For what it’s worth, this is exactly what I do, too (with the exact same cans and everything). And I do this not just for shows, as I’ll take water anywhere I’m trailering, in case something happens and I’m sitting on the side of the road for an extended period of time and I want my horse to drink 
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Wow thats so crazy to me hahaha I always like my own water for bio security reasons too…plus your horse prefers their own. I always bring enough to wash my horse and everything. I guess if you are stabling, but I usually show out of my trailer.
I take 5 - 10 gallons, in 5 gallon water jugs (like gas cans but a different color, and marked “not for gasoline”). I got mine from a hardware store, but you can probably also get them from a camping supply place. I put them in my trailer dressing room, but I could also put them in in my tow vehicle.
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In a discussion about the proposed new rules (I forget where I saw it) one of the USEF leaders said the rule could be met by having several cases of bottled water on site (and didn’t say it had to be free to competitors).
So it sounds as if the concern is water for humans, not water for horses.
This is what I use, or empty water jugs.
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BUT a registered Morgan that happens to be under14h2" CAN compete in the Pony Hunters.
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People can not bring their own bottled water?
Seems like a strange rule.
I have no doubt that if someone forgot their cooler of cold drinks at home on the table (done that once), that others would gladly share. So not having site provided water for drinking does not seem like a huge problem to me.
For sure they can! I don’t think there’s anything that says otherwise. I’ve certainly had days where I’ve underestimated how much water I would need all day and have run out. Bottles for purchase were a lifesaver on those 80-90 degree mid-summer days.
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It just seems like a strange thing to have as a requirement to me. Sure, a good thing to have, but should not be a requirement.
Never in nearly 40 years. And some of the properties must be on well and septic.
Always interesting to learn how things are done elsewhere.
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Sorry to break it to you, but it passed.
The only place I know of that hosts events (not an eventer myself) is Galway Downs and they have running water.
Is this water for competitors, or water for horses?
Given the reason provided, I’d say both. The eventing reps approved it.
Note it says “available” not “provided” in the changed text.
Here’s the 411 which starts on page 65 of the document I linked in the OP.
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I am lurking from eventing. We have a sort of nice facility here in the midwest without a drop of water. It comes in on trucks for the horses, drinking and bathing.
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I think most of us who bring our own water to shows are showing off our trailers and not stabling. I would assume that all of the events in Area II that offer stabling have water at the barns, but if you’re showing off your trailer you often don’t have access to the barns. There are also several venues, such as the ones Janet mentioned, that don’t have onsite stabling (or many permanent fixtures). The one in Berryville is primarily a hay field - the dressage and stadium rings are on grass and most of the XC jumps are portables. In my experience, the venues generally make it pretty clear in the Omnibus/prize list if they expect you to bring your own water.
However, I note that the existing rule states that “Convenient and ample water facilities must be provided” and the change is only about potable water (which I think is more about water for people, especially since it’s in the same subsection as food). Does that mean that the horse trials that don’t provide any water on site (such as CDCTA at Berryville) are already in violation of the rule? From the most Omnibus listing from their September event, they explicitly say “Make sure to bring ample water to care for your horses. Water not available on site.”
Wow…super interesting…I would never have thought this needed to be a rule, but I guess there are significant difference in different regions. The vast majority of events on the west coast are multi-day affairs so not stabling is usually not an option. I can easily bring enough water for me, but when it’s 90-100F, it’s easy to underestimate how much you might need and to not have any potable water available at the venue would be a safety issue for heat stroke. My horse drinks at least 10-15 gallons a day - I could not haul in enough water for him to drink and for bathing in my tiny tack room for a long one day event, let alone a 3-day event! Even our recognized dressage shows are mostly 2 days and are too far away to not stable. I have literally never been to an event or dressage show without water for horses and humans (even if it’s just bottles to buy for the human) and some of them did have to truck it in.
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South central Michigan.
I have never been a venue that didn’t have water available for drinking and bathing.
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When I show off my trailer, which isn’t often, I will sometimes bring 5 gallons of water but mainly to save the time and effort of lugging water to the trailer! I’m lazy that way!
It’s not a competition but my current favorite horse camping site only has a lake, no well or water. You walk the horses into the lake and haul water up to the paddocks. There is also a substantial non horse RV campsite, and they must also bring all their drinking water too.
