Equipment for shows check list.

[Callisto]

Can anyone add to the following, and/or post up their own check list? It is DD and pony's first show on Monday (and my first show for many years, so I'm getting more and more nervous) and I don't want to cock it up by forgetting something essential.

saddle
bridle
haynet
bucket x 2
water
cooler
grooming kit

gloves
hat + black silk
hairnet
joddy boots
half chaps
water
snacks

I'm missing loads here aren't I?

[Mirage]

baby wipes.I've never been to a show but do have a pony that likes to get herself as mucky as possible,plus two jockeys who do things like brush past the greasy tow bar ball wearing clean joddies,minutes before we are due to leave.Babywipes save my sanity.

First aid kit?
Needle and thread/elastic for repairs/tying number on neatly?

[Treblesallround]

Lunge line unless you're certain pony will load to come home.
Spare headcollar and rope in case of breakages (bitter experience!)
Vallium and gin
And definitely baby wipes (clean boots up a treat if they get dusty as well as pony and child)
Get dd to wear tracky bottoms over her jods till ready to mount
Have fun

[Alameda]

I was going to say needle and thread and plaiting bands, depends what is included in your grooming kit? An entourage of helpers, a spare of everything - well not everything but lead ropes and head collars. Phones and mobile charger obviously, something to wear over jodhs like track suit bottoms.

[BlueChampagne]

Camera
money
safety pins

Unless you're hacking: travelling boots & tail bandage

[Treblesallround]

Oh yes forgot, lots of money.

[MoonlightandRoses]

An old piece of velvet or one of those micro-fibre clothes - they're brilliant at adding last minute shine on horse or tack.

Like Alameda - would need to know what's in the grooming kit before any further commenting though.

Mine is meant to usually contains:
Hoof-pick, hoof oil, plaiting bands, needle & thread, polos, velvet, body brushes (various), tail comb, vaseline, soft hair-brush, scissors, bandages (travel and medicinal), wound powder, talc, cotton wool, gauze and some random pieces of small tack (flash etc).

Best of luck at the show.

[Pishspice]

Lunge line, lunge whip, scoop of mix, grooming brushes, water and water bucket.

[Butkin]

As above and then:

Horses passport
well fitting (ie not showing outside saddle) brown numnah
sponge to wipe off any dirty marks
towel to dry any sponged areas
fly spray - we're now using some cream stuff which also slicks the hair.
some show sheen or similar
Mane/Tail conditioner for spraying through to avoid tangles etc.
Chalk if white on legs.
Make sure you've cleaned/washed your body brush/dandy brush beforehand otherwise you may just spread dirt back on.

Blue silk (not black) if doing any show classes.
Jod clips unless you have elastic at bottom of jods
No half chaps unless you plan to jump in them
Plain brown whip and or show cane depending on what classes.
Elastic for tying your number on and sissors to cut number to small size (they are usually too big for childrens backs)
Shirt, tie, scrunchy, tie pin (latter optional)

Tracksuit bottoms to wear over jods until last moment
Something to clean jod boots if they get dirty before getting on.

Don't worry - we usually forget something!

[SaggyCeratops]

The pony:
Pony,
Saddle,
Bridle,
Spare bridle,
Bit,
Reins.
Stirrup leathers and irons.
Spare rubbers for peacock irons.
Girth.
If you have a white pony/girth, trainer whitener is very useful for those annoying grass stains!
Travel boots,
Travel rug
Waterproof sheet incase it rains.
Hood if required,
(I have a snow white pony, ALWAYS required)
Tail bandage and the leg of an old pair of tights to go over the tail.
Head collar,
Lead rope.
Grooming kit, newly washed.
Hoof pick,
Sponge,
Bucket
Shampoo
Show sheen
Chalk for white bits
Hoof oil
Baby wipes
Baby oil for muzzle and eyes.
Haynet
Water bucket
First aid kit.
Poo picker,
Bag for picked poo.
Water.
Baling string to tie up to. The string you always use will definitely break at the earliest opportunity.

Rider:
Normal everyday riding clothes to wear there and warm the pony up.
Show kit: jodhpurs
Loose trousers to wear over jodhs between classes
White shirt, spotlessly clean, they MAY let them ride in in no jackets if it is sweltering, dont be embarassed because you thought the slightly grubby school shirt would be covered by the jacket!
Tie
Tie pin
Jacket
Joddie clips (or elastic sewn directly to the jodhs)
Hairbrush
Hairnet
Hard hat
Well polished boots
Boot polish
Safety pins and scissors for the competitor number
Gloves
Show cane
Body protector
Rain mac
Wellies
Deodorant
First aid kit
Baby wipes
Lunch.

Most importantly, in this weather, every empty bottle you can find, filled with squash/water and then frozen. Take than out in the morning and put in a bucket which you can later fill with water. It's VERY easy to overheat and get dehydrated at shows, when you are wearing show clothes, these will slowly defrost through the day, keep you cool, and give you a bucket of iced water to put to good use.

