Where would you go as a spectator?
Would you rather go to Hipoco Santa Fe or Summer In The Rockies?
It’s a three hour drive difference for me, and I have a friend going to both that is from the west coast. Santa Fe sounds like so fun, but I have heard good things about Summer In The Rockies as well.
So which would you choose to visit?
Added show names in the title to hopefully get some input!
Santa Fe is supposed to be GORGEOUS. I know a guy who worked in gate there and the photos were amazing.
That being said, it’s newer, so the competition might be better at Summer in the Rockies?
You never know who will show up here at the Colo Horse Park. I would choose based on what you would like to do besides watch the horse show. Santa Fe would be my pick for restaurants and tourist stuff, however there is a big outdoor art fair up in Denver over the 4th of July weekend. The Intl Hunter Futurity here draws Kelly Farmer and her string. as well as others that will also be at Santa Fe.
Plumcreek, I think you mean the Int’l Hunter Derby?
Who shows up to CHP this year may depend on how quickly they get the footing redone.
I have yet to talk to someone that has actually been to Hipoco. On paper, it sounds like a winner. Art exhibit, craft beer, farm to table cuisine, and a gorgeous back drop. The barn I’m going with is super fun, so the company part is taken care of. SITR is before Hipoco, so no conflicting schedule there.
However, I feel like competition might be better at SITR, but I’m not sure what sort of barns and riders are going to Santa Fe or what shows are going on at the same time. Ive spent a few months in Denver/CO Springs. I’ve never done anything more than drive through Santa Fe. Santa Fe is a 10hr drive. Denver is 13hrs.
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Plumcreek, I think you mean the Int’l Hunter Derby?
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Yeah, my western side takes over when my brain is on snooze.
You mean HipIco 
I went as a spectator it was really awesome, it may be a bit smaller than you are expecting, but I have never been to CHP. They really did a great job making the exhibitors feel welcome. I mean they even had a free bar for exhibitors and of course free food as well. There were coupons for exhibitors to stay in hotels, and all the exhibitors (at least the week I was there) got free Kastel Denmark sun shirts and Hipico hats.
The footing was great, it seemed very well run and efficient, and they had some great deals on vendors. AZ Animo was there and I got a pair of breeches for $50.00. I loved the laid back atmosphere AND they don’t have porta potties!! They have actual sized bathrooms with air conditioning and everything on wheels. I do believe that the majority of the stalls were portable, but don’t quote me on that. The size of the park was small enough to be nicely maneuverable, but definitely large enough so that it had multiple rings and the atmosphere of a larger show.
As for Santa Fe itself, its a super fun town to go hang out in and you can truly find some amazing food, and fun finds. There were quite a few barns from Colorado, and of course Ranch Corazon was there with Chenoa and Guy McElvain. There was a fair sprinkling of barns from New Mexico (we don’t have much out here ) There were lots more barns from Arizona.
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