tell me about the rolex.

[zippandrich]

Okay i grew up riding western, and never into the eventing thing into i moved my horse to a hunter-jumper eventing barn :) They are trying to talk me into going with them, is it worth it? We are in Indiana so Lexington is only a 5 hour drive worth it or not? To those who have went tell you storys!

[jeano]

Go, if for no other reason than to see the horse park. Shopping should be great. Be aware though, that watching eventing can expose you to horses getting hurt, riders getting hurt, even fatalities. Suggest you go browse the eventing forum, too.

Me, I would looove to go to Rolex, used to live just a few hours away from Lexington myself, now too far, alas.

[merrygoround]

Widen your horizons!!!!

[FoxChaser]

Go, go, go!!!!! That way you can get ready to go to the WEG in 2010 too!!! Where are you in Indy- near Purdue?

[relocatedTXjumpr]

Went for the first time last year and the shopping was great!!!

I had been to the horse park several times for pony finals, but actually walking out on the cross country course and seeing horses and riders master the tasks was great.

Yes there are falls, etc.

Go!! If alone for the shopping!!!!

[Eventer55]

Post this on the Eventing forum. And FWIW definately go, it's fun, educational and there are lots of cool things to do besides shop. You can sign up for a course walk with a BNT, get a poster signed and talk to someone like Leslie Law or just sit and watch the dressage. You can't go there and not come away with something positive.

The park is gorgeous and now I believe you can go see Alydar there as well.

[BuddyRoo]

XC day at Rolex is what our group of gals calls "Christmas". :lol:

It's a BLAST.

We don't usually go down for the dressage portion...we drive in Fri night, get up EARLY to get our spots on course Sat a.m.

There is just nothing like hearing the far away whistle and scanning the horizon for the horse and rider, listen to them come thundering past with nostrils wide and ears pricked forward. It's AWESOME.

Go google it and watch some video.

I had to tweak the first vid in my series of 3 from last year so it's offline right now...but you can see some pretty good stuff in the second one.

Well crap. You tube is down right now. I'll go find it later and post the link. It's under youtube member BuddyRoo07 The second vid has more XC in it and the 3rd has stadium rounds.

it's up again

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6_qUUn-kmJI

[Frank B]

Go! Go! Go! There are not many places in this world you get to watch a CCI**** event.

Make sure you're in shape if you plan to walk the cross-country course.

Get there real early on the day of the dressage tests to watch the schooling. There's no telling who you might meet. And read up on Dressage before you go so you'll appreciate the beauty and difficulty of what you're seeing.

The weather is very changeable that time of year, so check the forecasts.

[Equus_girl]

Go!
I went for the first time last year, had great time and planning on going again. I am a dressage rider and thats the portion I enjoyed the most, but I really enjoyed all events.

[dressage.life]

It's a lot of fun!
I work every year & it's just great to see so many people who love horses & the sport all in one place!

[Jo]

Make sure you take your rain gear!

[Glimmerglass]

Go to Keeneland on that Friday for the last day of the 16-day spring racing meet (http://www.photosbyz.com/albums.php?albumId=150). You and about 30k other people we be having a wonderful time at a beautiful venue watching the races. It is one of few tracks where even if people are losing they are smiling and having fun. As has been remarked before Kentucky locals go to Keeneland race track to watch the people, out of towners go to watch the horses! and everyone is happy.

I've been going to Rolex for many years and will go to Keeneland on Fri then watch the XC on Saturday and Stadium on Sun. Agreed on bringing gear that can get wet - in particular shoes/boots for Saturday.

Since it is included in the price of the tix upon entry to the Horse Park you should go visit the Horse Park elements such as Man O'War's grave, the Hall of Champions - which just now have Funny Cide (http://www.courier-journal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080502/SPORTS08/305020038/1037/SPORTS08) and Alysheba (http://www.kentucky.com/181/story/566462.html) (each Kentucky Derby winners and Eclipse winners) as residents, and the assorted breed demonstrations.

Plenty of shopping for diverse items within two fairly condensed areas. The food at the venue is so-so and it can be at lunch perhaps the most congested on any of the four days [2 days for dressage; then XC and SJ]

Despite the volumes of people on say cross country day it is easy to navigate around and folks are very low key and just there to enjoy what they're seeing. I've been to World Cup events and by comparison you're less apt (thankfully) to hear remarks from the gallery as to what someone did right or wrong in their view.

[Gunnar]

Be sure to go to the Sunday Morning jog! Wonderful to experience.:cool: A group of us from TOC went last year and had a blast. I had been for XC with DH a few years before. Shopping, great food (shrimp PO Boys!) and beautiful facility. Horses galloping so fast it takes your breath away. Indescribable is all I can say. Do be prepared for horses having some trouble and perhaps worse!:sadsmile: I try not to stand next to any really difficult combinations or fences. last year I had a cast on my foot so was relagated to one jump most of the time. The sunken road was good as you can see many jumps from there, plus it is a wonderful combination! :cool:

Get thee to Rolex I say! :yes:

[lesson junkie]

Rolex is great-you will love it! The horsemanship is mind boggling, and the horses are so wonderful they will bring tears to your eyes. If you can, go early enough to walk to XC course-with an eventing rider, if possible. I remember the first time I saw the course-all I could say is "but you can't get there from here!". But I'm a hunter rider, after all!

The Horse Park is beautiful. The trade fair is too much fun. I try to do my C"mas shopping there because there is so much unique stuff-and sometimes great bargains.

Be sure to go see Cigar, Alysheba and Funny Cide. I take roses for Secretariat's statue, too.

Hotel rooms can be hard to find at the last minute.

It's way too soon to get excited!