Enjoy a Rider’s Skills, Then Shop Like One Too

If you get “horsed-out” after a few hours, not to worry. There are plenty of more pedestrian diversions on the horse show grounds--eating, drinking, shopping and browsing among them.

Fast-food concessions and no-host bars will abound (look for food wagons and tented booths). About a dozen art galleries from throughout the state will display and sell works with equine and other motifs. Retail vendors will feature a range of merchandise, from the traditional Hermes booth (which markets high-end saddles and other leather goods) to a newcomer this year: Nordstrom.

Joy Carney Campbell, a well-known Orange County equestrian who competed in hunter classes at the Oaks the past two years, works for Nordstrom. All weekend at the show she will display a new line of jeans by Roam that she has found particularly suited to equestrians.

The Nordtrom booth will also carry equestrian-related and Western-style clothing, including T-shirts, blazers, blouses and dresses, along with jewelry and accessories. There will be fitting rooms on the premises.

Oh, and once you’re all decked out, you can drive off in style: Mission Viejo Imports will have a Mercedes-Benz on display. It’s for sale--in the same price range as some of the horses.