The Gear I Pack in My Eventing Tack Truck for a Day at the Races
A competition day with Archie starts long before we walk toward the dressage warm-up. By the time the lorry is parked at an eventing venue, I have already checked the weather, studied the timetable, loaded the hay, and mentally run through every phase of the day. Eventing asks for three different kinds of preparation, so my kit has to support dressage, show jumping, and cross-country without turning the tack truck into an unsearchable cupboard.
My packing routine has become more practical through experience. I used to take far too much of everything, then discover that the one item I needed was buried underneath spare rugs and half a dozen grooming bags. Now each piece of equipment has a place, and I try to pack according to purpose rather than habit.
The gear I pack in my eventing tack truck for a day at the races is divided into horse care, riding equipment, rider supplies, and emergency items. Some things are used constantly, while others may stay untouched in a box for months. Their value comes from being available when a muddy boot, loose plait, sudden shower, or minor scrape threatens to unsettle the day.
Starting With The Horse’s Comfort
The first part of the tack truck is reserved for Archie’s basic needs. I load enough hay for the journey and the entire competition day, along with a clean water supply, feed buckets, a hay net, and a small scoop. I prefer to bring water from home when possible because some horses drink less readily when the taste changes at an unfamiliar venue.
His travel rug depends on the forecast and the season. In warm weather, I use a lightweight sheet to keep dust and flies off him. Cooler mornings call for a breathable stable rug, while wet conditions mean packing an extra cooler so I can change him after work. I also bring a waterproof quarter sheet for walking to the cross-country start if the weather turns unpleasant.
Bedding is another small detail that makes a big difference. A spare bag of shavings gives Archie a dry patch in the lorry, even if the venue’s temporary stables are already bedded. I pack manure forks, a small broom, a bucket, and disposable gloves as well. Leaving a clean space behind is part of being a considerate competitor, and it makes the return journey much more pleasant.
Grooming Equipment That Earns Its Space
My main grooming kit contains the everyday essentials: a rubber curry comb, dandy brush, body brush, face brush, mane comb, hoof pick, sweat scraper, sponges, towels, and coat polish. I keep the competition brushes separate from the ones used at home, which means they are clean and ready when Archie steps off the ramp.
Plaiting equipment takes up surprisingly little room, but it has to be complete. I carry bands in Archie’s mane colour, a pulling comb, scissors, a damp sponge, gel, a small spray bottle, and a needle with strong thread for any last-minute repairs. A tidy mane can make me feel more organised, even when the timetable is running late and the warm-up is already busy.
Hoof care is especially important before show jumping and cross-country. I pack hoof oil, a stiff hoof brush, a small tub of hoof dressing, and a hoof pick with a brush on the end. If the ground is wet, I make sure I can clean Archie’s feet properly before applying anything. I also bring several soft cloths because one towel always seems to become muddy within minutes.
My first-aid grooming pouch contains antiseptic solution, saline, gauze, cohesive bandage, cotton wool, wound cream, and a digital thermometer. It is not a substitute for veterinary advice, but it allows me to deal sensibly with a small rub or superficial scrape while I contact the appropriate professional. I check expiry dates at the start of every season rather than assuming the contents are still usable.
Tack For Three Very Different Phases
Eventing tack has to be versatile without compromising fit or safety. Archie travels with his dressage saddle, jumping saddle, bridles, girths, numnahs, stirrup leathers, and irons. I check every billet, buckle, stitching line, and girth elastic before loading. A quick inspection at home is much easier than discovering a cracked keeper beside the arena.
The dressage bridle and saddle are kept clean and protected in individual covers. For jumping, I pack the equipment we use for both the show-jumping arena and the cross-country course, including the breastplate, martingale if required, boots, and overreach protection. I follow the competition rules for each phase and avoid bringing unfamiliar equipment that Archie has not already worn in training.
| Kit Area | Essential Items | Useful Spare Items | When I Check It |
|---|---|---|---|
| Horse care | Hay, water, buckets, rugs | Extra hay net, spare cooler | Before loading |
| Grooming | Brushes, hoof pick, towels, plaiting bands | Extra cloths, mane spray | The evening before |
| Dressage | Saddle, bridle, numnah, gloves | Spare girth, replacement reins | Before leaving home |
| Jumping and cross-country | Jump saddle, boots, breastplate, medical armband | Spare boot straps, second numnah | Before each phase |
| Rider safety | Certified helmet, body protector, gloves | Waterproof jacket, spare hat cover | Before mounting |
| Repairs | Tape, scissors, hole punch, leather ties | Spare stirrup leather, replacement clips | At every venue |
| Records and timing | Passports, numbers, watch, phone | Printed timetable, power bank | On arrival |
I pack a spare girth because it is one of the most inconvenient items to replace at a competition. I also carry extra stirrup leather keepers, replacement boot straps, leather shoelaces, cable ties, duct tape, electrical tape, and a multitool. These repairs are not glamorous, but they have rescued more than one competition morning.