Whatever you do, put EVERYTHING you will need on your list. You may think that boots, stirrup leathers and saddle cannot be forgotten, but believe me, it's very easy! And that includes DD!

Once DD is changed into show clothes, don't let her stand ANYWHERE near the car/lorry/trailer, she WILL step over the tow bar and get covered in grease!
If you are in two very close together classes, STILL remove the bridle and tie up with the head collar. If you don't, your pony WILL despite never doing it before, pull back and break its bridle in six different places.

Do not EVER tie your spotless pony next to its best friend for company. A friendly neck scratch WILL result in you frantically sponging it down, trying to remove large patches of grass coloured slobber from your white ponies neck and mane!

[SaggyCeratops]

Oh, and don't forget the saddle soap, metal polish and all related cloths.
Plaiting equipment,
Folding chairs.

Well in advance, preferably NOT the night before, check ALL tyres, and ensure the trailer electrics are working, and that the jockey wheel hasn't rusted solid and that the trailer brakes still work.

Pack all of the above, at least one day in advance. If you are up until 3 am packing and cleaning tack, you won't enjoy yourself on the day.

[SaggyCeratops]

Oh, and passports, car passes and entry numbers.
Sun cream,
Bug bite spray,
Paracetamol
And fly repellant!

[SaggyCeratops]

May have cross posted slightly,

[horseylady]

Saggy do you fancy packing my trailer?!!!

[SaggyCeratops]

Seriously, list everything!

[TheQueenOfDiamonds]

A microfibre cloth. We used them and just plain water to get any stains off the mares, They work wonders if your pony decides to shit down his nice clean legs!

[SaggyCeratops]

My unicorn white welsh A, is waaay beyond just shitting down her nice clean legs! Show her a trailer, and she suddenly gets explosive, neon green Diahorrea! She travels to a show in a rug, hood, tights on the tail, tail bandage, and leg bandages as far up her leg as they will go. She doesn't wear travel boots, the ones at the back act as collection points for the shit! Plain water and a microfibre cloth seriously wouldn't cut it!

[TheQueenOfDiamonds]

Oh dear saggy!

Well, I must be lucky then haha. I just get the cloth out, wet it and squeeze as i rub the stain and it comes off straight away! I may even consider reducing the names stand there muttering whilst feeling sorry for myself after reading that.

[Callisto]

Oh Saggy, that did make me laugh. Thanks so much to everyone for a very comprehensive check list.

Yes, pony is white with dark mane and tail and can shit for England when I want him to stay clean. On the plus side he is a registered Welsh so does not require plaits. Grooming kit is looking rather inadequate compared to The List ^^, it currently contains a dandy brush, body brush, rubber and plastic curry combs and (possibly) a hoof pick. All rather grubby.

I think I need to make a list of all the things I need to do before acting on The List.

[BlueChampagne]

Horsey people are generally friendly types Callisto - I'm sure you can borrow if necessary!

[LowRegNumber]

They are good but if you borrow please please remember to find a way to return, I lent out our spare headcollar and leadrope after a horse (who never had before) pulled back and broke collar, rope, string and the tie ring! Of course it never came back and it was from our much missed pony who had passed on some time before. It may not be much but to the owner it could be important and [cross] for trusting people - never lend if you can't afford to lose!

[BlueChampagne]

Fair point LowRegNumber.

So Callisto, how did it go?

[Callisto]

Well, the clear round and the lead rein jumping shared the same course. Unfortunately there were a couple of 1'6" oxers that were around 1'6" wide which freaked DD out (and me thinking there is no way I could jump those!). But she had a go, pony jumped beautifully, but DD chickened out of jumping the oxers because she nearly got pinged out of the saddle the jump before. I didn't want to push it so we retired after a mere 4 jumps.

So we entered the lead rein pony club pony (it was showing class but there was a little handy pony course to complete too) and DD and pony placed 5th out of 8. So we were very pleased (especially as I was a scruffball and DD was in completely incorrect attire - wrong coloured hat silk, jacket, boots etc) and DD took a rosette home from her very first show.

We have another show this weekend, Ledbury Hunt PC if anyone is going?

[Mirage]

I'm glad it went well Callisto.It sounds like your dd is very sensible and I'm glad she had fun and came home with a rosette.We have our first show 2 weeks on Sunday.eek!

With the lead rein class,did you have to do a certain 'show'? DD2 wants to do a l/r class and I'm terrified of not doing what I should/going the wrong way.

[Callisto]

Thanks Mirage. The l/r PC pony started with the judge asking us all to walk round the ring then she lined us up and asked us one by one to walk/trot round the little handy pony course (tiny jump, picking up a soft toy from one dish on a stick and putting it in another dish on a stick, walking over some tarp, getting off and back on etc). Lined back up, walked round the ring again and then she lined us up and presented the rosettes. It was entirely painless and the other people leading were really nice and chatty.

We are going to a show this weekend and will probably do the M&M lead rein which will be more like proper showing I guess. I shall report back in details for you.

[BlueChampagne]

Bet your DD's thrilled to bits to get ribbbons at her first show. Hopefully clear round course will be kinder next time.