A day in the life at a two-day event with Archie
A two-day event begins long before the first horse enters the dressage arena. For me, the real competition starts when Archie steps off the lorry and I begin turning a busy venue into a familiar routine. There are times, entry details, stable checks, tack changes, weather decisions, and plenty of small jobs that can easily become overwhelming if I leave them until the last minute.
My typical timeline is built around creating calm where I can. The schedule will always change slightly according to our dressage time, show jumping order, cross-country briefing, and the venue itself, but having a framework helps me stay organised. It also gives Archie consistent signals, even when the event atmosphere is louder and more exciting than our usual training yard.
A two-day horse trial demands a different kind of preparation from a single-phase competition. Dressage requires concentration and relaxation, show jumping asks for accuracy and energy, and cross-country tests fitness, bravery, and partnership. The spaces between those phases matter just as much as the performances themselves.
Before leaving home
My event day starts the evening before, when I check everything rather than trusting my memory. I load the tack trunk, grooming kit, first-aid supplies, spare clothes, feed, water containers, rugs, buckets, and paperwork. Archie’s bridle, saddle, boots, studs, and competition numbers are checked individually. It is much easier to solve a missing-item problem at home than in a lorry park before sunrise.
I also look at the weather forecast and the latest timetable. A warm day changes how much water I carry and how often I expect to cool Archie. Wet conditions affect rugs, spare clothing, and the way I prepare his feet. I pack several options because eventing rarely follows the neat plan written in my notebook.
The final job is settling Archie for travel. I like him to have a quiet evening, a familiar feed, and enough time to relax before loading. I keep my own evening calm too, although that is not always easy. I have found that how I manage my own nerves before the dressage phase begins with recognising the nerves instead of pretending they are not there.
Arrival and settling Archie in
We usually arrive with enough time to avoid rushing straight from the lorry to the dressage warm-up. Once parked, I unload Archie carefully and give him a few minutes to look around. He may be familiar with travelling, but every event venue has different sounds, smells, surfaces, and levels of activity. Lorries arrive, horses call, officials move around, and competitors lead horses past in every direction.
Settling in is a practical process. I find our stable or temporary pen, put down hay, check the water arrangement, and organise the tack area. Archie gets a quick visual inspection for any rubs or signs of travel stress. I also check his legs and feet before grooming, because a small problem identified early is much easier to manage than one discovered when I am already dressed for competition.
The first official jobs often include collecting numbers, checking the start times, walking to the arenas, and attending a competitor briefing. I write key information on a small card or in my phone, including dressage time, jumping order, cross-country start details, and the location of the warm-up areas. The venue may be spread across several fields, so knowing the route saves both time and mental energy.
Once Archie has eaten and had a drink, I give him a short hand walk if conditions allow. This is not a training session. It is simply a chance to loosen after travelling and begin taking in the new surroundings. After that, he can rest while I focus on the first phase.
Preparing for dressage
Dressage is often the first test, so my morning routine is built around arriving at the warm-up with time to spare. I groom Archie thoroughly, check his hooves, plait if required, and tack up without rushing. I try to keep the preparation familiar rather than making the competition version feel like a completely different experience.
In the warm-up, I begin with a quiet walk and allow Archie to look around. The number of horses, the size of the arena, and the atmosphere can make a horse tense, so I am more interested in relaxation than immediate brilliance. I use transitions, large circles, and easy changes of rein to check that I have his attention. If he feels settled, I gradually add the movements that will help us enter the arena with a clear plan.
My coach’s advice is particularly valuable here because it is easy to spend too long correcting small details. At an event, I need to preserve Archie’s energy and confidence. A short, positive warm-up is usually better than chasing a perfect outline until both of us are tired.
After the test, I loosen the girth, remove the bridle, and walk Archie until his breathing returns to normal. I offer water and hay, then look over his legs and tack before putting him away. I may glance at the score sheet or speak with my coach, but I try not to let one mark dictate the entire weekend. The dressage phase is one part of the competition, not a final judgment on our training.
Managing the gap between phases
The hours between dressage and show jumping can feel deceptively quiet. There is often enough time to relax, but not enough to forget the clock. I keep Archie’s routine simple: shade or shelter, water, hay, a check of his legs, and a period of genuine rest. If he is settled, I may hand walk him later, but I avoid unnecessary activity.
This is also when I eat something substantial and change into suitable clothes for the next phase. It is easy to become so focused on horse care that I forget my own hydration and food. A tired rider makes poorer decisions, especially when walking courses or trying to remember the next time.
