June 5—San Juan Capistrano, Calif.

This week the Blenheim June Classic I hosts the $25,000 WCHR West Coast Spectacular, the $60,000 Blenheim Grand Prix and trials for the Zone 10 junior and young rider teams competing at this summer’s North American Junior and Young Rider Championship (Ky.). But the best moments don’t always happen in the most important classes. Here are a few of our favorites scenes from today. Want to see more photos? Check out yesterday’s gallery of the open hunters at Blenheim, and don’t forget to follow us on Instagram.

Blenheim June Classic I takes place at the Rancho Mission Viejo Riding Park at San Juan Capistrano, which is a public park owned by the city of San Juan Capistrano. Its 40 acres are irrigated with gray water and also host soccer tournaments and other outdoor events between horse shows.

Lovely succulents accent the park and many tack rooms.

Amy Gallagher shared a laugh with Kate Considine after picking up the blue ribbon she and Zion earned in the amateur-owner over fences class.

A super-slick turn in the jump-off gave Nayal Nassar and Acita blue in today’s $25,000 Markel Insurance 1.40-m Grand Prix.

Acita’s groom, Chelsea Fletcher, dressed to match is orange and gray barn colors—though adding a little blue didn’t exactly ruin the look.

Not everyone thinks horse showing is exciting.

Nancy Loskill guided Romany Way to good ribbons in the adult amateur, 51 and over, division and two blue ribbons in the limit equitation over fences classes.

Young pro Ariel Black rides for Betty Beran at Smoke Tree Ranch, and she braids horses like Maybelline to help foot the bill for her horses.

Many of the rings include rearing horse sculptures at the entrance.

Many stables stay at Blenheim for a month, so outfits like Citrus Hill Farms put up welcoming, comfortable tack rooms.

And many stables, like Karen Healey Show Stables, make sure the pooches are at least as comfortable as the horses and humans.

Robert and Hillary Ridland’s Equi Sports International includes Prayer Of A Sportsman hanging near the tackroom.

Even the youngest horse show attendees can hop aboard for a ride at the Light Acres tack room.

Ziedento and Susie Hutchison jumped to second in the $25,000 Markel Insurance 140-m Grand Prix.

After Pacifico lost rider Eduardo Sanchez Navarro (who walked away) he took some time to explore the grand prix field on his own.

Madison Crader thanked Cambridge for great efforts in the amateur-owner ring.

There’s always a line by the Lemon Bar.

Spectators can hang out by the fountain to get a view of the two sand hunter rings.

Ring decorations at the horse park pay homage to the 230-year-old Mission San Juan Capistrano located a few miles away.

Lovely efforts like this from Maillisko and Bailey Campbell boosted them to second in today’s amateur-owner hunter class.

Nathalie Manning was thrilled with Con Spirit’s clear round in today’s $25,000 Markel Insurance 1.40-m Grand Prix. The finished third.

Elizabeth Murry and Amarillo rested on each other while they waited for the amateur-owner jog.

File this one under “only horse people understand.”

Where else would you go?

Check back at www.coth.com for more from Blenheim over the next few days. We’ll have news and full analysis from the show in our June 29 Junior and Pony issue of The Chronicle of the Horse magazine.