The tack truck is arranged so that frequently used items are closest to the side door. Archie’s grooming box, water buckets, and everyday bridle are easy to reach, while spare rugs and backup tack stay higher up. I label bags clearly because tiredness makes even familiar equipment look strangely anonymous.
Riding Clothes And Safety Equipment
My riding gear is packed by phase and by weather. I take white breeches or competition trousers for dressage, clean gloves, a stock or tie, polished boots, and a fitted show jacket. For jumping and cross-country, I add flexible riding trousers, a long-sleeved base layer, waterproof outerwear, and a second pair of gloves.
The most important items are my certified riding helmet and body protector. I check that both fit correctly and comply with the rules for the competition. For cross-country, I also pack a medical armband, a watch, a number bib if required, and suitable footwear. I keep these items together rather than scattering them between the tack room and the cab.
A spare set of clothes is essential. Even when the forecast promises sunshine, eventing venues have a habit of producing mud, wind, or an unexpected shower. I bring extra socks, a second shirt, a warm fleece, waterproof trousers, and comfortable shoes for walking the course. Dry clothes help me stay focused when the day stretches from an early dressage test to a late prize-giving.
Sun cream, lip balm, insect repellent, hand sanitiser, and a compact first-aid kit go in a small rider bag. I also carry snacks that can survive being thrown around in the lorry, such as cereal bars, fruit, sandwiches, and nuts. Water and coffee are easy to overlook when the schedule is busy, but staying hydrated improves my concentration as much as another review of the dressage test.
Keeping The Day Organised
Paperwork has its own folder in the cab. I take Archie’s passport, registration details, vaccination record where required, entry information, directions, times, and printed copies of the dressage test. The phone contains digital versions too, but paper is useful when the signal disappears or the battery is low.
I use a simple timetable with space for preparation and walking between areas. It includes arrival, unloading, tack checks, dressage warm-up, test time, show-jumping course walk, jumping phase, cross-country course walk, and cooling-down periods. I leave more time than I think I need because queues, delayed classes, and long distances between phases are normal at larger events.
A portable phone charger stays in the cab, along with a head torch, spare batteries, a pen, safety pins, notebook, and small roll of labels. The head torch is particularly useful on dark winter mornings when I am checking legs or finding dropped equipment beneath the lorry.
My Practical Packing Priorities
- Pack the items needed for the first phase where they can be reached without unloading everything.
- Keep spare tack, repair materials, and medical supplies in labelled waterproof bags.
- Check safety equipment, tack stitching, and boot fastenings before leaving home.
- Bring enough food, water, hay, and dry clothing for delays as well as the planned timetable.
- Repack immediately after each event so missing items are noticed before the next competition.
Weather And Ground Conditions
The forecast affects almost every decision in the tack truck. A dry summer event calls for extra water, fly protection, lightweight rugs, and cooling equipment. I bring a sweat scraper, several sponges, a large water container, and cooling towels so Archie can recover comfortably after fast work.
Wet weather requires a different approach. Waterproof rug covers, extra towels, spare gloves, waterproof boots, and a plastic trunk for damp clothing become priorities. I also pack more hoof-cleaning equipment because mud can hide small stones and make tacking up unnecessarily difficult.
Ground conditions influence the boots and studs I bring, although I never fit studs without considering what Archie has already used in training. The stud kit includes a wrench, stud plugs, a thread-cleaning tool, a small brush, and a container for used studs. I prepare everything at home, then make the final decision at the venue after inspecting the surfaces and listening to advice from the ground staff.
After cross-country, Archie receives a proper cool-down, a drink, and a careful check for rubs or swelling. I keep ice boots or reusable cooling packs in an insulated bag, together with bandage materials and spare stable wraps. These are used thoughtfully rather than automatically, and any concern that seems beyond routine care is referred to a vet.
The Small Extras That Save The Day
Some of my most valuable competition items are ordinary household objects. Bin bags protect clean rugs from muddy boots, resealable bags hold wet gloves, and an old bath towel makes an excellent barrier between clean tack and a damp lorry floor. A roll of kitchen paper is useful for everything from wiping a bridle to cleaning a coffee spill.
I also carry a folding chair, a small picnic blanket, and a lightweight trolley for moving water or equipment around the venue. A portable rubbish bag keeps the cab from filling with wrappers and used tape. These items are easy to dismiss when packing, but they make long competition days less tiring.
Before heading home, I inspect Archie from nose to tail, clean the most important tack, empty the water buckets, and remove wet bedding. I make a note of anything that needs replacing, then put those jobs on a list while the details are fresh. That habit prevents a missing bandage or empty hoof-care tub from becoming a problem at the next event.
The best-packed tack truck is not the one carrying every possible object. It is the one arranged so that horse, rider, and equipment can move through the day calmly and safely. For Archie and me, that means reliable basics, sensible spares, weatherproof clothing, sound tack, and enough organisation to leave room for the unexpected.
I will be sharing more eventing routines, competition days with Archie, and the practical lessons that happen between the dressage boards and the finish flags on Party Pony Eventing. Follow along for future reports from training sessions and events, where the packing list is only the beginning of the story.