As I write I am still thinking about how great Royal Windsor was this year back in its full format with the crowds returned and everyone having a lovely time.
Windsor has always been one of my favourite shows, but it is a jam-packed agenda for us. Friday was our busiest, with 8 horses in 10 classes! We had a great day, and I was thrilled to get 3 into the hunter championship – Twinshock Warrior, Wall Street II and Bloomfield Greystones I was delighted with when he went on to take the reserve championship.
Another highlight of the day, amongst many, was riding Jo Baker’s Chantilly Sandman in the Maxi Cob. I was over the moon to take the championship in the main arena, where Teddy gave me his all.
When I think about the planning and logistics that go into competing multiple horses at a show its mind boggling, and I am lucky to have plenty of people helping me. Setting off for a show with one horse can be daunting, let alone with more than one. When I am asked about entering two horses into a show and taking them on their own, I am slightly horrified and would say think long and hard about it. Unless you absolutely have to, I would advise not to and here is why:
For a start taking two horses is not twice the amount of work it is more like three times the amount! However, my main concern is safety. What happens if your horse, or you are injured and there is no one to help? Consider the implications of your lorry breaking down and you have no one to assist if you need to get help.
When taking two horses out alone, will one horse stay on the lorry without the other while you are warming up or competing? I wouldn’t recommend leaving a horse unsupervised on a lorry under any circumstances as there are too many opportunities for accidents. If you absolutely must then leave your mobile phone number with someone so if, God forbid, something does happen you can be contacted. Remember to leave your phone on silent but on vibrate.
You will need to consider how far you are travelling for the show. It can be tiring especially if you are competing two horses in two classes, and if you qualify for 2 championships as well that is a very long day on top of a drive home.
So, my advice is to take at least one person with you to help and if you can rope someone else in then even better!
When planning your run down to a show here are a couple of things that could help you. We exercise the horses the day before a show, and this can be in the school or hacking out. If a horse doesn’t do anything the day before they can be too fresh at the event which means much longer warming up. I think it’s important for their well-being, suppleness, and brain, plus horses like routine.
If preparing a cob we always hog/trim a couple of days before so they don’t look like they have been shaved and you have a chance to blend in. We always wash them after we have trimmed them, and it is then you notice the bits of hair that ping up. You will have plenty of time to go over and tidy up any stray bits you may have missed. It also saves a job the day before if you are busy preparing two horses for the show.
If you are plaiting think about if you are going to do it the night before or the morning of the show. I like to plait the morning of the show so there is no chance of them rubbing them out overnight. I also leave the forelock until I get to the show, so it doesn’t come out in the lorry. Our horses do not travel with hay to prevent messing up the plaits or them coming out. If you do plait the night before consider using a lycra hood.
The horses are given a bath the day before a show, but the team never condition the mane as when plaiting this makes the hair slippery and difficult to plait.
We use a stain remover the day before the show and if we use it on their legs, we bandage them to prevent them getting dirty overnight. We always keep stain remover in our show kit to use as a spot remover.
My mantra is be prepared and organised and this is even more important if you are showing more than one horse
- When you get your class times, work backwards from each class, writing out a timetable for warming up, tacking up etc.
- Write a list of what you need to take for the show because for two horses you need to ensure you have a good supply.
- Check your kit a couple of days before the show and then again, the day before.
- Allow plenty of time and if you are new to the venue, check where everything is located while on foot.
- Always get there early to ensure you have plenty of time to sort these things out before you even get your horses off the lorry.
- When you get to your show find out how big the show ground is and where you are going to park.
- Post timetables on the inside of your lorry doors.
- Mark each horse’s tack so your helper knows what bridle/saddle goes on which horse. Don’t forget to do the same with the numnah/ gel pad, girths and so on.
- Consider travelling with showing clothes under old clothes to keep them clean, ready for a quick strip when you get there.
Classes often overrun, and you can find yourself very tight on time. If you are lucky enough to qualify for a championship you will need to be extra organised. Plan for this in advance and don’t try to “wing it on the day.
If you only have 1 helper, they can groom for you but if your classes are close together, they can’t be in the ring and preparing / warming up your other horse. You may need to ask for help in the ring and other grooms or the steward will often help so don’t be afraid to politely ask. The same can be said for asking someone to hold a horse at the lorry – I never tie my horses to the side of a lorry as I have seen too many accidents happen.
So, the moral of this story is you really need at least one helper – not only because it is safer but also to make the whole process much more enjoyable. It is supposed to be fun and if you are stressed your horse will sense this and neither of you will have a good time.