Why I Pack Spare Clothes for Me and My Horse

There is a particular kind of optimism involved in packing for an eventing day. I leave home with clean breeches, a tidy shirt, polished boots and a horse who looks as though he has been prepared for a professional photograph. By the time we return, one of us may be damp, dusty, sweaty, muddy or carrying evidence of every part of the property we have visited.

That is why a change of clothes has become part of my standard horse-trial equipment. I bring something fresh for myself, and I pack practical alternatives for my horse as well. It sounds excessive until a cold wash-down, a surprise shower or a long wait between phases turns a neat competition morning into an uncomfortable afternoon. A spare outfit gives me flexibility, while extra rugs and dry gear help my horse finish the day settled and comfortable.

The Weather Rarely Follows The Plan

Australian competition weather has a talent for changing its mind. A morning at Werribee can begin cool enough for a vest, then become bright and hot before dressage is finished. A cross-country day near Sydney may bring dust, sharp sun and a sudden shower, while an event in regional Victoria can deliver a chilly wind that cuts through damp clothing. Checking the forecast helps, but it does not replace preparation.

I have learned to pack for the conditions I might encounter rather than the conditions promised by the app. A lightweight change of clothes covers the obvious problems: sweat after walking the course, rain after a storm, and mud picked up while loading or washing down. I also keep a warmer layer in the car because Australian evenings can lose their heat quickly, especially when the lorries are parked away from the main arena.

The spare clothing is not glamorous. It might be an old pair of joggers, a dry shirt and a jumper that has seen better days. These items are comfortable, washable and suitable for sitting on a camp chair beside the float. There is no point sacrificing a favourite outfit to red dust, wet grass or a leaking water bucket.

Clean Clothes Make The Whole Day Easier

A competition day is already full of small jobs. I am checking studs, adjusting tack, watching the time, walking between arenas and trying to remember whether I have actually eaten breakfast. Staying in damp breeches or a sweaty base layer makes every later task feel harder than it needs to be.

Changing after the horse is settled gives me a clear break between competing and the long hours that follow. I can put on dry clothes before walking back to watch friends, helping at the next phase or heading into the canteen for a coffee. At a busy event, this matters more than I once expected. Feeling clean and comfortable steadies my mood, which helps me make better decisions around my horse.

There is also a practical reason to avoid remaining in wet riding clothes. Chafing, cold muscles and stiff fabric can make untacking and loading unpleasant. After a long cross-country course, I would rather change into loose clothing before helping with the post-round wash and recovery routine. It is a small comfort, yet small comforts add up during a full day at a horse trial.

My packing list now includes spare socks, underwear, a sports bra, shoes and a waterproof jacket. The shoes are especially useful when the car park becomes boggy or the walk from the secretary’s office to the warm-up takes longer than planned. Jandals are fine for the shower area, but sturdy shoes are much safer around floats, tie rails and muddy ground.

Horses Need A Dry And Flexible Wardrobe

My horse does not need a fashion wardrobe, but he does need choices. I pack at least one clean cooler, a spare cotton sheet and an extra rug suited to the forecast. If he becomes wet after washing, a dry cooler helps move moisture away from his coat. If the temperature drops while we wait, a lightweight rug prevents him from standing around cold and tight.

The right option depends on the horse, the weather and how quickly he dries. A thick rug on a warm day can leave him sweaty, while no cover at all can be uncomfortable after a thorough wash. I prefer layers that can be added or removed easily. This is particularly useful in Australia, where a bright sunny morning can turn into a cool afternoon once the wind arrives.

I also pack extra towels, a spare tail bag and another set of bandages or stable wraps. A tail that was carefully brushed before dressage can collect mud during a break, and wraps can become damp or dirty after washing. Clean equipment keeps the recovery routine simple and gives me alternatives when something is dropped on the ground.

For horses that are sensitive to flies, an extra fly veil or fly sheet is worthwhile. Events around the warmer parts of Queensland and New South Wales can bring persistent flies, while exposed southern properties may have wind and dust instead. The aim is not to bring every item in the tack room. It is to carry the few things that keep a horse calm, dry and comfortable when the timetable changes.

