If you love horse shows and attend a lot of them, then you know what a headache packing for them can be. Whatever kind of horse show you’re going for, whether a local one or one that’s going to last a few days, the fact remains that equestrian tack and equipment can be overwhelming to haul, so having an organized plan in place is key. If you’re heading to a show series over the course of many weeks or months, it may be necessary to bring an enclosed cargo trailer along to store more trunks, hay, tack, and more. If you’re organized and prepared ahead of time, you and your horse(s) will be much more relaxed and ready to compete at the horse show!
Have a Checklist in Place
You do not want to learn that you forgot something when you have already arrived at the showgrounds, especially when it is something very important. The best way to avoid this is to make a checklist well in advance that has everything you’re going to need. Have a universal checklist with all of the things you are going to need in your shows in the future. This is bound to save you a lot of work.
Wash and Organize Your Tack
Wash and condition your leather tack and don’t forget to clean those bits, too before you head out to the horse show! Even though it may get a little dusty in the trailer, it’s always best to go to the show prepared with clean tack wrapped and tidied up ahead of time.
Load Trailer Well in Advance
If you have a horse trailer already, then take advantage of it by leaving some of your tack, equipment, and feed inside it. Things like water buckets and manure forks can be left in the trailer so you won’t have to look for them every time you’re getting ready for a show.
Be an Early Bird
The best way to stop on top of the packing process is to do your packing very early in advance. You might not be able to pack the horse equipment too early, but there is room to pack other things so that your last minute packing work is reduced.
Have a Show Kit
A horse show kit consists of such things as supplements, feed, wraps and bandages, first aid kit, horse show drapes, safety pins, rags, hoof polish, hair nets, fly spray, coat polishes, and general grooming tools. Have this basic kit always packed so that you don’t have to worry about these things at the last minute. It lessens your work and reduces the chances that you’re going to forget a small but significant item.
Have Papers Ready
If you’re the regular attendant of horse shows, then you know how important it is to have your horse’s papers around. These papers include the Coggins test results, vaccination records and so on. It helps to have them somewhere at the ready where you can easily access them when you’re leaving for the show. A good idea is to keep them in waterproof packaging and place them somewhere convenient, such as the dressing room in your trailer. That way you can pick them when you’re heading for the show.
Be Organized
Organization is your friend. When you are organized, the packing process can be so much easier. You can set up your tack room in the horse trailer so that there is a place for every item you’re going to need. That way you’re more likely to notice things that are missing.
Time Is Your Friend
Don’t beat yourself up when you make mistakes. The fact is that mistakes are normal things and they happen all the time. To avoid making these mistakes, however, you need to give yourself time to pack so that you don’t feel like you’re in a rush. That way you’re less likely to make simple mistakes.
