Trailblazers finals / staying away in trailer -- questions...

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Neptune

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So still yet to submit my entry for the final of the dressage trailblazers. Just not sure if i want to do it or not, Mainly due to the logistics of it.

I am based in Essex, so bit of a fair trek up for me. I do not own a box, but have 4x4 and single trailer. The plan would be to sleep in the trailer/tent, do i need to pay the extra for the electric hook up to camp (even though i do not need the electric hook up) Or can i still camp without paying for this? I am ok to sleep in the trailer, but my Mum would be coming with me to help out and not sure she would be up for it!!

Plus i would need to bring all mucking out equipment and hay etc... No way am i going to fit all this in the car! Guess others maybe with double trailers would put it in the trailer? Not sure what to do with that! Guess if you were going with others/friends etc. Then you could all swap stuff about etc. But i will be going on my own. Another reason I am a little dubious. Just feel like I wont get the full atmospehere of it unlike if i was in a group of friends, especially in the evening.

Also because it is a bit of a trek up for me. I was looking at staying for the 3 nights tues/weds/thurs. Just not sure how my horse would take to the 2 hour+ drive and competing the same day. We are quite new to this competing malarky and max he has travelled in the trailer is an hour. Otherwise i could just get up stupid o'clock weds morning drive/compete stay the weds night then compete/drive home on the Thursday. How have others worked this?

Just not sure i can make this work out :o
 
you can camp without the elec hook up :)

fairly sure you can buy hay and bedding on site. if you cant buy hay on site you should be able to wedge 2/3 small bales in front of horse in trailer and use bungee cords to secure it.

mucking out wise you just need a trug and a shavings fork, its such a small stable for that short period of time you will struggle to do a proper full muck out and keep it tidy as the box is so small they always make a horrid mess. when we stay in temp stables we just do a quick skip and accept it doesnt look as nice or neat as it would at home.

i thik travelling up to 3 hours and competing same day is fine as long as horse has 2 hours min to relax upon arrival before working.

sis and i did traillblazers a few years ago and stayed on our 3.5 ton lorry so put sleeping bags down in horse area, we took plenty of food, wine and DVDs to play in the laptop and had a whale of a time :)
 
Haven't done trailblazers or staying away in a trailer but did many years ago do a big three day show on my own in a lorry with no living, so sleeping bag, etc. Didn't really know anyone there but you soon make friends and you have your horse to keep you occupied. Amazing how busy you can be with one horse!

No problem travelling that amount of time and doing same day.
 
I decided not to go! Qualified my chap for Elementary but the money and travel etc is just ridiculous for a grass roots level championship. :( I think it's a shame as I know a lot more people would enter if it were £45 entry without all the silly extras on top. I thought about driving up early and just being there for one day and if we did well enough to go through to the next day we'd just have to drive up again bleh!
Chiltern & Thames is a lot easier to manage!
 
We're going to be there Monday 29th through Thurs 1st if you need to borrow mucking out stuff.
Also dont know anyone there so friendly faces welcome!!
 
I will be playing groom for a friend there over the course of the competition. We aren't camping as can commute there daily, but if you need anything food/drink etc then I'm more than happy to drop some things off for you if needs be :)
 
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