There’s a certain kind of show that reminds you why you picked up a camera in the first place. Not because everything goes right — but because something bigger is happening, and you get to witness it.
This past weekend, I photographed a charity horse show that started at “6” but really meant 7 p.m., thanks to a heat index pushing 100 degrees. Even standing still felt like a workout. The sun was still high, casting harsh light and long, unpredictable shadows through the announcer’s booth and trees. The air was thick with dust, kicked up from warm-up laps and barrels, and it hung in the light like static. In short: photography conditions were… not ideal.
Despite it all, I wouldn’t have missed it for the world.
This wasn’t your typical show with ribbons and rankings. It was a grassroots, good-hearted gathering of young riders, their families, and a whole community of horse lovers showing up for something more important — our neighbors in Triadelphia, West Virginia, who suffered a devastating flash flood on June 14th. Homes were lost. Lives were changed. Families are still rebuilding.
We came together not just to ride — but to raise funds, raise spirits, and raise awareness.
The evening was full of heart. Riders competed in events like Egg and Spoon, Thread the Needle, barrels, poles, and even a costume contest — the kind of fun, beginner-friendly classes that remind you of why equestrian life grabs hold of us so young and never lets go. Most riders were kids and teens, still gaining confidence in the saddle. It was messy, joyful, dusty, and a bit chaotic — just the way a summer charity show should be.
We raised over $1,000 before the event had to end early due to an incoming thunderstorm. Even nature had its dramatic moment.
As for the images — I’ll be honest. They’re not perfect. The lighting was intense, the shadows were deep, and the dust created more haze than clarity. My camera, built for action, was often too fast for the slower rhythm of riders just learning their way. But sometimes photography isn’t about perfection. Sometimes it’s about presence. About being there, sweating buckets, camera in hand, telling the story anyway.
To everyone who rode, donated, cheered, and showed up: thank you. These images are my gift to you — imperfect but real. A snapshot of a hot June evening when a small group of good people came together to do something big.
📸 With heart,
Tiffany Bumgardner
Exposure One Studios
“Where legacy and excellence ride together”