The S-hooks invariable don’t fit on half the walls you need them for (too wide, to narrow etc.) Or your horse will play the fun game where she figure out how to get them off the wall and fling her water buckets all over the place. I use these: https://www.smartpakequine.com/pt/lo…ket-strap-2496 and they just stay with each bucket, so less stuff to pack. I keep screw eyes and double ended snaps on hand though, there is a venue I show at that the only place you could use them (or the S-hooks) would be on the stall door.
The one place I will be showing at in April has a strict statement in their show bill that I can’t make modifications to the inside of the stalls. So no hanging eye hooks…at least if I am think ya’ll mean actually drilling an eyehook into the side of the stall. Unfortunately I haven’t been to that location, or the location that the other USDF shows I plan to go to are going to be at, so I can’t really plan ahead on what situation they will have in their stalls or in their barn in general. 
Sounds like I am going to have to start saving up the bailing twine from the barn!
Is this the kind of muck bucket everybody is thinking of? https://www.amazon.com/Bucket-Cart-40qt-Muck/dp/B003N0VKHG While I like the idea, I don’t have any idea how I would transport it.
I think our muck bucket cart came from Schneiders. It folds flat for travel. You can find slightly smaller buckets at big box stores but yeah, that muck bucket and cart ensemble can double as a way to carry your stuff back and forth to the trailer, as well as a way to carry those expensive shavings from the stall you will need to strip, back to your trailer for the ride home. Turn the muck bucket upside down and you have something to stand on for braiding. If you absolutely can’t fit it in your SUV or trailer you can probably borrow a neighbor’s, but it’s “normal” to have your own. The showgrounds probably won’t provide any equipment for cleaning stalls but will expect them to be stripped on the final day.
Hanging buckets: baling twine and double ended snaps.
2 Likes
If you feed pelleted food you can put some of the water on her food to get her used to the taste then she should be more open drinking the water.
Do you know anyone whose showed at the venue before that you could ask about the type/layout of stalls? Local GMO bboard or something?
YES to what Alters said!!! S hooks are dangerous - especially at shows when things aren’t normal for the ponies anyways. Child safe is hilariously true.
There are usually eye hooks in the walls to hang buckets, or the stall doors are metal grates and you can clip right onto there.
You will learn a lot just by doing it. I wouldn’t try to stock up on everything now. Just bring your essentials and then let your show stuff grow naturally.
I love my Husky trunk - the kind of wheels with the handle are the best!!
MTA: for not being able to put things in stalls, I would make sure to have plenty of twine to hang or bucket hanging straps (which I love).- Linked to in post above!!
Plus you know you won’t screw up the knot and risk dropping a full water bucket using the bucket hanging straps as opposed to twine lol!
I am the mistress of cost effective showing 
These days I have an LQ but that is a recent addition.
I used to find people to share a hotel room with. In my experience you need to shower and sleep to have a successful horse show. If you are already spending all the $$ to go to the show, I would spend the additional to share a hotel room. My back just can’t take sleeping on a cot at a horse show.
If that’s not an option, I would put an air mattress in the SUV instead of sleeping in the trailer.
4 Likes
By S Hooks I assume you’re talking about something like these?
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01MQQVDG0/ref=asc_df_B01MQQVDG05331885/?tag=hyprod-20&creative=395033&creativeASIN=B01MQQVDG0&linkCode=df0&hvadid=193147589203&hvpos=1o3&hvnetw=g&hvrand=9892513603453617735&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9011709&hvtargid=pla-312442384977
Those I could see how they’d snag. But I use these at shows and don’t see how they pose any issue at all:
I’m talking about the second ones you linked from stateline tack.
Ahh - that is not what I was thinking when you said S hook! But those don’t work on all width doors so I would not recommend them. I would get the straps before those- these straps:
https://www.smartpakequine.com/pt/loopdeloo-bucket-strap-2496
1 Like
I event, and mostly show alone as well. I was staying in hotels but the expense + time to get back and forth to the barn got real old real quick. I have a different setup though- a GN 2 horse trailer and a truck. I finally broke down last summer and had my trailer equipped with a 30 amp RV hookup, AC and an outlet, as sleeping in my trailer in the NC heat was just a no-go.
I have the Quest Fold Sports Wagon from Dicks’ that I use everywhere. Best $$$ I’ve ever spent. It folds up so it’s easy to store, but it’s the most helpful thing ever for carting around tack and supplies. It will hold hay bales also and then you just shake it out. I most definitely would not leave your tack (even in a locked tack trunk) in front of the stall. It’s a pain, but it’d be even worse to wake up before your class and your saddle is gone.
