shops. Here’s just a few reasons why this year’s Vendor Village was the Best. Trade. Show. Ever.
1. The TENTS
This year, many of the shops of Vendor Village were nestled under two large tents. Walking through, I felt like I was in a cozy marketplace … and everywhere I turned, there were interesting shops that carried anything from artwork and jewelry, to apparel and tack items. Plus, the large tents offered a lovely shelter to escape from the warm and sunny weather for a bit.
Lots and lots of FOOD. Photo by Colleen Peachey.
2. The FOOD
Hungry after walking around to spectate and shop at Plantation Field? No problem! There were plenty of options for stopping for yummy treats. Starting out the day, you could find grab a breakfast sandwich and bloody mary … or later in the day, enjoy items from the grill, a funnel cake, some water ice, and wash it all down with a beverage from Victory Brewing.
3. The TACK
With five different saddlers (well, at least five … I might have been so overwhelmed that I lost count at some point!), there were plenty of lovely saddles to drool over. Many of the separate vendor tents housing the saddles were spread nicely along the main arena. Which means that between events, there were plenty of lovely saddles to consider.
Here a saddle. There a saddle. Everywhere you look, more saddles! Photo by Colleen Peachey.
4. The COLORS
One of my favorite stops in Vendor Village was when I paused to take a look at the Lorenzini titanium stirrup irons and bits, especially because there were So. Many. Colors. Seriously … customizing your irons to match your XC colors is a cool idea, but I also had the chance learn about their technical specs behind them that support rider performance in the irons. The titanium bits were also quite interesting to learn about … and the fact that they can be custom ordered in COLORS!
5. And … the actual SHOPPING
With a great mix of vendors, both riders and non horsey folk alike could find something to interest their shopping preferences. Vendor Village featured a variety of equine inspired gifts including lovely jewelry, antiques, apparel and even home décor for the equine enthusiast. Looking for something for the rider instead? No worries…just head over to find some outerwear at the Outback Trading Company or some footwear at Dubarry!
So. Many. COLORS. Photo by Colleen Peachey.
