Eventing on your own

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nato

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It looks like I'll have to do my next ODE on my own as it's on a weekday and dont have anyone to come with me. I don't mind competing alone as it means I'm not waiting on anyone or feeling guilty for making people come with me, but an ODE is a lot more than just a dressage test or a few rounds of sj. It's all the admin behind each phase that's the toughie!

Do any of you event alone? If so, what are your top tips to ensure the day goes as smoothly as possible as I will be very nervous! (Only my second ODE!). Thankfully my horse is a saint and will stand quietly as long as she has food so that helps :)
 
I go BE eventing all the time by myself. You always see people you know and lorry park neighbours are always friendly- get chatting to them and you'll find they'll help you out during the day and vice versa (watching your horse while you nip to the loo or walk the SJ course etc)

Although it's nice to have company, I've found I do actually love it on my own too. You can chat away to your horse and not have to please anyone else or wonder if they do or don't want to be there. I was lucky enough to get placed at Chilham last weekend so waited until 7pm for the prize giving to collect my frilly. Would I have been able to do that if I had a friend with me who needed to get home?

The only thing I sometimes find is that you don't have anyone to put up the SJ practice jumps for you but there's always people around who will help you- use other people helpers to your advantage by picking someone who came into the practice area at the same time as you and copying their routine, that way their helper just does your jumps too! :)

It also really helps as you've got a nice girl who is easy to deal with, so is mine :) Embrace the fact that you don't have to answer to or worry about anyone else and enjoy it! :)
 
Thanks for the replies so far! I am in Ireland so a bit too far away from the BE crowd I'm afraid :)

My mare is an angel and would happily stand in the horsebox all day if she had a haynet so I never worry about leaving her in the trailer while I go and get sorted etc. I will leave my phone number plus emergency contact details for someone if I have an accident in the window of the jeep (and I have my medical armband), and I plan to leave my car keys with one of the staff in the office while I compete.

I actually have a few friends who are competing there on the same day I just found out, so I'll try to park beside them as they're doing a different class to me, so hopefully we can help each other out :)

I also have a list of what I need for each phase and will try to section them off in the boot of the jeep so they are ready to go for each phase.

And most of all I will try to enjoy myself! :) We won't be getting any ribbons as it's only our second ODE and she headshakes sometimes (so dressage will be poor) but we both really enjoy the experience, in particular the cross country, which is what it's all about! It's unaffiliated too so no stress!
 
I do an envelope for the Secretary with my emergency details inside, my car reg plate and where I've hidden the keys. Obviously most of that is on my armband too.

Be prepared, before I go xc, I prepare my washing off stuff, have headcollar to hand etc. Stud holes are prepped at home.

I've got my warm up for sj to a minimum and collar someone else's helper!!!
 
I go on my own most of the time too - actually my best results have all been when it's just me and my pony. The eventing community is so friendly that I always find someone to chat to and have made some great friends like that, with no pressure to make sure someone else is ok all day ;)
 
I go alone most of the time too. I have an A4 sign for my windscreen to say I'm alone and with my mobile number incase horse panics whilst I'm away (never has though). I also mention this to whoever is parked either side and everyone is lovely.

As above I get everything out and ready to go on me and horse for each section and all washdown buckets/sponge/scraper ready too before I even think about tacking up for the dressage ;)

Before the SJ I make sure it is running to time/are they taking numbers or going in order as nothing worse than getting there on your horse to find they are running late.

I think my top tip is don't forget your bib when changing to go XC as I've done that more than once!!!!

Have fun and good luck!
 
I always BE on my own :)

I prefer it. I have a dressage box with everything i need & a jumping box. I just make sure I am really prepared,look at ground & decide on studs etc straight away if have to remove for sj lay them back out on my magnetic tray in the right pattern etc, just silly little things that will ease stress.
I use the same front boots for sj as i do xc. Closed front eskadron tendon boots & tape them straight away so only have back boots to change & tape :)
 
I have evented on my own and it's definitely doable.
I write spread sheets with all the gear I need for each phase and colour in what changes at every stage. Print it out and cellotape it to the wall of your trailer.
Lay all your stuff out in some kind of organised pattern so you know where everything is - and don't just chuck stuff down when you get back from a phase.

I also have a timetable printed out for the whole day with a stepby step guide to what I need to be doing at every moment - I panic if I'm running late. I also marker pen my phase times on my arm so I always know when I'm on next.
The key to competing solo is definitely organisation!
 
That's great! I've done it once and doing it again this w/e. To be honest after doing every Saturday hunting last season with myself and two small children plus this summer of pony club with two of them it felt like a day off to be eventing by myself. I wasn't even nervous as I was so delighted to be on my own with my pony :D. So I don't have any expert advice I'm afraid, but I do think that keeping it simple probably helps - as my horse is a hunter I am used to not booting him, and I had no tack changes between phases. The competition was running ahead so I just did a quick change after SJ and went straight to XC which saved some untacking/washing etc. And also he is easy to do - I'm sure it would be hard to go by yourself if you had a high maintenance horse. Probably the most important thing is to leave lots of time as all that walking to and from sec tent/loo/course walk etc takes loads of time. Have fun!
 
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