May 21, 2015 
There are so many things to remember when it comes to packing for horse shows. There’s the paperwork, tack, feeding, and grooming supplies. There’s clothes for your regular classes and clothes for your special classes (eh hem, shadbellies). Not to mention trailering equipment, buckets, stall curtains, mats, tack cleaning supplies and of course, your check book. Don’t ever forget your check book.
If by now you’re enough of a pro to have your own packed show trunk or bag all ready to roll, that’s great. But if you don’t already have these everyday items tucked in among your supplies, you might be missing out. Whether solving last-minute snafus or helping you and your horse look your best in the ring, these little lifesavers are cheap, packable, and easy to find, so never leave home without them.
1. Safety Pins
(flickr/Anders Bornholm)
If you show in a discipline that requires you to wear your number on your saddle pad, you’re probably already an expert in safety pins. But these tiny gems are also great for hiding unexpected clothing rips or button gaps in your show shirt (eek!), rethreading the drawstring in your between-classes hoody, or creating a handle for pulling up those fussy zippers on your tall boots.
2. Head & Shoulders 2 in 1
(flickr.com/Mike Mozart)
You can’t beat Head & Shoulders for an affordable horse show shampoo, and the 2 in 1 with conditioner will even cut back on your packing load. Owners have long embraced it for treating their horses’ flaky skin, but it’s also a superstar product for tails, leaving hair silky soft and rinsing away cleanly, without the need for an hour-long session at the wash rack.
3. Wash Cloths
(flickr.com/Steve Johnson)
What problem can’t a few clean wash clothes in your grooming box solve? From dabbing green mouths at the ring to cleaning tack and scrubbing that post-ride sweat off your horse’s face, these guys can be used wet or dry and are just the right size for most horse-related mini-jobs (including wiping the sweat off your brow after that dicey round).
4. Toothbrush
(flickr.com/William Warby)
Packing a spare toothbrush with your grooming supplies can save you oodles of time cleaning the joints of an intricate pelham bit, or getting that sticky, oily hair out of your clipper blades (and no one likes sticky, oily hair in their clipper blades). Whether you choose to use a brand new tooth brush or recycle your old one is totally your call—unless, of course, you plan on loaning it around.
5. Baby Powder
(flickr.com/Austin Kirk)
Newsflash: baby powder isn’t just for babies. Seriously. Do babies even use the stuff anymore? A layer over your feet and boot socks can help keep your soles and calves dry, prevent odors, and make your tall boots easier to put on. Or, if you happen to set up your stalls where ants are an issue, sprinkle a line between the infested areas and your stuff to help keep them at bay. Finally, as many halter class aficionados will tell you, a dollop of baby powder on clipped white socks, stockings, or other markings gets chrome legs looking show ring ready in no time at all.
6. Carabiners
(flickr.com/Daoug Waldron)
An essential part of a every mountain climber’s gear, carabiners are no less useful at horse shows, where they’re strong enough to tackle heavy duty jobs like hanging heavy show equipment (grooming boxes, for instance), but cheap and convenient enough to serve as hooks for your easily-lost-but-constantly-in-use barn knick-knacks, like hoof picks, tack room keys, and hay scissors. (Where are the hay scissors, by the way?)
7. Silicone Shoe Shine Sponge
(via hoetreemarketplace.com)
Businessmen tuck them into their briefcases, but ring bags work just as well. While there’s no substitute for deep and thorough cleaning, polishing, and buffing (you know the drill), a silicone sponge can work wonders for giving your leather boots that last minute, ring-side shine. They work so well that if you find yourself wondering, what IS this wizardry? don’t worry, you’re not alone.
8. Stain Remover Pen
(flickr.com/samiamumw)
We’re sure you’re a very neat, put together person who has never squirted ketchup on your breeches or splashed coffee on your show shirt 20 minutes before your class. We have though, many times, so we can say from experience that this little mother’s helper is a godsend. No purse, desk drawer, or show trunk is complete without one.
9. Avon Skin-So-Soft
(flickr.com/Joe Haupt)
Just ignore all those people who say they don’t want their horse smelling like their grandma. Love it or hate it, Avon Skin So Soft bath oil has long been touted in equestrian circles for its natural, bug-repellant properties, and some grooms like it (when diluted in water for bathing) as a coat conditioner as well. You can even use Skin So Soft on yourself to help remove sticky barn dirt after morning chores—before washing, of course—or to moisturize chapped or calloused hands.
You tell us: got another household item you can’t live without at horse shows?
Drop us a line and let us know!
