Pocket snacks for the gap between dressage and stadium

At an eventing competition, the short break after dressage can disappear quickly. I might have just changed Archie, walked back from the arena, checked the scores, and started thinking about the stadium warm-up before I realise I have not eaten since breakfast. A full meal is too much at that point, but running on coffee and nerves leaves me flat when I need a clear head.

I have gradually worked out a small, reliable system for a quick snack in my pocket. It has to survive a trip through the lorry park, stay edible in Australian weather, and be possible to eat with one hand while holding a phone, gloves, or a lead rope. The best options are plain, compact, and familiar enough that I am not experimenting on competition day.

What the snack needs to do

My between-phase food needs to provide a little carbohydrate without feeling heavy. Dressage uses more energy than it appears to from the outside: there is the concentration, the walking, the warm-up, the mounting and dismounting, and the constant effort of keeping Archie settled. Then stadium jumping asks for another burst of focus, balance, and quick decisions.

I also want something that does not crumble all over my breeches or leave my mouth dry. A snack that needs a knife, a plate, or two hands is unlikely to make it out of the esky. The ideal pocket food is soft enough to chew quickly, small enough to forget about until needed, and sealed so it does not collect arena dust.

My dependable pocket combination

My usual choice is a small oat bar or homemade muesli slice, wrapped individually, with a few soft dried apricots or dates in a zip-lock bag. The oat bar gives me a steady, familiar source of carbohydrate, while the fruit is easy to nibble when I only have a minute. I keep the portion modest because arriving at the jumping warm-up feeling overfull is almost as distracting as feeling hungry.

On hotter days, I swap the bar for a small banana if I have somewhere cool to keep it. A banana is excellent quick fuel, but it can become bruised and unpleasant in a jacket pocket. I sometimes carry a squeezable apple purée pouch instead; it is tidy, gentle on the stomach, and does not require much chewing when my mouth is dry from the heat.

Why I keep it in my pocket

The lorry or float may be parked a long way from the arenas, especially at a large property where dressage and show jumping are on opposite sides of the grounds. Leaving my snack in the vehicle sounds sensible until the timetable moves faster than expected. A pocket keeps it with me while I collect Archie, check the next times, and walk the course.

For Australian competitions, this matters during a hot Saturday at places such as Werribee or SIEC, where the sun can feel fierce even when the forecast looked manageable at home. I use a small, flat snack pouch rather than placing loose food beside sunscreen, hoof oil, and damp gloves. If I am wearing breeches with shallow pockets, the snack goes into a zippered vest pocket or a little waist pouch.

Keeping food safe in the heat

Heat changes what is practical. Chocolate melts, yoghurt becomes risky without proper refrigeration, and anything with a creamy filling can turn into an unpleasant surprise before I reach the second phase. I avoid foods that need careful temperature control unless they stay in a properly chilled esky and I can eat them immediately.

A frozen water bottle helps keep the esky cold, but I do not rely on it for a snack that will sit in the sun all afternoon. I also pack a spare shelf-stable option, usually plain crackers, a sealed muesli bar, or dried fruit. At a country event, mobile reception, shade, and nearby food vans can all be unpredictable, so a backup is worth carrying even if the canteen is advertised on the programme.

Eating without losing the competition rhythm

The best moment for me is usually after Archie has had a drink and a small check-over, before I start changing my mental gear for stadium. I take a few bites while walking back from the dressage area or while waiting for a score. I do not try to eat while rushing through tack changes; that is when food gets dropped, forgotten, or swallowed too quickly.

I keep water with me as well, taking small sips rather than gulping a whole bottle at once. On a warm day in New South Wales or Queensland, I may use an electrolyte drink if I have been sweating heavily, but I avoid making every competition snack overly sweet. The aim is to feel refreshed and steady, not sticky, thirsty, or aware of my stomach during the first fence.

Snacks that suit a nervous stomach

Competition nerves can make familiar foods feel different. Before I settled on oat bars and dried fruit, I tried a few high-protein snacks that sounded sensible but sat heavily once I was tacking up. Large handfuls of nuts, rich bliss balls, and anything very fibrous are now foods for after the final phase rather than the short interval.

Plain rice crackers, a small jam sandwich, and a banana are useful alternatives when I am too nervous for a dense bar. A little salt can be welcome after a sweaty morning, particularly when the weather is warm and I have been walking across a big venue. I test every option at home or during ordinary training first, just as I test a new feed or supplement with Archie well before an event.

Matching the snack to the day

My packing changes according to the timetable. If dressage is early and stadium follows within an hour, I carry one small snack. If there is a long delay, I pack a second option and a more substantial meal for later. Cross-country days often require a different plan because the physical and emotional load is higher, and I do not want to use the same tiny snack as my only food until mid-afternoon.

Travel also affects my choices. At unfamiliar properties, I allow extra time for parking, walking, and locating the arenas. A previous first horse trial on a new venue taught me that a neat schedule on paper does not always reflect the actual movement around the grounds; my notes from that experience are in my unfamiliar-property lessons. A pocket snack gives me one less logistical problem to solve when the day becomes busier than expected.

A small routine that helps Archie and me

I treat my snack as part of the competition checklist rather than an afterthought. Before leaving home, I put one wrapped bar, one piece of fruit or dried fruit, tissues, and a bottle of water where I can reach them. I check that the packaging opens quietly and easily. There is no prize for wrestling with a noisy wrapper while Archie is trying to relax beside me.

After dressage, I give Archie water, loosen what needs loosening, and make a quick assessment of his comfort before turning my attention to food. A few bites help me reset without making the break feel like a second breakfast. Then I can focus on the stadium course, the warm-up fences, and the ride ahead with a steadier body and a clearer plan.

What stays in the competition bag

Alongside my pocket snack, I carry a slightly larger food reserve in the vehicle: sandwiches in a cooler, extra fruit, crackers, and something filling for after the horse has been cared for. I also keep spare water because Australian venues vary widely in what is available, and a long queue at the canteen is not a reliable nutrition plan. A small rubbish bag prevents wrappers from ending up in the float or on the grounds.

I have borrowed ideas from other outdoor hobbies too, especially the way people choose compact, low-mess food for long days away from facilities. Looking at portable angling food ideas reminded me that simple packaging and food that can tolerate movement are valuable well beyond horse trials. My final pocket selection remains uncomplicated: one small carbohydrate snack, something easy on the stomach, water, and enough spare food nearby to keep the whole day running smoothly.