Going out competeing on your own?

JoBo

JoBo

Well-Known Member
Joined
1 March 2004
Messages
8,329
Location
Rugby
s11.photobucket.com
Going out competeing on your own?

We are currently having a 3.5 tonne horse box being made (passed driving test after ’97) with the idea of me taking Bodey out on my own.

At the moment I rely on either OH, sister (GinaGem) or mum to come out with me, and I really want to start getting out and about this year without having to rely on anyone.

So I was wondering how many of you go out on your own and if you had a tips for me to make my life safer and easier?

Thanks,
Jo.
grin.gif
grin.gif
 
Yep, have no choice! Make sure you have rescue, a well behaved horse and a box that's easy to manage ramps etc.

Make sure you have a drill/plan in case you are stranded on the M/way or elsewhere, a phone goes without saying and plan your routes carefully. I'm seriously considering a sat nav!
 
Were you nervous when you first started going out on your own?
Luckily Bodes is great loading and travelling. And we are having a horsebox made so hopefully it will be reliable! I brought a TomTom for my OH for xmas with the idea of nicking it.
Thanks for your reply.
 
Yes I go out on my own. I used to have a 6 tonne box but the ramp was too heavy for me on my own so I changed to a 3.5 tonne and its great. I agree with the others, make sure your horse is sensible to handle on his own, and try short trips at first to get used to it. I was really nervous the first time and horse wasnt used to travelling facing backwards so he crashed aound a bit, but he is fine now and I think nothing of loading him up on my own and setting off. Make sure you have breakdown cover and a mobile - I take a large spare haynet just as well just in case you do wait to wait for recovery and your horse gets bored !
 
I travel pony with small child so may as well be on my own.

I would reccomend planning routes carefully and if not to far away do a reccy before hand. Sat NAvs are great just be careful of low bridges and narrow roads.

Good luck
 
That’s great to know, thanks. Makes me feel better that there are people out there that go out on their own successfully.
Good tip about the hay net.
 
I don't go totally solo, but travel sometimes just with an 11yo child, which doesn't help much, although she is quite helpful in getting the ramp up. Definitely plan routes carefully, ensure you have horsebox recovery, take a brick and WD40 in case any box fittings decide to seize, take a pressure halter in case horse suddenly decides not to load, do a recconaissance trip first to a new venue to suss out how easy to park and turn round.
 
[ QUOTE ]
I travel pony with small child so may as well be on my own.


[/ QUOTE ]

I think thats worse than travelling alone!

I go out alone - its better than having other people hanging around bored but sometimes I would be nice to have someone help me when I am really late
grin.gif
 
I mostly go out on my own.
You just need to be organised.
I tend to arrive and check horse is comfortable, has food, offer water etc. Then I leave the horse on board until I have done what I have to do away from the trailer. (Entering, toilet, cup of tea etc).
I then get me and him ready and I tend to communicate with riders returning from the direction I am going as to how things are running. People are very happy to inform you if the arenas are running late, to time etc especially if you take a genuine interest in their performance.
Walking courses can be difficult but generally there is somebody around who will happily hold your horse for you. Sometimes I just don't walk the course. I suss out the course and try and do a quick scout around the turns as I trot around the arena before I start.
The more you go out the more people you get to know and you tend not to notice you are alone anymore.
smile.gif
 
Alternatively take me and Niomi with you - always here to help navigate and ride with you! Lets face it we know she loves him!! x
 
Practice leaving your horse alone for some time in the box as when you get to shows you're not supposed to leave your horse unattended while you go and get your number/walk the course etc, so practice that.

I always used to leave the ramp of my lorry up and the jockey door shut as it's amazing how many horses I've seen try to climb out of their lorries when they're owners aren't there, and some nasty accidents to boot, so leave windows open but not ramps and doors.

SatNat not always suitable, as they tend to send you down the narrowest lanes and back entrances. I bought a fab AA streetmap book for £15 that shows every lane and road from Milton Keynes to Southampton to Canterbury. Brill!

Try going out on short trips first to get your confidence, like to local hacking or to visit friends and you'll soon get used to being on your own.

Finally, I carry all my emergency contact details stuck on the inside of my trailer, stating who my next of kin are, who people should ring if I have an accident to collect my horse etc, and what my horse is like to handle, load, travel etc. It's been used twice recently, and proved very useful!

Oh and one more thing! I used to hide my keys somewhere in my lorry and then lock everything in and keep that one door key round my neck on a piece of string. If I box somewhere for a hack I don't dare leave my keys anywhere around about, so for hacking I either have big pockets or in summer keep my vehicle keys in a saddle bag.
 
I always used to wonder how my sister in law (non horsey) used to manage taking a small child and pony to a show on her own and one day I went with her - the first thing she would do was to make friends with the people parked either side of her and say she was on her own etc and they were always really willing to keep oan eye on the pony, help her out. Another tip, if you've got a problem loader take several of those road cones with you and if you get the chance when you park, put them out next to your lorry with enough space so that nobody else parks there and you have space to get the horse in without worrying about other people's cars / ponies etc. Of course you may have to move them if they run out of parking space but it generally works.
 
One other thing - having broken down on the motorway and been stranded for 7 hours with a new pony in the back, no matter how close you are to home, always prepare for breakdown - ie always take extra haynets, water, spare rugs, food for horse. I was only 45 mins from home but we couldn't get the pony out, nobody would tow us etc and my main worry wasn't me but the poor scared pony in the back who didn't know me, was hungry, thirsty, getting cold etc. It all worked out in the end but I was so upset for him and so cross at myself.
 
I normally go out on my own, but am very lucky to have friends that meet me places to help! However, best tips are o keep everything organised so you know exactly where everything is and it is easily to hand without having to juggle horse/ramps etc etc
tongue.gif
Think ahead, and plan what you will need when. Ive never had a prob sorting my horse out for the different phases of eventing on my own, and almost always travel on my own. You get used to it and get into your own routine!
tongue.gif
 
With a box i imagine it would be easy! I hack to shows on my own so can't take much equipment with me. I am amazed how hard it is to find a drinking trough or bucket of water. I have to rely on the kindness of complete strangers when I want to get my number, walk the course, go to the loo. Luckily I only have a old synthetic saddle so i can just abandon it by the ringside for inhand classes.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top