Guest post by Local Horse Events
Spring is here, the days are getting longer, and if you're anything like me, you've spent the last few months dreaming of sunshine, warmer weather, and all the fun adventures you're going to have with your horse. Well, it's time to stop dreaming and start doing. I made you a checklist so you have one less excuse.
Whether you're eyeing a dressage clinic, a fun day at a local barn, or even just a group trail ride you saw someone mention in a Facebook comment three weeks ago (that you definitely can't find now), here's everything you need to think about from discovery to the day of.
Phase 1: Find the Event Without Chasing Social Media Posts
If you rely on social media to tell you what's happening, you already know the problem. Events get posted in ten different places, at random times, and only some of them ever show up in your feed. Miss one post and suddenly registration is full.
That frustration is actually why Local Horse Events exists. A lot of us were tired of finding out about great clinics after they happened, or realizing too late that a show was only an hour away. Or having to search through multiple groups, or websites that never seem to get updated.
Instead of scrolling endlessly, Local Horse Events lets you:
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Look in one place for events by discipline (hunter/jumper, dressage, western, and more)
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Filter by location so you're not wading through things you'd never realistically travel to
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Set up email notifications so new events just show up in your inbox
The email notifications part is key. A same-day event announcement lets you snag a spot in a clinic that's filling up fast, and a regular "what's happening this week" digest can let you know about last-minute openings, auditing spots, or events you would've completely missed otherwise. It's also much easier to find again than saving blurry screenshots that get buried in with the hundreds of photos of your horse you have on your phone.
It's about keeping up with what's happening with minimal effort, without having to constantly scroll for it.
Phase 2: Getting Ready in the Weeks Before
You've signed up. Exciting! Now don't let the logistics sneak up on you the night before.
Do a tack check and clean
A few things to look at:
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Leather condition on billets, stirrup leathers, and girths, as well as straps on bridles and reins
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Stitching and hardware that may have dried out or weakened over winter
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Helmet condition and expiry dates
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Small accessories like gloves, that may have been sitting balled up in the corner of your tack room and turned into a science experiment during the cold, wet winter months
If your tack has been sitting all winter, giving it a proper clean now can save a lot of stress later. Evolution Tack has a great guide on winter tack care that's worth a read.
This is also a good moment to think about safety upgrades. If you're still riding in traditional irons or peacock stirrups, modern safety stirrups are worth a look. They're designed to release more reliably and offer a bit more peace of mind, especially at shows or clinics where things don't always go to plan. For a deeper dive, check out Evolution Tack's post on English safety stirrups.
For your horse
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Check your horse's feet. Is your farrier visit timed right, or are you showing up with a loose shoe?
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If your horse has been on winter vacation, be honest about their fitness level. A two-hour clinic after four months off is a lot. Ease them back into work gradually and slowly.
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It's spring, which means mud and shedding season. Have the right tools on hand to make your pony look somewhat presentable. Here are some spring shedding must-haves to help with that.
For the paperwork
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Directions to the venue (and again, don't rely on cell service. Download offline maps or write them down like it's 2003).
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Emergency contact info for your vet
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Sign and send waivers ahead of time if you can. One less thing to worry about on the day of.
For the trailer
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Check tire pressure and lights. Your trailer has been sitting since November, be honest.
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Make sure the hitch and safety chains are in good shape
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Fresh bedding or mats, and pull up the mats beforehand to make sure the floors are in good condition and haven't deteriorated over winter
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Check that the registration and insurance are current
And if your horse hasn't loaded in a while, do a few low-pressure practice sessions before event day. A quiet Tuesday afternoon is a much better time to work through trailer feelings than a 7 a.m. departure with an audience.
Phase 3: The Night Before, Packing
Packing the night before is one less thing to worry about on the day of. And trust me, there are enough things out of your control that morning, like what kind of feelings your horse is going to have about getting on the trailer. Here's what to run through:
The essentials
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Halter and lead rope (plus a spare, because things break at the worst times)
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Your recently checked-over and cleaned tack
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Saddle pad(s)
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Bridle and bit appropriate for the outing
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Grooming kit
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Hoof pick and hoof boots (if applicable, and just in case)
For the horse
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Hay and a hay net for travel and downtime
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Water buckets and water (in case your horse decides to turn their nose up at "foreign" water)
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Fly spray, because spring means the bugs are waking up too
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A cooler or sheet depending on the weather
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Manure fork. Leave it cleaner than you found it.
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Lots of tasty treats, because they're going to be a rockstar and they deserve them
For you
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Helmet (obviously)
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Appropriate boots
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Layers. Spring weather is... unpredictable, to put it kindly.
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Rain jacket (see above)
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Sunscreen (hope springs eternal)
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Water bottle and snacks. You will forget to eat and then wonder why you're dizzy at 2pm.
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A camp chair if there's downtime between rides
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Cash or e-transfer ready for any clinic fees, lunch contributions, or that tack sale table you definitely weren't planning to browse
Phase 4: The Morning Of
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Feed and water your horse with enough time to digest before loading (at least an hour for grain)
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Give yourself way more time than you think you need. Better to have too much time than to be rushing. Your horse will thank you for showing up with calm energy.
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Do a final trailer safety check: lights, hitch, floor
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Load your horse like you have all the time in the world. As the saying goes: if you have five minutes it'll take an hour, and if you have an hour it'll take five minutes.
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Double-check you have your directions, your confirmation, and your coffee
Phase 5: You're There! Now What?
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Arrive early enough to let your horse settle. A few minutes to look around and maybe nibble on some grass or hay makes a huge difference.
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Introduce yourself to the organizer. They put a lot of work into this, and a friendly hello goes a long way.
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Check in on the schedule and any ground rules
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Offer your horse water
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Warm up appropriately. Your horse is also coming off a winter of doing very little.
And most importantly: have fun. Seriously. It doesn't matter if your leg yield is crooked or your horse spooks at a flower pot. You got out. You did the thing. That's the win.
One More Thing
If you find a great clinic or fun day or trail ride, share it. Post it in your barn group, tell your friends, or list it on Local Horse Events so other riders can find it too. One of the biggest challenges in our community is just knowing what's out there, and we can all help with that.
Happy spring riding, everyone. See you out there (probably covered in spring shedding season unicorn confetti).
Local Horse Events is a free community platform for finding and sharing equestrian events across BC and beyond. Browse events, post your own, or sign up to get notified when something matches your interests.