I’d recommend a folding muck bucket cart because some shows have their muck pile far away to repeatedly drag the bucket to. Bring your own hose. And LOTS of baling twine. I keep a big bag full of various hooks (double ended snaps, open end snaps, bucket hooks, carabiners, etc), but depending on the stall set up, sometimes I can’t use any of them. So I’ll use baling twine through stall bars (or wooden slats) and then use the hooks to hand the water/feed buckets. I also bring a stall guard and hang that on the stall door or sides to hold blankets/sheets/coolers. A multi-bridle hook is a must-have as well.
I have the Luggable Loo that’s great for those times that restrooms aren’t available or are far away.
I keep a various assortment of headlamps, flashlights and battery powered lanterns handy, but also have fairy lights (YIHONG 2 set Fairy String Lights on Amazon) that I strung up using mini Command hooks. The lights come with a remote which is helpful. I hang them up when I’m camping, and then take the lights down (but leave the hooks) at the end of the weekend.
Colgate sells Colgate Wisp Camping toothbrushes that really do work. No water needed, and they’re disposable.
I also have green turf carpet that I anchor down outside the trailer with patio rug stakes and have a couple chairs and a small table. It’s nice to get out of the trailer when you’re camping. And a doormat in front of the door for muddy boots.
I sleep in the GN of my trailer on top of 2 portable mattresses (Amazon: 3" Single size Tatami Floor mat). They’re super comfy and would go well on top of a cot also. I bought a hammock and tried to sleep in that in the horse area once, but it wasn’t that comfortable for me. I still set it up and hang out in it during the day, and love that.
Last but not least, I bring a laundry bag so that I don’t go home mixing clean clothes with dirty ones.
Yes on the laundry bags - I do that too and it’s a lifesaver.
That’s a really good idea! I’m gonna use that this year.
I “shower” in the wash racks after people leave with a swimsuit on - nothing like that water pressure! Or a bucket and cup behind the trailer. I have the Coleman propane gas grill and cook everything on that - egg sandwiches for breakfast, paninis for lunch, meat and veg for dinner. Store it all in a cooler and refresh the ice throughout the weekend. I would just put mesh up over the windows instead of messing with a big net. They have camp shower bags too that are nice to have at the trailer for brushing teeth and such. We string twinkle lights up in the trailer and they give off a ton of light: https://www.amazon.com/YIHONG-Twinkl…ttery+operated
This bucket may work for a muck tub: https://www.googleadservices.com/pag…9aACCD4&adurl=
Pop up chairs and a table with a small outdoor rug is nice too.
Double check with the facility that they actually allow people to sleep in their trailers.
The two big facilities around here don’t allow people to sleep in tents, stalls, or horse trailers. They only have limited camper spaces as well.
I’ve got a hanger like this, fits on must portable stalls. Otherwise I just use twine and a snap.
1 Like
Never occurred to me but you could get a tack stall and make it your sleeping room as well as a tack stall. The only thing is that I find lugging all the gear really exhausting as it is. Sometimes you have to unload at one end of a long barn aisle and your stall is way at the other end. So if you have a ton of stuff, you are exhausted before you even think of schooling your horse.
1 Like
Bring bailing twine and double ended snap hooks!
I use that at big venues, including Devon as a way to hang water buckets in the stall. The show rules state that eye hooks cannot be used nor any modification made to the stalls. Bailing twine is great because you can move the twine around to get the bucket to hang at the height you want. I don’t like S hooks either, too easy for a house to get caught on if it decides to goof around.
I use a solar cowboy shower that I set up in a shower tent. I don’t use an air mattress if it’s cold out because they devolve to the ambient temperature. I have also rented a tent down by the river, through AirB&B, which was wonderful, and only 5 minutes away from the venue. Otherwise, I have nothing to add to all these great suggestions.
Only two comments: I have a dumping wagon instead of a wheelbarrow. Much better.
And don’t leave anything at your stall overnight you can’t live without. Because it WILL walk. Every year here at HITS multiple saddles are stolen - sometimes during the DAY!!
As someone who has spent many nights sleeping in tack stalls, my best advice is to start saving for a hotel room now. Camping is great fun but it’s really hard to feel awake and alive after a summer night without air conditioning and a proper mattress.
2 Likes
