Every journey begins with a single step. Although many shows reflect such journeys, this year's Canadian Nationals is particularly full of starting points, especially on the day before the show. Brandon is hosting Canadian Nationals for the first time; no stranger to hosting horse shows, Brandon is a charming city with a diverse feeling. Blocks of Victorian era houses, with their sun-kissed gabled roofs and bay windows, mingle with more modern apartment buildings in the downtown. On the edge of downtown towards the river reside a block of Eastern European buildings, accented by orthodox-style churches with their Cyrillic signs. Trees line the neighborhoods, interspersed between houses and screening off buildings, along with the occasional outcropping of flowers. A few blocks away, local shops dot the streets, with larger stores available on the main streets to provide essentials.

It is in this setting that the Keystone Centre, host facility to the 2011 Canadian Nationals, is situated. The majority of the facility is connected under one roof, with covered walkways to the main arena; a few rows of stalls and two warm-up arenas are outside immediately adjacent to the main barns. Everywhere today, exhibitors were preparing for the start of the show on Monday. Wooden scaffolds were erected to support draping tack curtains that will frame sitting areas. A local nursery had an on-site display of flowers and shrubberies ready for purchase for those hoping to decorate stall fronts more elaborately; for those wanting to reward their horses, baskets of carrots and apples were also available. Exhibitors bustled between barns carrying bags of show clothes, some heading to the commercial exhibits room to peruse pre-show vendors or to have their hats re-shaped for the show.

Amid the last minute preparations, there were moments of mindfulness to the anticipation of the start of a national show. A first-time exhibitor was awed by the racks of National Championship coats and the sparkling number pins; she noted that, although she has had Arabians for over 20 years, she hadn't thought she could attend a national show until this year. Nearby another exhibitor paused in an empty corner to walk through her showmanship pattern. Riders in the warm-up arenas practiced maneuvering their horses through specific gaits, weaving around each other in an intricate ballet as they worked to develop a game plan for their classes. Outside, exhibitors sprawled in directors chairs, enjoying moments of relaxation in the sunlight.

Local residents wandered by the arenas to investigate the show. One man noted that he was "checking everything out so [he] could come back later in the week and know what to watch." A few families walked through, parents pointing out favorite horses to their children. Throughout the town, signs welcome exhibitors; there is a sense of warmth and excitement about the presence of the show that is reflected in the city. For a show whose program is emblazoned with the phrase "a new beginning," Canadian Nationals is poised to embody the promise of a first step in a journey.