Staying away in horsebox for a whole week

star

star

Well-Known Member
Joined
22 August 2001
Messages
6,781
Location
Woking, Surrey
Visit site
Only ever stayed for a night before but Badminton will be for the week. Any helpful hints and tips, must have things to take etc?

I know I'll end up forgetting something vital. Better make sure I leave room for the horse!
 
Take some treats to eat when you are down or need energy . Dried fruit is great.Old army trick that.Keep it simple, Wash from a bucket is no problem ,but do it . Dont let standard s slip. Are you taking someone witgh you, these things are always better with an accomplice.
 
God help you !!. Congratulations on your win by the way.

You can not have enough duvets/warm bed stuff, the lorry will be cold unless you are hooked up or on a geni.
More clothes than you need.
Lip balm
Spare glasses if you wear them
Lots to read
Radio
hot water bottle
pain relief
over trousers
belt - a week of baling string is not good
mobile phone charger
case/tray of drinking water
'easy' food. I put lots of food I thought I would eat but actually survived on cereal, soups and fruit.

Set of spare shoes for the horse
spare stirrup leathers and reins
Apple juice or whatever makes him drink away from home.
 
I would add multiple light sources and extra batteries. Even if you have electric to the box you need a good flashlight and I'd recommend some sort of standing camping light as well.

External phone power. Again, hopefully you will have no problem charging your phone but get one of the power packs.

A woolly hat for sleeping if necessary. You laugh but a hat to sleep in can make a big difference if it gets really cold.
 
Be really disciplined about removing wet/ muddy/ dusty clothing at the door- what you don't notice for a day gets horrid over a week. Set up a feedroom/ equipment store in the back of the lorry, and use your wheelbarrow lined with an old rug to traipse stuff up and down to stables.
Will you have any supporters coming with a car? They can be dispatched to a supermarket to get any human basics forgotten/ go out for tea one night.
Edited to add- ear plugs and an eye mask if sleep is important to you/ light sleeper.
 
Last edited:
My favourite thing now is unlimited internet on my phone which I then turn into a mobile hotspot so that I can watch TV on my tablet. I have Sky at home so use the Sky Go app and also iplayer, TVcatchup. You can also download box sets when you are at home over wifi to watch later offline.

On the more practical side loads of bottles of water, buy skimmed milk as it lasts longer than semi, lots and lots of snacks, you can be really indulgent once you've finished as you wont be nervous anymore and can eat!

What are you using for power? I have a leisure battery and that lasts me a week.
 
Onesie and a wooly hat to sleep in - and a small dust pan and brush to get any mud etc out that gets tread in to the living even when you're strict about taking shoes off!!
 
If you have not got a hook up a gas powered hot brush so you can sort the hair a bit .
If you have got a hook up a small oil filled radiator .
 
I had the misfortune to twice get poorly whilst away and was I glad of the human first aid box. Beechams powders and throat sweets got me through 4 days at RI and the packet of imodium got me through the regionals at Addington - i will never ever buy another garage sandwich in my life !!

The stuff I found tucked away in my lorry when I sold it was beyond belief. Two pairs of breeches that were 2 sizes too small for instance - had that truck a long time !
 
I've got a leisure battery in the lorry and have a gas powered hob and oven so should be ok for cooking. Problem is that the fridge isn't connected to the gas so will only run off the leisure battery while we're on the move but will then have to be turned off. Have got a small generator and a plug in cool box so hoping to use that during the day.
Got two friends coming for the duration so plenty of stuff for us all to fit in one lorry!
Have got friends coming on Wednesday who can replenish fresh supplies but will be fending for myself after that. Not too fussed about living off soup and pasta for a few days though.
Have slept in lorry luton a few times now - big thick duvet keeps me warm but always find I get a cold nose which keeps me awake!
 
Given the weather at Badmington take everything from bikinis and sun tan lotion to ski wear and wellies.
Plus lots of pennies.
 
Put a blanket or sleeping bag under the sleeping bag or duvet you are sleeping in. Sounds daft but does help keep you warm.
Make several lists. 1. Horse things
2
Clothes for all weather's for yourself.
3. Any medicines or tablets you may need. 4. Food list. It's amazing what you forget.
5. Are you taking a dog?. If so list dog food etc. 6. Utensils for cooking, eating with and off.
 
I've just spent 4 days camping with 2 kids, 2 adults, 2 horses and 2 dogs, sleeping in the truck...
1. LISTS. MANY lists. You'll still forget something
2. Sunblock, lipbalm, a hat, more changes of socks and knickers than you could possible expect to go through.
3. Dustpan and brush to sweep the living area.
4. A set of snap together rubber mats like these: http://www.anaconda.com.au/Product/...-Mats-4-Pack?gclid=CLmqlOyA870CFU5FpQodWW0A5A to go outside the door and help keep the dirt out.
4. Baby wipes for hands and face when the showers are just too far away.
5. Easy to eat foods and stuff that requires minimal cooking.
5. Lots of books.
 