I walk the show jumping course with a notebook or phone and study the sequence rather than memorising every fence in isolation. I look for the related distances, turns, changes of rein, and places where Archie might lose rhythm. The course walk is a chance to create a simple strategy: maintain a balanced canter, ride forward where appropriate, and keep my eyes on the next question.
| Time | Rider focus | Archie’s routine | Key check |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5:30–6:30 a.m. | Travel and arrival | Unload, drink, hay, settle | Legs, feet, travel rubs |
| 7:00–9:00 a.m. | Dressage preparation | Groom, tack up, warm up | Relaxation and rhythm |
| After dressage | Recovery and review | Cool down, water, rest | Breathing, appetite, soundness |
| Late morning or afternoon | Course walk and jumping | Rest, light hand walk | Tack, studs, jumping order |
| After show jumping | Recovery and planning | Cool, feed, stable or pen | Legs, energy, hydration |
| Evening | Cross-country preparation | Quiet rest and routine | Briefing, weather, equipment |
The timetable varies from event to event, but the order of priorities stays much the same. I want Archie comfortable, fuelled, and mentally settled, while I remain aware of where we need to be next. A written schedule helps prevent small jobs from disappearing during the busy parts of the day.
Tackling show jumping
Show jumping usually brings a different energy to the venue. The warm-up can be crowded, the fence heights feel more imposing up close, and riders are constantly adjusting their plans as the class moves forward. I give Archie time to establish a balanced canter before jumping more than a few practice fences.
My focus is on the basics: straightness, rhythm, a positive approach, and a useful turn after landing. I do not need to recreate the entire course in the warm-up. I need to confirm that Archie is listening and that I can influence his stride. If he jumps well, I stop rather than continuing until the moment loses its value.
Walking into the arena, I remind myself of the course plan but stay open to what is actually happening. A horse may jump differently indoors than outdoors, or react to a decorative filler that looked insignificant during the course walk. I aim to ride each fence while already thinking about the next line. If we have a rail or a moment of hesitation, I reset quickly and continue riding the round in front of me.
Afterwards, Archie gets another cool-down and physical check. I remove boots, inspect his legs for heat or swelling, and make sure he is drinking. I also record what I noticed while it is fresh: whether he felt tired, where he changed his balance, and which exercises might help in future training. These observations are more useful than simply remembering the final score.
The evening routine and overnight care
By the evening, the venue often becomes quieter, although there may still be horses arriving and competitors preparing for the next day. Archie’s evening routine is deliberately unexciting. He gets a thorough groom, a feed according to his usual plan, fresh water, and plenty of hay. I check his legs again and make sure his stable or pen is safe and comfortable.
Cross-country preparation takes some organisation. I clean and check the saddle, breastplate, bridle, boots, medical armband, number bib, and any permitted protective equipment. I confirm the start time and attend the briefing if one is scheduled. The ground conditions and weather may affect the course, so I listen carefully for information about footing, flags, optimum time, and any changes to fences.
I walk the cross-country course when the organisers permit it, ideally with my coach or another experienced rider. I note the terrain, water complexes, narrow fences, drops, combinations, and the places where maintaining rhythm will be especially important. I do not want to memorise the course as a collection of intimidating obstacles. I want to understand the questions it asks and how I can answer them clearly for Archie.
My own evening routine matters too. I lay out clothes, fill water bottles, charge my phone, and set alarms before trying to rest. I review the plan once, then stop. Endless analysis rarely improves the next day’s riding. Archie needs sleep and recovery, and I need enough rest to make sensible decisions in the saddle.
Cross-country morning and the finish
The second morning begins earlier than I would prefer, but the routine feels familiar. I check Archie before feeding, look at his legs, and make sure he is bright and comfortable. After breakfast, I groom him, apply studs if they are part of our plan and conditions require them, and complete the final equipment check.
The cross-country warm-up is shorter and more purposeful than the dressage preparation. I want Archie forward, responsive, and confident without using unnecessary energy. We work through transitions and a few simple fences, then wait calmly for our start. I keep my instructions clear because a complicated riding plan is difficult to follow at speed.
On course, I concentrate on rhythm and the next question rather than allowing the size of the whole track to occupy my thoughts. I give Archie time to see what he needs to see, especially at water, banks, and more technical combinations. At the same time, I must keep moving and ride positively. The partnership depends on trust in both directions: he needs confidence in my decisions, and I need to believe in his ability.
When we finish, the priority is recovery. I walk Archie until his breathing settles, offer water in sensible amounts, and use cooling methods suited to the weather and venue facilities. I check his legs, back, feet, and general attitude before arranging his feed and rest. Only after he is comfortable do I think about results, photographs, or packing.
- Prepare the equipment and paperwork the evening before.
- Build extra time into arrival, warm-up, and course-walk plans.
- Protect the horse’s rest periods between phases.
- Check hydration, legs, feet, and tack after every test.
- Write down useful observations before leaving the venue.
A two-day event is made up of many small decisions, and the timeline gives those decisions structure. Archie does not need every moment to be perfect; he needs consistency, thoughtful care, and a rider who remains present. I return home tired, usually dusty and carrying far more equipment than seems possible, but the best part is remembering the moments when our training became a genuine partnership under pressure.
For more behind-the-scenes eventing routines, follow Party Pony Eventing and come along for Archie’s next competition, from the early-morning loading routine to the final cross-country walk home.