Planes, Trains & Automobiles – Select World Travel Tips

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68 – August/September, 2017

by Erica Greathouse

Traveling to horse shows can be a daunting task for even the most seasoned travelers. The road to Amarillo for the Select World can be exceptionally arduous, as Amarillo’s airport is small, and travel complications seem to be the theme when World Show veterans tell tales of their travels. We talked to some seasoned Select World veterans and asked them to share stories about travel, tips for success, and their recommendations for maximizing the experience once in Amarillo for one of the most anticipated events of the year.

MAGGIE BELLVILLE
Atlanta, Georgia

For the past 13 years, Maggie Bellville has been making the trip to Amarillo, which is an 18-hour haul if she’s driving. She’s quick to elaborate on the struggles involved when traveling to this not-soTexas-sized town. “Getting flights into Amarillo is tough. I’m a high-status passenger with Delta. Back in the early days, Delta would fly to Amarillo, and now they don’t,” she says. Experimenting with different airlines is one of the many lessons that Bellville has learned (sometimes the hard way) over the years. “I know never to take American into Amarillo, because, without fail, you will get stuck on your layover in Dallas-Fort Worth. If you’re coming from the East, United is your best bet,” she explains. Bellville has had her flight into Amarillo canceled numerous times and has learned the importance of leaving plenty of time to get there. She has also driven with her horses and says the experience was pleasant since a lot of planning went into making the trip as leisurely as possible. “It’s always good to have plenty of stops and layovers planned so that the horses and travelers arrive well-rested and with plenty of time to get acclimated to their new surroundings.” That said, Bellville prefers to fly because it allows her more downtime.

This year, Bellville will be connecting through Houston with hopes that she won’t get stuck in Dallas on her way to show her horse, Ima Natural Detail, in Performance Mares and Hunter Under Saddle and Its Amazing in Showmanship, Horsemanship, Trail, and Hunt Seat Equitation. As a seasoned veteran, Bellville offers her top travel tips. “Get a lot of rest, eat early, have wine (because everyone needs it), drink a lot of water, and leave a lot of extra time on your way to Amarillo. Try to make it a fun vacation and don’t get too stressed,” she says. Bellville appreciates the atmosphere of the Select World. Even though everyone deals with nerves, she appreciates the constant support, both from her fellow competitors and the staff at AQHA. In order to make the most out of the trip to Amarillo, Bellville recommends taking the opportunity to go to the AQHA Museum, the Hall of Fame, and Palo Duro Canyon, also knows as “The Grand Canyon of Texas.” She also recommends eating at Macaroni Joes, Coyote Bluff Cafe, and Jose Garcia’s.

Click here to read the complete article
68 – August/September, 2017