Horsing Around

Venue: Verizon Center in the heart of Washington DC
Event: Washington International Horse Show

Watching the equestrian event from Capital One's executive suite sure felt like a novelty. Free food and drinks, comfortable leather seats and a bird's eye view of the happennings in the arena below felt nice. Soon enough, out came the lovely horses, so fabulously groomed, ridden by their jockey riders.

First the kids rode their horses somewhat tentaively over the hurdles. Some horses made the vaults beautifully, and some were a little nervous. Finally the winner in this category was announced.

The next event was a surprise and a complete delight. Terrier Racing! Suddenly there were 20 or so terrier dogs being led into the arena on leashes and the dogs were just going nuts! Not sure if it was the crowds that were cheering that made them so hyper or whether they were fed something just before they were brought out, but they were barking their heads off and raring to be let off their leashes and run all over the place. Hyper!

Soon enough, obstacles were set up and an artificial tail (that represented a fox tail) and attached to a string was dangled temptingly in front of the dogs, and used as the incentive for the race. And what a race it was! Those dogs are FAST, and hyper and hell-bent on catching the fox (little do they know its only a tail)!! All in all, the races were funny to watch, and the dogs were cute.

The dogs may have been cute, but it was the horses that stole the show. With their breath taking beauty. Such fabulous animals, I tell you. So graceful and strong and a pleasure to watch. I would have loved to have come in close contact, touch them, maybe attempt a ride myself? :) But I had to be content with just watching another one of the equestrian rounds, with the horses and their adult riders this time vaulting over fairly high obstacles in the graceful manner that is also somewhat hypnotic to watch.

Like I said, tickets in the executive suite courtesy Capital One felt nice. Now if only I can get hold of some to a basketball game. Now wouldnt that be fun?!

An evening of watching horses was followed by dinner at Tabaq's, a cozy roof-top mediterranean bistro. A cool breeze, candle-light and a pretty good view of the city (we could see the lit Washington Monument, Capitol Building, etc) made for an excellent evening.