If you are heading away with your horse this year – maybe for the first time ever, or for a new event, being prepared is really important.
You can break things down into manageable pieces:
Things do do now:
- Check the event and venue’s rules on vaccinations and make sure your horse’s jabs are in line with them.
- Work backwards from the date and make a fitness plan for you and your horse. EquiTeam members can access the Veterinary Approved Fitness Plan. If you are working towards an important competition, you will most likely make sure your horse is fit and well prepared, but don’t forget the importance of your own fitness. Likewise if you are booked into a camp or clinic where you will be riding more or for longer than you are used to, you both need to be prepared.If your horse is not fit, they will quickly tire making your job as a rider even harder. Unfit horses are also more likely injure themselves.
- Our blog – Are you letting yourself down? caused some controversy with some of our readers, but it is an important reminder, why your own fitness as a rider is so important. Not only will you become tired and potentially sore quicker if you aren’t fit, your brain also doesn’t absorb and process information as well. You work hard to be able to pay for competitions, lessons and camps, so why would you want to miss out on getting the maximum you can out of them.
EquiTeam members can access the workouts and fitness plans which are suitable for all levels of fitness. Many of the workouts are really short – I’m sure all of us can find 10 – 15minutes in our day to fit in a workout. Top tip – look in your phone settings at how much time you spend on social media everyday and see if you can reduce that by 15 minutes (or more).
- If you need to book transport and/or accommodation do this as soon as possible. If you are relying on a friend (or they are relying on you), make sure you have a conversation about what will happen if either of you then can’t make it. Things happen, horses get injured and people’s plans change, so it’s best to know if you need a back up plan in place.
- Check when you need to enter by, or when your payment needs to be made by and make a note to ensure you don’t miss payment/entry deadlines.
Things to do a few weeks before:
- Check the equipment rules – do you need an updated standard hat/body protector. The body protector rules have changed recently so make sure yours is up to the latest standard if required.Most cross-country courses won’t allow hats with a fixed peak. The hat standards can be confusing, but we have a download which covers the main society’s rules – Hat rules.
- Do you have a travel first aid kit? Check it’s contents to make sure nothing is missing.
- Do you need spare water/feed buckets? Think about how you are going to take feed/hay if you are staying away. Do you need to buy extra haynets/order small bales of hay or haylage.
- If you and/or your horse aren’t used to travelling, trial a few short journeys first to make sure you are both happy and confident. For more travel tips read our blog.
- Practice loading – some horses may walk happily into a lorry and when faced with a trailer ramp it is another story, so if you have the opportunity to practice this is a great idea. If you aren’t confident about loading, ask for help from someone more experienced. If you are nervous about your horse loading, they are likely to feed off you and then think there is something to be worried about.
- Do you need to register with a society before competing?
- It’s a good idea to write a checklist of things you are going to need. The EquiTeam packing lists are a handy way to not forget anything when you are actually packing, but also a few weeks before in case you need to order additional supplies.
- Do you understand the rules and the turnout rules? If plaiting is required, it is a good idea to practice before hand not only to perfect your plaits, but also to work out how long it will take you to get ready on the day. If you are confused about the rules or dress codes, contact the organiser or ask in our friendly community – EquiTeam Connected.
- If you are going to be staying away with your horse, there are lots more top tips in our blog – Staying away with your pony.
- Check your car and trailer are roadworthy. Our trailer checklist and video shows you the things to look for.
In the days before
- Double check your checklist.
- Check where the venue is and the route you are going to take to get there.
- Plan your timings – work backwards from when you need to be entering the ring/have your lesson and include warming up, tacking up, declaring at the secretary, time for a wee, travel time, plus grooming, loading, feeding (your horse and yourself). Our podcast on Competition Day prep gives you more top tips.
Remember it is supposed to be fun, so whatever you are heading out to do this year, make sure you enjoy every minute of it. By being prepared, you can help to avoid the stresses of things going wrong.
