Going to shows alone-any tips?

Gingerwitch

Gingerwitch

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My usual mate is off on a 3 month trip (lucky so and so) so i will for the 1st time either have to go to shows, clinics etc on my own or try and grab dad or oh to come with me - neither very horsey - so do i bite the bullet and go alone? - any tips from those that do? etc
 
Unfortunatly I have to go it alone all the time..............I am quite suprised how many horsey people do go to competetions alone.
I don't really know many people but I always get help at unaffiliated competetions ( rarely at affiliated - probably why I never renewed my membership)

I am sure you are near me..................so quite happy to help if we are at the same event!!!!
 
I'm very unsociable and love going to shows alone, as in just my horse, but I do like to drag my OH along, he comes in handy for leg ups and making the tea! I think other competitors are usually willing to help if asked!
 
not sure how near to me you are. I'm going to Ingleden and Denne Hill later this month for shows so you would be welcome to meet up if you want company.
 
I compete alone, but only local low level stuff. I find that other people are more than welcome to hold my stirrup for me, or stand in the trailer with her whilst I get the ramp down etc. I am lucky that she will stand happily unattended on the trailer whilst I walk courses etc.
 
I go to shows on my own all the time. I leave Bodey in the box with a hay net while I book myself in, get number, walk course etc. The rest of it is pretty much the same as if some one else was there.

Spike123- when are you at Ingleden, I’m going on the 23rd I think?
 
I will be going on 23rd as well. Taking Candyman to his first proper show to have a go at jumping a course. He has only just started jumping a small course this week so wanted to go somewhere not too big and nice and friendly which I'm told they are.
 
I have been to several shows on my own, I had cctv put in my trailer and when i go to book in etc i can take the monitor with me to keep an eye on what she is doing, ive found she is much happier if i open the top door so she can nose at the goings on. I also take some steps so i can shut the ramps and still get on!
Go and have fun people are always friendly and have helped me if ive got stuck or popped the ramp up after ive loaded etc.
 
spike123 said:
I will be going on 23rd as well. Taking Candyman to his first proper show to have a go at jumping a course. He has only just started jumping a small course this week so wanted to go somewhere not too big and nice and friendly which I'm told they are.
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Hopefully see you there then? I will be there a bit later with Bodey as I do the bigger classes with him. Look out for me. Be fun! :D
 
I go to pretty much all my comps on my own - my mare is a very good girl, and she will more than happily stand in the lorry with her haynet while I go and mooch off out. I do usually put the ramp down, but mainly because I have a side ramp, and it stops people parking too close to me!

With my old mare I couldn't ever leave her when we out unless she was tied up really short in the lorry with the ramp shut up and the door to the living closed - she would just freak! In the same vein I could never tie her up outside of the lorry - so I would always put all the bits and pieces I needed -hat, boots, stock & pin, gloves etc etc right inside the door of the living, or in the tack locker, so that I could hold madam, and reach everything that I needed.

Current girl is no problems, but I still do put everything close to hand - so I think being organised is the key to going it alone! :) (Sorry I could have probably put just that, rather than rambling on!!)
 
JoBo said:
Hopefully see you there then? I will be there a bit later with Bodey as I do the bigger classes with him. Look out for me. Be fun! :D
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Will do! Hopefully I will still be there. I'm only doing the smaller classes but not sure what my mate plans to do with her horses yet.
 
tips - have everything in a really accessible place from the outside of your vehicle whilst holding onto your horse, or when you pull up - put everything within one handed reach (other hand is holding the leadrope) - that always helps a bit! get two tail bandages - so you don't have to roll up your one to go home for loading, if you have travel boots - practise being able to put them on once loaded then you don't have to have a fidgety horse tied up to the side of the lorry (mine would never tie up so it was either being held or in the trailer/wagon). If you've got a lorry - tack up in the lorry, again, no worries of horse being fidgetty and trying to hold and tack it up at the same time. Have a handy mouting block/step ladder so you're not relying on the ramp (small step ladders are good as they fold away flat and a relatively lightweight.....)

there's a few - hope thats helped!
good luck!
 
Used to go on my own to shows for years and being organised is the main thing. I used to send an SAE with my entries and ask the show to post me my number to avoid queuing up for it - particularly if you are in the first class this can be a right pain.

Also I used to have a card in my jacket pocket with contact details for relative and the yard as at some shows I would know no one at all and if I had been knocked out and carted off it would have been pointless ringing the home phone number on the entry form as there would have been no-one there, living on my own at the time!

You can generally find people to help though can sometimes be a bit frustrating if there is no one around when you need them.
 
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