United States Eventing Association

Tips and Tricks of the Trade is a new article series being provided through a partnership between Athletux and the USEA.

Do you ever get to an Event and you are trudging through your day and you look over and there is someone stabled or trailered near you that looks like their trunk or tack room has thrown up? Or the opposite - you are jealous how organized, tidy and calm your neighbor is? Competing is scary and confusing enough without all the details of the equipment needed. Here are some tips to help keep the chaos to a minimum:

Make a list – write down EVERYTHING you need for the day/weekend

Tupperware and mesh bags - little container in big containers keeps things tidy – use Tupperware to contain boot polishing kit, tack cleaning, braiding kit, treats and any other loose widgets. The mesh bags (lingerie size in the laundry section of Target) are great for keeping cross-country boots, show jump boots, wraps and quilts, etc. all organized. If you have multiple horses, each horse can have their own mesh bag with their boots AND you can put the boots back in the bag to be washed and instantly rematched.

Pack by discipline order – if show jumping is last, put show jumping equipment on the bottom of your trunk.

Spares – when your farrier takes your horses old shoes off – keep them and tape them together and date them and take them with you to every show. If your horse loses a shoe, you instantly have a shoe to replace it without the cost of having to buy a new shoe AND you know it will fit your horse as it just came off of them.

If you are stabling at an event – make sure you pack your buckets, stall guard, etc. last as it will be the first thing you will need. Also – what are the stalls like? Do you need bailing twine? Screw eyes? Double end snaps? Are there stall doors? I prefer to set up my horses stall before getting them off the trailer if they are being quiet in the trailer. We have all had a horse get loose while trying to put up a stall guard . . .

If you are hauling in for the day – where are you going? Is there water available? (or nearby?) Food and drink for you? A big plastic trashcan with a good fitting lid can save your day; very little actually spills out! Best to put it into your trailer/ truck and THEN fill it up. Gas and diesel containers work great too, but make sure you write on the container so only water goes in it.

Laundry bag – must have, period.

Paperwork – with all the regulations always changing make sure you have the correct paperwork to get over the state border or to pull into the show.

Spare grain – if you are stabling, I always pack an extra meal or two for my horses. Grain can spill, have a critter eat into it or sometimes rain comes in and changes the schedule and you can’t leave till the next day; best to be over prepared!

Small dry erase board – great to have to list your times, remind you of details, etc.

Hopefully these few tips will help your next Event be successful!