By Tori Weed

If you’ve been to the Colorado Horse Park during their horse show season, there’s a good chance that you’ve stopped at the food vendor Wild Willys or the coffee/pastry shop Gitsies. And if you’re a frequent flyer of these horse shows, meaning that you make the Colorado Horse Park your second home during the summer like I do, then there’s an even better chance that you’ve had many opportunities to try almost their entire menus.

Due to the fact that many weeks of my summer diet consists ⅔ of food from Wild Willys and Gitsies, I definitely know what’s the best on the menus. And if you don’t trust just me, I’ve gotten some input from fellow consumers.

But to be honest, there’s no wrong way at either of these vendors, because this food isn’t just like any horse show. Personally I never groan at the idea of going to Wild Willys or Gitsies, and that’s saying something because I’m not kidding when I say that a majority of my meals come from both of these trucks during Colorado’s horse show season.

Breakfast Hits:

If you’re looking for something light and fresh but substantial enough to get you through your morning classes, then the avocado toast is highly recommended. This simple breakfast snack is tasty but also full of fiber, vitamins, healthy fats, and protein. A great start to any horse show morning! Available at Gitsies.

This next order is just as delicious; the Nutella croissant with bananas and strawberries. This breakfast has a sweet kick to it, but it is also packed full of fiber, antioxidants, vitamins and minerals. If you’re looking for something fresh in the morning that hits the sweet spot then this is for you! Available at Gitsies.

One last breakfast yum, though the list could go on, is the granola and fruit. This bowl is packed with yogurt, granola, strawberries, bananas, blueberries, and almonds. A fresh, light morning snack with a crunch that supplies just the right amount of sweet with the important nutrients of breakfast. Available at Wild Willys.

Lunch, Dinner, Anything…

These next few foods are directed towards lunch and dinner, but anyone who has ever been to a horse show knows that time is not a thing but hunger is.

• Turkey and Swiss Sandwich
• BOLT sandwich
• Bacon Cheeseburger
• Beef and Bean Burrito
• Chicken Quesadilla
• Berry Salad
• Hot Ham and Cheese Croissant

Drinks:

I’m gonna go out on a limb here and say that the most ordered item off of Wild Willy’s menu is their Gem Twist. This drink is to the horse show world what the Arnold Palmer is to everyone else – A mix of lemonade and iced tea.

A second big hit, but sadly not always available is Wild Willy’s Pomegranate Lemonade. It’s the right kind of sour and sweet that leaves you wanting to head straight back to the truck and order another.

Coffees, Pastries, and Sweet Drinks

Gitsies is packed full of satisfying coffees, scrumptious pastries, and an array of other drinks. My personal favorite being their Matcha Latte. I can not physically go a horse show week without one… or many. Whoops.

Other favorite orders consist of

• Chai Tea Latte
• Iced Dirty Chai
• Vanilla Chai
• Apple Strudel
• Cheese Danish

Both of these vendors have the best horse show food, drinks, snacks, and coffee available. And that’s not the lack of sleep or excessive amounts of sun getting to me. If you ever find yourself at the Colorado Horse Park then make sure you find your way to Wild Willys and Gitsies.