Fancy eventing but worried about going alone?

Is going it alone holding you back? Do you fancy having a go at eventing but are worried about what to do if you go to an event without help? In her 'Tallking Tactics' column in the May issue Equine magazine, amateur event rider Caroline Mosley gets to grips with this much-discussed subject …

First of all, you are not alone! Many of us do it so don't feel worried. The most important thing is to plan ahead so that you are prepared for as many eventualities as possible.

Checklists are your friend! I have a checklist for horse items, rider items, lorry items (diesel, directions etc), day before and on-the-day checklists. I have moved from a word document (with tick boxes!) and now use an app (Paperless) on my iphone. I even have Working Hunter; Side Saddle; 3-day Event; Overnight Stay and Trec lists - as well as a self-catering holiday one (nothing to do with horses!). I am the checklist queen! 

Plan how long it takes to get ready in the morning before an event - and don’t forget to consider how long it will take you to have your morning coffee/breakfast. Before a BE event, I give myself three hours to get up, muck out, bath, plait and have a cuppa before getting on the road. Should my times be extremely early I might have to stay overnight the night before, however this can be difficult for some, so knowing how long it will take to get ready will reduce the morning panic. 

Prepare everything you can the night before - saddlecloths attached to saddles, pre tap stud holes (I do this when bathing) and check you have everything ready to go.  I don’t put tack in the lorry overnight for security but I have a list (another list!) for the morning to remind me to put those last minute items into Trudy (the truck!).

Take emergency contact details for the trailer or lorry and ask neighbours to keep an eye for you while you walk the xc (most of us are happy to do this).  I have a laminated document with all my contact details should anyone see the horse in trouble and I leave it attached to the inside of the trailer/lorry horse-end, plus one on the cab window. 

Let your emergency contact person know where you hide your keys, or the key code to your key safe just in case someone needs to access your vehicle to take your horse home. 

On arrival at an event, tell the secretary you are on your own when you collect your number and pay your start fee.  If you do know someone at the event competing, you can let him or her know that you have a friend on the field, but they should have your emergency contact details anyway.

Back to timings!  After collection of my number I take this time to check what the Show Jumping course will be and walk the Cross Country. Don’t forget to add this to your timing checklist!  I usually give myself roughly an hour from arrival, to starting to tack up (this will vary according to the event layout etc but is a good starting point). 

On your checklist work out how long it takes to stud up, tack up, get changed, warm up and add at least 10-15 minutes for dawdling, toilet stop and walking to the warm up area!  I am usually late and forget all of these things so my warm up is usually 10-15 minutes shorter than I planned it to be.

My mobile fits in my riding jacket pocket. I take the test sheet on my phone so I can check it, and also make sure I am on time.  Don’t forget to silence it – you do not want your phone ringing halfway through your test! When you arrive at any warm up, find the steward to let them know you are there. They will be able to tell you how many horses are still to go and the number of the rider that is directly before you. Then find a nice spot to warm up, forget about everything and get into the zone. You can leave your dressage whip/rugs/jacket with the steward and they will return when you leave the arena.  Stewards are extremely helpful if you are polite; they are volunteers so always thank them!

For the showjumping warm up, if you can find out who the rider is that is competing before you, you can often jump the fences they are warming up over (I always thank their helper if I can).  If I find that I am a bit stuck, then I tend to warm up my horse a bit early.  Slowly getting him ready to pop a cross pole from trot and canter, then when the upright is low, I pop this even if I have several horses to go before me.  Then when I am ready to start full warm up, I can go and pop whatever is there in front of me.  As long as I keep him moving he will remain loosened off and ready to go. 

Before cross-country, I get out all the buckets, sponge, brush, rug and halter I need ready for my return to the lorry.  It is then at easy reach for me to sort my horse out on my own.

If you find going it alone a struggle, there are facebook groups such as TwitterEventing that you can pop a post on to ask for help.  I competed at Osberton CCI1* last October and met two lovely ladies on that page who came along on cross-country day to help me.  I couldn’t have done that without them!

So remember you are not alone. You are a strong independent person who is heading out with their horse to have some fun! Do come over and say hi to me if you see my at any events – I’m usually easily spotted wearing orange!

Caroline Mosley is pictured with Classy Touch, a gelding by Touchdown she took on in 2015, competing up to CCI*. She is perhaps better known to fellow eventers in the North as ‘Orange Fox Eventing’ – oh - and her favourite colour is orange!
Find her on facebook as – you guessed – www.facebook.com/Orange-Fox-Eventing

If you would like to read more of Caroline Mosley's 'Talking Tactics' series, you can subscribe securely online to Equine magazine and never miss an issue. Visit www.theequinestore.co.uk - an annual (11 issue) subscription costs just £20.00 and new subscribers will receive an Equisafety BS EN1150 'Please Pass Wide & Slowly' 15mph Air Waistcoat in yellow with Plain Black worth £24.99!* (*Valid until June 30th, 2016, or whilst stocks last)

Image copyright: courtesy of Grossick Photography.