Happy April everyone :) I hope you are all enjoying the beautiful sunshine, I have been out on the yard for the last three days and there is nothing to make you feel happy like standing outside in the sunshine, which is definitely why I choose to have a hobby that involves sitting inside in a damp cold village hall.
With that in mind how do I make sure my show days are as stress free as possible? We've all been there, we've been late, we can't find the horse, life is awful, things are broken, we want to cry. But do not fear for I am here! Remember, do as I say and not as a I do, following these tips are you are bound to have a stress free day.
1. Have a good list
A good list is the foundation to a good show day. Organise your list with plenty of time. On it you should have at least:
- Stable Name (if you use these)
- Show Name
- Breed
- Colour
- Space to write results
Other things you can choose to add:
- Box Number
- Tag Number
- Breed Card Y/N
- Extra performance equipment needed
By having the horse's breed and colour this will help you to identify the horse if you do not know who they are (particularly true if you've just got a lot of new horses). Adding a tag with an ID number can also help with this and having this on the list will help you stay nice and organised!
Above you can see an example of a pretty simple list. I always have a printed version and usually upload a digital copy to Google Drive just in case it goes missing!
2. Leave with extra time
This may seem like an obvious one but it is very easy to end up being late if there is an accident or similar. You also need to make sure that you leave in plenty of time for coffee. You want to be leaving with at least 15 minutes spare but 30 minutes or longer may be more appropriate depending on how long the drive is or how many times you want to stop!
3. Have a show kit pre-packed
I have done several posts on what is in my show kit but this one is definitely one of the most important. You want to have a good organised show kit with everything you will need that you can just grab and go with.
Here are some things you will want to include in your show kit:
- Breed & Performance Cards
- Sticky Wax
- Blusher Brushes (for dusting)
- Pens
- Pastel Pencils (for touch ups)
- Scissors
- Toothbrush (if you have haired models)
- Show Pad
I would also recommend having:
- Emergency cash
- Spare camera battery & memory card
There are lots of other things you might want to include depending on what you show.
4. Unpack as you go
One technique that can really reduce stress is unpacking as you go. To make this work you will need to be organised in advance. It is worth noting that it does not work if the show host changes the running order!
To do this start by writing your show list and looking at the show running order. Then pack your horses backwards, starting with the last class. Ensure each pouch/bubble wrap is properly labelled so you know who is who.
As you go make a note of which box every horse is in. Label your boxes so that at the show you can get them out in order.
At the show just unpack the horse when you need it. Once the horse is done it can go on your table and when you have an empty box you can repack each of your horses.
This makes it really easy to find each horse for each class and will also reduce that panic unpacking that you have at the start of the day.
Here you can see a table that is being unpacked ready for each class. The only models out are performance horses.
5. Have a helper
This one is invaluable! A good helper is worth their weight in gold. Find someone who is willing to carry boxes, make tea and even help pack horses. If you can also find someone who will help put horses in the ring that would also be amazing!
