Showing it alone

[AmieeT]

I am hoping to show my pony for the first time this year (not his first time, he's 19 lol), and am planning to hack to a local show. I'm from a non horsey family so they wouldn't want to help and I don't have a driving licence yet let alone a trailer or box- But I was wondering about people that do, and how they get around certain problems.
For example, if I hack, it'd be alone, and therefore I'd have to do ridden classes as there would be no-one I trust to keep an eye on my saddle etc while showing in-hand.

But my main concerns are about food and water while I'm there. Obviously horses trickle feed and I wouldn't be able to take of his bridle because I'd have nowhere to put it (and nowhere to put a head collar)- Is it OK for them to graze with the bit in? (Mine usually does this at some point as I normally forget to take his hay net down when I put on the bridle lol, but wondering if it's actually ok), and my other question is do shows provide water for horses that don't come via a box?

Figured I better get this settle in my head long before the showing season begins lol!

 

[twiggy2]

speak to show organisers if it is a small local friendly show they may be able to buddy you up with someone who's lorry you could pop tack on and tie up to, or they take a lorry to use as a kitchen for the judges and you could use that. Or maybe you could leave you bits and pieces by/in the judges tent.

could a family member or friend not just take a few essentials down in a car for you and drop them off?

 

[Suffolkangel]

Ask a silly question but do you not have a horsey friend, or even just a friend that might be interested in coming to watch? I'm lucky that I have transport and I know many people go showing alone, but I try to avoid it if I can. Even my non horsey parents have come before just to help with holding the pony or getting a number for me... if they meet you there in a car they could bring water and grooming kits etc...

Most places I've been to show don't provide water.

 

[Tobiano]

Well done AmieeT for deciding to do this and also for thinking it through so well. I would say if at all possible take a friend with you, even a non-horsy friend, just so you have someone to hold your pony while you go to the loo if nothing else! If that is impossible maybe you can post on your local horsy facebook page to see if someone will come and help you - some people love doing that. Or ring the show organisers and discuss how feasible it is to come on your own. One thing you could do is just for the first one, to hack to the show but not enter any classes, just wander round on your pony so he / she gets a look at what's going on and you can see the lie of the land and how difficult or easy it would be to enter some classes. Hope you have fun and put some pics on here!

 

[AmieeT]

Thanks for the replies

Family coming would depend on whether or not my dad is well enough, I suspect he'd LOVE to watch but unfortunately his poor health doesn't always allow him to do what he likes to, so this would be worst case scenario, but I like to be prepared!!

I'm very new to the horsey world (Have had said pony on full loan now for a year, and had my first ever riding lesson 2 days later- we've been hacking alone for 3 months or so now and I trust him with my life so that's not an issue), and the only horsey people I know are my friend that got me addicted (lol), who has 3 of her own and at every opportunity will take her 2 ponies to county level qualifiers, so I can't expect her to come as she's got a lot on herself, as the ones I'm thinking of are only little fun shows to get him used to it again. And the people I loan him from who have about 40 animals on the farm and about 12 grandchildren to look after too- I don't really want to burden anyone else...

Have been hacking routes to the most local show grounds so i's not all completely new when I'm in a hurry to get there, but it's literally just while I'm there that I'm worried about him.
I do like the idea of just wandering around on him first time- he's not been to a show in about 4 years so I suspect might get a tad over excited lol.

Really appreciate the help

 

[SuperH]

There is often a water trough at shows you would be able to let your horse drink from. I let mine graze with their bits in, just watch out for green slobber on your cloths and around their mouth.

I would often hack to shows as a child. I would do ridden classes unless someone I knew was there who I could leave my saddle with, sometimes my mum would wander down at lunch time with a sandwich and a grooming kit so I could give the pony a quick brush.

It is doable, have fun!

 

[Arizahn]

Backpack with as much bottled water as you can carry, you will need to practice and see!

A collapsible water bowl - they are usually small, but you can keep refilling it.

Folding hoofpick, small brush and baby wipes for last minute polish.

Maybe a small haynet inside a plastic sack in the backpack for transport? Hay squashes up well once the air is pressed out of it.

Or pack up what you will need and pay a taxi to drop it off at the show once you are there to recieve it?

 

[LaurenNutini]

I've hacked to a localish show once, it was probably about an hour hack. I was riding alone but my part loan horses owner walked with us on foot and we had someone following us in the car with the grooming kit, etc. I actually only did an in hand show that day and we left the saddle in the car. Will you change when you get there or ride in your show clothes? That's another thing to consider, I rode in my usual riding clothes then changed in the car when I got there! I knew I'd get myself dirty otherwise. Is it possible for a friend, a member of your family to drive there for half an hour or so? That way you can give your horse a quick groom if they bring your kit, you can get something to eat and drink and bring water for your horse. When we did the show we didnt even take hay, we only entered one class so let him have grass while we were waiting around.
I hope you have fun, however you decide to do it!

 

[claracanter]

Backpack with as much bottled water as you can carry, you will need to practice and see!

A collapsible water bowl - they are usually small, but you can keep refilling it.

Folding hoofpick, small brush and baby wipes for last minute polish.

Maybe a small haynet inside a plastic sack in the backpack for transport? Hay squashes up well once the air is pressed out of it.

Or pack up what you will need and pay a taxi to drop it off at the show once you are there to recieve it?

This is excellent advice. Baby Wipes are definitely your friend where green slobber is concerned. A small cloth and a bit of baby oil is also very useful fora last minute shine. I am sure you would find someone ring side, a spectator or steward who could keep an eye on your bag for you.( you might also need someone to hold your pony while you go to the loo/get something to eat/drink etc. but most other horsey people are friendly and understanding)