It’ll get filled a lot faster than you think, especially because your trailer is small so you may not have a way to leave all the extras in there vs the trunk. (I always bring standing bandages and extra halters etc.) I use one of those giant ziplock bags for my saddle pads…it fits as many as you could possibly need for a show and keeps everything clean, even if you’re keeping saddle pads in your trunk, you’ll want them covered, especially if you have any grooming or bathing stuff in there.
Gotcha. My experience in reining world has been you could have people in and out all night. Especially bigger shows…people may be riding at 2:00 am. Very laid back, cool atmosphere, though.
The venues I know have switches for the lights at the end of the barn, and/ or near each stall. Just turn them off.
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Well right, but if you’re sleeping in your tack stall like people are suggesting, my point was that the lights are going to get turned on and off a ton of times throughout the night.
Waterloo Hunt! I know this show grounds well, though I’ve never actually shown there myself.
This pic is from the main stabling, which is 7? 8? double sided shedrows which run from the top of a big hill down to the bottom. This is right across from one of the main warm-up rings, separated by the main drive through the show grounds. Most people park close to the end of their row, unload horses etc., then go park.
This place is big–at full capacity I’ve seen five rings going at once. That said, if the show fills up to the point where they have to add temporary stalls, those will be the standard metal frame ones, and they put them all the way at the other end of the grounds, up by the hunt clubhouse.
There is a permanent toilet-and-shower building near the shedrows, nothing fancy but very serviceable.
It is in a very swampy area,so if it rains it will be muddy! Bring plenty of fly spray, one of the warm-up rings borders on the woods.
The shows are very high-tech–the scribes use laptops and I have heard some people say their scores get texted to them while they are walking back to the barn from the ring! There are pavilions with benches all around the rings so you can watch without getting sunbaked or soaked, there’s a vendor’s area where Sporthorse Saddlery always has their huge mobile tack shop van, and the food wagon has the best breakfast ever! 
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OK, revision to my previous posts!
OK, first use either baling twine or nylon straps with hooks (look like small, small dog leashes) or something similar to wrap around those boards. Double snaps will be your friend.
Second, I don’t recommend sleeping in these. For one, the bugs will be all over you (swampy area?)! Second, there is no privacy and you can’t even safely lock yourself in (which would be a fire hazard anyway). Third, the sound will travel…to your ears. Fourth, it’s very inviting to small furry creatures. I don’t think these are good stalls to sleep in at all. Arrgghh!
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Do not sleep near the horses. Having done my fair share of camp/showing, I would not sleep in a tack stall for love or money. I have slept in a truck, in a truck with a shell and an air mattress, and in friends’ LQ. I got a hotel room for my first PSG ride, and their was a loud family that I had to call the front desk several times about. You never know! Have fun, and a plan B.
Ear plugs and Benadryl! It’s hard enough to sleep with the anxiety of a show in the morning, so any and every noise will keep you from dozing. Take the edge off with a gentle sleep aid (that will help with the effects of dust) and a bit of quiet.
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I haven’t really been considering sleeping in a tack stall, that just sounds awful haha! Sleeping in my trailer is still in the realm of possibility though.
Two things that I found very helpful at multi day shows- canopy tent to have a covered area for shade and/ or rain, and a solar shower (basically a black bag with a hose on it- found at camping stores. You can throw on a bathing suit and do a quick clean up with warm/hot water from the shower. Hook it in the sun on the back of your horse trailer and a warm shower awaits!
That’s Waterloo, right? I show there all the time! My hubby has tented overnight there and said it worked great. My trainer sleeps in her GN trailer. You might consider buying a tent instead of trying to sleep in your trailer. You just want to make sure you don’t set up your tent near the generator and lights they set up at night in the hunt field area.
The MSU Dressage club does “night check” services as a fund raiser so if you decide to get a hotel room—you don’t have to worry. They charge $10 and check on your horse every hour starting at 9 pm (add hay, water and feed at 5 am)!
As far as the stalls, you will be all fine with bucket hooks like these https://www.smartpakequine.com/pt/4-zinc-plated-tack-hook--15869 or use baling twine and a double ended snap. They also have tent stabling (which they use if the show fills up—but again, the same bucket hooks work just fine). I do take my saddle away at night but leave everything else tucked in a tote bin in front of my stall and have never had anything “walk” at this venue! I leave my hay and other stuff in front of the stall.
This is my most cherished show item: the rolling, foldable cart. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00BUUUIGK/ref=asc_df_B00BUUUIGK5335558/?tag=hyprod-20&creative=394997&creativeASIN=B00BUUUIGK&linkCode=df0&hvadid=198107334619&hvpos=1o1&hvnetw=g&hvrand=12854889106332094666&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9017200&hvtargid=pla-322492497773
Have fun and good luck! I’m sure I will be at several of the shows this summer if you want to PM me to stable with us and share a tack stall, etc.
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