United States Eventing Association

The Event Rider’s Top 3 Organization Tips for Horse Trials Day

The following is provided through a partnership between STRIDER and the USEA. As part of our commitment to diversity, enabling access, and building capacity throughout the industry we are pleased to provide this content to benefit the sport of eventing.

Despite our best plans and organizational efforts, life with horses can very often mean we are cycling through Plans B through Z when we start the day with Plan A in mind. If your summer schedule includes your first horse trials or your hundredth, it’s always helpful to check-in with your own organization methods to stay prepared and ensure competition day runs as smoothly as possible.

To get yourself and your horse prepared, team STRIDER has some organization tips to share that you can add to your toolkit and make your summer outings a success, whether you’re sticking to Plan A or one of your many, many back-up plans.

Checklists are a Rider’s Best Friend

Create checklists and timelines to help you get ready for your outing(s). It can be helpful to create packing lists for things that you’ll need to prepare in the week leading up to your outing versus the things you need to pack the morning of. No item is too small to include on your checklist, not even your water bottle! The notes app on your phone is a great place to keep a running list, plus you can link it to reminders to ensure you won’t forget anything.

Create a Competition Day Schedule

This is very likely a good opportunity to loop in your coach, but create a plan for your competition day. Work backwards from your ride times and figure out exactly when you need to be tacking up, warming up, walking courses, taking a water break, etc. Be sure to add in some buffer time for random horse-related incidents so that you’re not rushing around. Having a timing framework to rely on can help you focus on your horse and your tasks throughout the competition, which can also serve to distract you from any nerves you may have.

Limit the Unknowns (As Much as Possible)

Consult facility maps to get familiar with the venue, check your hauling route on Google Maps before you set-out with the trailer so you have a loose idea of where you’re headed, and scope out cross-country and show jumping maps if they’re available before you arrive. Keeping those “big unknowns” to a minimum can help you stay on track during competition day and focus on what’s to come without added worry.

Preparation is key for successful eventing outings, and while each individual horse and rider combination’s preparation may look pretty different we hope these organizational tips can be added to your toolkit for a great summer season.

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