10 Ways to Improve Your Horse Show Setup !

Horse Show Set-Up

Below are easy and affordable options for your Horse Show Set-Up!

1. Bring a Mini-Fridge with a Freezer

From keeping food fresh (lunch for you) to keeping your ice boots cold (joint support for them), everyone LOVES when I bring the fridge with our setup. I got my fridge from amazon.com for about $260 after shipping. But, if you live in a college town, you might be in luck. Check out Facebook Marketplace to see if there are any finds! My friend snagged hers from a student who was moving for $35! That said, if you have more than 2 horses going to the show it may be worth it to get a deep freezer for ice boots alone to ensure you can hold enough for anyone in need of them. 

2. Set-up a Microwave

Microwaves are so useful in a horse show setting. The primary convenience of bringing a microwave is it can save you a lot of money on that expensive horse show food! Additionally, it offers a way to heat up your coffee if the day gets ahead of you and you find it cold left on a shelf an hour or so later (I know I have been there). Lastly, while all of its benefits are based around food it provides benefits for early morning or late night meals when vendors are not yet open or are no longer open but you haven't had the opportunity to get food in your system. 

3. Bring a Step Ladder

Step Ladders make all the difference when it comes to your horse show space. Not only for set up and take down but also for grooming purposes! I personally like to bring two! One to use for mounting that we also bring on the golf cart, and the other for braiding, washing heads, and for most of the setup! The aluminum Werner ladder shown above is my favorite. You can pick this up for around $50 from Lowes! 

4. Whiteboard with Push Pin Space

A white board is a must when bringing multiple horses or working with a team of people. Your white board provides space to pin the show schedule of the day and then write out your team's individual timelines for each horse, rider and groom assignment making sure everyone is on the same page. You can also include what ring your head and assistant trainers will be covering throughout the day so your rider knows who to look for when they arrive. 

5. Pine Sol/Windex

There is nothing that elevates a horse show set up quite like having a tidy space! Windex for cleaning the tops of tack trunks and to reset the whiteboard eliminates a dirty appearance. Pine Sol mixed in a watering can sprinkled before blowing or sweeping eliminates dust build up and leaves a fresh smell throughout the aisle. Pine Sol also doubles as a rodent and pest deterrent- WIN, WIN! 

6. Shelving, Hangers, and Saddle Racks

Keeping on the topic of a tidy space, nobody likes to rummage through piles or boxes of items looking for what they need. You can find shelving, bridle hangers and hanging saddle racks at  any tack shop but a variety of low cost options on amazon as well. They don't need to be extravagant, after all they usually live in an enclosed space where nobody but a rider, groom, manager or farm owner will see but it will make all the difference in your execution of daily activities. 

7.  Artwork or Photographs

Whether you are an avid art collector on the side or have wall worthy photos from past accolades as a rider, framed pieces will elevate your entryway lounge space. Not only does artwork elevate a space but it adds a personal touch to it creating a more welcoming environment. 

8. Mulch/Plants/Flowers

Incorporating mulching and flower beds around the lounge areas and entryways to the aisle at a horse show can significantly elevate the overall ambiance and professionalism of the event. Mulching around these key areas provides a clean, uniform look, enhancing the visual appeal and creating a polished environment. I recommend only going through this effort when you will be staying at the show for various weeks as its not light work and you want to be able to appreciate it as long as possible! Items like this are easiest to find at Home Depot or Lowes universally! 

9. Cell Phone Charger

Yup, a tale as old as time. You get to the show at 6 am to feed and start to prepare for the morning. Your phone is playing music, you are texting back and forth with a student, you are ordering hay for later that evening- and before you know it, it's dead. AW! Cell phones- while they have their downsides- are important in the barn in case of emergency. Because severe sickness can happen so quickly in horses, being able to call your vet right then and there could make the difference.

10. Horse Treat Bowl 

Last but certainly not least is a horse treat bowl. Having a horse treat bowl available upon entry to the stall aisle allows for horse owners to give their companions a treat upon arrival to the show and then again after their classes. It also bears a reminder that without these magnificent creatures none of what we do, or the sport we love, would be possible. Afterall, we do what we do for the love of a horse.