Competing your horse alone? Check out our prime suggestions for achievement

Competing your horse alone alone will be daunting. There’s a lot to think about — from what’s going to occur to your horse in case you are injured, to creating positive you might have every thing you want earlier than you mount.

However for a lot of riders with out the back-up of a groom or prepared buddies or household, heading to reveals solo is the one method to fulfil their aggressive ambitions. And with observe, it needn’t be terrifying.

The three mantras of skilled “go it aloners” are practise at dwelling, give your self time and be organised.

Be ready

• Be certain every thing has its personal place within the automobile, trailer or lorry and it’s all cleaned and put again after the earlier occasion or present
• In case you are taking two horses out alone, practise at dwelling leaving one horse on the lorry when you faculty the opposite, ensure you can lead each horses collectively and that each are completely satisfied to be tied as much as the lorry when you are loading the opposite
• If you get your instances, work backwards from every section, writing out a timetable for warming up, tacking up, strolling programs and so forth

Arriving and preparing

• Permitting loads of time is important
• Typically a go to to the secretary is crucial, in addition to heading off to stroll programs, however it is best to by no means depart horses tied up exterior your lorry or trailer unsupervised. So examine your steed on arrival, however depart him on board
• In case you are new to the venue, examine the place every thing is positioned whereas on foot
• Take into account travelling in jodhpurs, inventory shirt and inventory underneath outdated garments, prepared for a fast strip
• Organise your self prepared for after your class earlier than you get on — depart a headcollar, journey boots and grooming package inside simple attain
• Even the calmest horse can get into bother within the lorry or trailer, so depart names and speak to particulars on the dashboard and taped to the doorways

The nice and cozy-up

• The nice and cozy-up area is a spot the place the solo competitor typically must ask for assist — accomplish that politely with a smile and it’s uncommon for individuals to say no
• On solo outings, put your present jacket on earlier than you mount, with a coat excessive if mandatory
• Practise eradicating your jacket and, if acceptable, train sheet whereas mounted so you might be assured your horse received’t object

Security first whereas competing your horse alone

• If you will a present alone you should make provision on your horse in case you are injured
• It could be smart handy the present secretary your lorry particulars and contacts for somebody who may accumulate your horse ought to an emergency come up
• One other suggestion is to pop this data in your cross-country medical armband or jacket pocket
• Save the main points into your telephone, too, utilizing the acronym ICE (in case of emergency) or maybe “ICE horse/eventing/showjumping/reveals”
• Good breakdown cowl is a should and also you may wish to insure your automobile for any driver
• Take into account how far your journey to a present. It may be tiring to drive dwelling on the finish of the day, so keep away from lengthy journeys

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