It's horse show time at Sprieser Sporthorse, and that means that I'm keeping a pad and paper next to my bed, so that when I wake up at 3am worried about making sure I remember to pack towels into the trailer before we go, I can write it down and maybe actually get a little sleep. It's the neurotic, type-A dressage rider in me; it carries over to all aspects of my life.
We'll leave for the show on Thursday morning, and it's a little less than a six hour drive. My trailer fits four horses, but with only three showing (Ella, Midge, Fender) I'll have a compartment for my hay and bedding. We bed with wood shavings - they're cheap and easily portable, and cheaper still when I bring bags from home instead of buying them at the show.
I also have a nice big tack room in the trailer, which is well on its way to being fully stocked: grain (in individual bags; less mess), buckets, hose, muck fork, broom, shovel. Grooming supplies, including my braiding kit - I'm useless with yarn, so I braid with rubber bands; some say it's less professional, but I think they look pretty nice, and I can do a whole mane in 35 minutes, so there! My bathing kit has both regular shampoo and whitening shampoo, because Midge manages to turn his handsome white socks into nasty poop-smeared messes in about two seconds if left to his own devices. I also have to pack an industrial strength curry comb, because Fender's unclipped winter coat is proving persistent.
Saddle pads, polo wraps, coolers, rain sheets. The weather is going to be all over the place, plus a chance of rain (naturally - if I'm at a show, it's going to rain), so I have to be prepared for everything. I got nice new coolers last year though, so my team will look smashing... at least until they roll in something. Lovely! I'm leaving the fans I use in the show stables at home in hopes that Murphy's Law will mean it will be balmy.
Tack, of course. I keep an extra halter, lead, set of reins, girth and curb chain in the trailer. Never can be too careful. Lungeing equipment too, for Fender, which will hopefully ensure his good behavior. First aid kit, human and equine. Ella can't get on or off a trailer without banging her head (she travels in a ridiculous helmet-like contraption, and I duct tape a towel to the beam above her), so there's wound dressing for her. I can't manage to go 15 minutes without banging my elbow, knee or shoulder into something solid, so there's lots of anti-inflammatory for me.
Crucial: cold mojitos, tortilla chips and salsa. Ahh. Then, there's my own boots, spurs, whip, helmet, top hat, four pairs of white breeches (only three competition days, but I have a hideous old pair I keep for rainy weather), gloves, both my short coat and tails. Pretty new shirts and stock ties from one of my sponsors, and a gorgeous stock tie pin made for me by one of my favourite students.
Endless copies of all my paperwork; I'm meticulous when I enter shows (especially this one, which offered online entry - how cool is that?!), but you never know what you might need. Spiffy tack room curtains, embroidered chairs, and banners from my sponsors. We travel in style. A chilled bottle of champagne - this show is Fender's debut, Midgey's FEI debut, and Ella's Grand Prix debut. Either we'll have lots to celebrate, or sorrows to drown.
Extra copies of the tests - I'm pretty keen at memorising, but you can never be too sure. Plus, after a show I attended last year, I've learned that not every show organiser knows where to find some of our more specific qualifying tests, like for the Brentina Cup; I had to harass the National Director of Dressage on a Friday night on her cell phone. Not a good way to make friends.
Directions, cell phone charger, clean socks, pyjamas, toothbrush. And plenty of Tylenol PM (painkiller and helps you sleep), earplugs, and an extra pen and pad of paper to keep next to my bed in the hotel. Lord knows I'd never get to sleep otherwise!