The Gap Between Phases Is When Plans Unravel

Eventing requires a lot of waiting. Dressage may finish early, show jumping can run behind, and cross-country times may move because of a hold on course. During those gaps, clothing and horse care become part of managing energy. I do not want to sit in wet gear while watching the clock, and I do not want my horse standing in the same damp or dusty layer for hours.

Before leaving home, I check the competition schedule and write the important times where I can see them. I allow extra time for walking to the arenas, collecting numbers, changing tack and letting my horse settle. The schedule gives me a framework, but the spare clothes and extra horse gear give me room to respond when the day runs late.

This is common at Australian events, particularly when competitors travel from different regions and arrive with varying levels. At a large fixture, there may be several arenas running at once and a long walk between parking, dressage and cross-country. At a smaller country event, the timetable may feel relaxed until a horse needs attention or a fence repair delays the next block of riders. Either way, rushing creates mistakes.

A dry shirt also makes it easier to help someone else. Eventing is full of shared jobs: holding a horse, fetching water, checking a rug or lending a towel. I have been grateful for spare gear from friends, and I try to return the favour. The community works because people carry a little extra and notice when someone nearby needs help.

Packing For The Horse Starts With The Float

The float is my mobile storage room, but it only helps when everything has a sensible place. I keep human clothing in a sealed bag away from wet rugs, feed and grooming equipment. Horse gear goes into labelled tubs so I can find a cooler or towel without emptying the entire float onto the grass.

I pack a separate recovery kit with water buckets, electrolytes if appropriate for my horse, a sponge, scraper, towels and a basic first-aid supply. The spare rugs stay folded in a clean bag. That protects them from dust during travel and means they are genuinely ready when needed. A wet or muddy rug thrown over clean gear can make the whole storage area smell and create another job later.

For longer drives, which are routine for many Australian competitors, I include food and water for myself as well. Travelling from Melbourne to a regional event, or heading out from Brisbane to a property well beyond the suburbs, can make a simple change of clothes feel like part of a larger welfare plan. I do not want to depend on the nearest service station for everything, especially when the event is held somewhere with limited shops.

The float checklist is also where I remember less obvious items: a phone charger, sunscreen, insect repellent, rubbish bags and a plastic bag for wet clothing. In the Australian sun, sunscreen is essential even when the morning feels mild. Rubbish bags protect the vehicle from muddy boots and give wet gear somewhere to go without being mixed in with clean items.

A Spare Outfit Helps Me Stay Present

The biggest benefit is not looking tidy. It is having enough physical and mental comfort to stay engaged with my horse. When I am cold, sticky or worried about ruining my only clean clothes, my attention narrows. I become preoccupied with discomfort instead of noticing how my horse is recovering, whether he is drinking or what he needs before the next phase.

Changing clothes gives me a reset after riding. I can review the round honestly, accept the mistakes that need work and enjoy the parts that went well. That matters when nerves have been high. A horse trial can expose every insecurity a rider carries, from doubts about preparation to fear of letting the partnership down. Being dry and comfortable will not solve those feelings, but it removes one unnecessary irritation.

The same thinking applies to my horse. If he is comfortable in a dry cooler, has a clean area to stand and is not bothered by flies, he is more likely to relax. His comfort lets me concentrate on quiet recovery rather than fixing avoidable problems. Good preparation does not guarantee a perfect result, but it gives both of us a better chance to respond well.

I still occasionally forget something. There have been days when the spare socks stayed at home or the extra rug proved to be the wrong weight. Usually, another rider appears with a towel, a friend offers a jumper, or someone at the yards has exactly the item I need. That generosity is one of the best parts of the sport, although I would rather contribute to it than rely on it every time.

Packing a change of clothes for myself and a selection of dry, practical gear for my horse has become as ordinary as checking the bridle or loading the saddle. It prepares us for weather, delays, muddy jobs and the long stretch between phases. Most importantly, it helps the day feel manageable when the plan changes.

The next time you load for a competition, put one clean outfit in a sealed bag, add spare socks and shoes, and give your horse one useful extra layer. Keep a towel, waterproof jacket and plastic bag close at hand. Those simple additions can turn an uncomfortable surprise into an easily handled part of the day, leaving more energy for the riding, the horse and the people who make eventing worthwhile.