Spare waterproofs- NOTHING dries in a horsebox. A fleece throw to go over knees if you are sitting in the living in the evening or as an extra blanket. Spare towels. Insect repellent and anti histamine cream for bites.
 
Run your engine regularly to top up your leisure batteries and ensure you aren't draining the main battery unless you can isolate it. As others have said organise the horse area for the week, we often move the partitions to give more space and keep the living area as clean as possible with a no boot/shoe rule.
 
As above plus lots of towels.

Dirty laundry bag (one for horse stuff and one for human stuff) that you can put in an external tack locker/horse area of lorry.

echo others about ensuring all boots are taken off at door and wet jackets hung in wardrobe/horse area.

Head torches (plenty of) spare batteries. Power packs for charging mobile phones etc.

Remember to take out the battery isolator key when you arrive (to ensure that lorry starts to go home again!) If the leisure battery feeds from the main batteries then you can start the lorry part way through the week and leave it running for a few hours to recharge the leisure battery.

Lots of buckets (water buckets for stable, wash down buckets, buckets to transport water in from tap to stable, buckets to put wet horse boots etc in to soak/rinse off, buckets for feed).

Seriously suggest taking a wheelbarrow as it really helps when moving stuff from lorry to stable and back again (a few trips there and back wtih haynets, tack, grooming kit etc).

bicycles.

One of the first jobs to be done after arrival is to muck out the lorry - particularly if its warm :)

Alarm clock (saves using up precious mobile phone battery)

Lots of tissues and wet wipes
 
For me, one of the most importaant things at Badminton Grassroots is a bike! It was invaluable to me both times. You will walk MILES before the CCI**** even starts so if you want to be walking back and forth to the trot up and the dressage and then the XC etc, you will need to save your feet and legs as much as poss! I took my bike on a couple of my grassroots course walks.

Once we had arrived and unloaded we set the back of the lorry up as a tack/ store/ feed room so that the living remained a living and had no horsey stuff in it.

Plenty of pots and pans, plus washing up liquid and towels. Don't forget your glasses for the wine! We also took a few disposable BBQ's which were great!

I hardly ever had 3G service and there was no Wifi....just something to bare in mind if you like to keep people up to date on Twitter/ facebook etc.

The toilets/ showers are excellent and are kept very clean.

Preferable to take your own BD numbers - they have to be worn on BOTH sides of the bridle. they do provide them when you collect your numbers, but I thought they were big and bulky, so used my own smaller BD ones.

Have a fab time - words can't describe what a fantastic experience it is!
 
Does anyone know if can buy bedding on site and if so is it expensive? Not sure how much to take or just to buy there. Are stables temp ones on grass?
 
star said:
Does anyone know if can buy bedding on site and if so is it expensive? Not sure how much to take or just to buy there. Are stables temp ones on grass?
Click to expand...
It is relative really when you take into account the aggro of loading and unloading bedding and the space it takes up.
 
Very excited on your behalf! Hoping to get down there on Wednesday to see the HHOers strut their stuff :)

Great ideas already (love the nosewarmer - I'm another that gets a freezing nose when camping).

Don't forget plenty of bin bags and loo roll.
A sleeping bag is rarely a substitute for a big thick duvet (so take both!).
Dry shampoo for the days when you can't face the shower queue.
Be militant about keeping the lorry tidy - mess takes up valuable space.
Try and pre-cook a few meals that can just be reheated on the hob - chilli, bolognaise and a thick chunky soup will all be great for warming, and are easy to make in advance.
Take lots of handy drinks that can be grabbed on the run - capri suns, sports cap water bottles, cans of coke....very easy to be dehydrated when you're busy.
A tub trug filled with water is a semi-decent wine/beer cooler.
 
star said:
Does anyone know if can buy bedding on site and if so is it expensive? Not sure how much to take or just to buy there. Are stables temp ones on grass?
Click to expand...

yes you can buy bedding on site but i can't remember how much it was. £8 a bale seems to come to mind but i may have dreamt that! have you received your info pack with passes etc? When you get that, you will receive all of the stabling info etc which will give you the info about bedding.

Also useful to put your horses passport in a little clear folder/ envelope thing as you have to hand it in on arrival and they keep it until you leave.
 
Not received pack yet. Just trying to get prepared! Working the weekend before we go so need to sort everything this weekend. Thanks for all the help - inside tips much appreciated!
 
According to the schedule you get two bales of shavings included and you are there 5 nights (if staying till the Saturday evening) so does depend on the stable base and how dirty your horse is.

also depends on how much space there is in your lorry and how likely you are to use the shavings later on. If you are likely to use them later on I would buy them and take with you (and if you have the space - but they will make extra seating ;) ) else just take the cash and buy any extra you need.
 
The stables are not your average temporary stables - they are temporary american barn stables with the domed roof. Take plenty of string for tying haynets and hanging rugs etc.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top