Our First Level 1 Championship – Memories Made at WEC!
There’s something special about attending a “first” major show, and this past week at the Level 1 East Championships at the World Equestrian Center in Wilmington, Ohio, was definitely one to remember. It was our first time showing at a Level 1 East—and let me tell you, it did not disappoint!
My mom and I made the trip down on Monday, and it was the perfect chance to ease into the show. We spent the day soaking it all in—watching the Level 1 Youth Reining outside (a bit windy, but the sunshine felt amazing!) and getting a feel for the grounds—let me tell you, we studied the maps a few times. Afterward, we did a little shopping because, well... it's impossible not to. That night, we went out for dinner at Fiesta Veracruz Mexican Restaurant, just a short drive from the showgrounds. The food was fantastic—definitely a new favorite.
Tuesday was all about getting Mazie settled and comfy, but we made sure to sneak in a little pampering too. I had two short rides—one earlier in the day to work on rail work and practice my equitation pattern, and one later that night in the R&L Arena where we’d be showing. Just a quick 10-minute ride, but it gave Mazie a chance to trot down the center of the show pen and get comfortable with the arena. She handled it like a pro.
Midday, we treated ourselves to a little relaxation at the on-site salon (yes, WEC has a salon—how cool is that?). I got a massage, and my mom had her nails and toes done. 10/10 recommend squeezing in some spa time during a horse show—it was the perfect reset!
We also caught some of the Ranch classes in the R&L Arena before heading to The Paddock Club for dinner. They had a great drink selection, and the food was delicious—even if it took a little while to come out.
Wednesday was show day for us! Mazie and I hit the ring around noon, and despite a little bobble in our prelims (she really doesn’t like gray horses), we made callbacks for finals in Level 1 W/T Hunter Under Saddle. I later found out we were sitting 1st overall in the prelims! In finals, we had a much smoother ride and ended up 5th overall out of 29—I was over the moon.
Following was Level 1 W/T Equitation. We had a great pattern and again made it to finals and rail work. We finished 5th overall out of 27 in that class, too! For our very first Level 1 Championship and only second show of the 2025 season, I couldn’t have asked for a better experience.
Another huge highlight? We got to rent out our red and gold showmanship jacket to a client for Level 1 Amateur Showmanship. Watching her shine in the ring via the live stream on Saturday was such a proud moment! We also had a few wonderful customers pick up some of our show pads while we were there—thank you so much to everyone who supported River Runs throughout the week.
Between the great rides, amazing food, spa day, fun shopping, time with my barn family and sweet Mazie, it was a show to remember!
Huge thanks to everyone who made this show so memorable—we’re already counting down to the next one. 🐴💜
— Rachael
Founder, River Runs Show Pads