Hello world, it’s been awhile since I’ve posted, which is sorta typical for me at this point of the new blog process. I get the site designed generally how I like it, stick to some early momentum, then a dozen other things fall in my lap so I fall behind with blog writing. And to add to the excuses, a month ago I got an awful case of shingles that came out of nowhere (get your vaxx!) On top of it all, wow, summer with two teens is just busy… this month alone we’ve had multiple family cabin trips, including the one I’m on right now. It’s mostly all good stuff, so I’m not complaining (!?), but it’s been a lot for “summertime, when the livin’ is easy.” Right now I’m sitting on the deck trying to catch a breath and get this horse blog back on track.
So, in horse news, Nikki’s splint is finally healed, hooray! Riloh has been a terrific vet tech, applying the surpass daily and keeping Nik gently moving. Last weekend they competed in the Stonegate Farm Red Pine Hunter Jumper Show, which was a good experience. They stayed in the 2′ classes since Nikki has been lame and hadn’t had a lot of time to build back for the higher jumps. Riloh’s barn friend Ari also competed in 2′ classes with her horse Jet because he’s young and they’re working on his foundational skills. They were in every class together and their camaraderie was excellent. It was awesome to see the girls helping each other and having fun, even though technically they were competing against each other.
The Stonegate show is a schooling show and one that we’ve done for the past three summers. It’s always in July — so it’s pretty much guaranteed to be sweltering hot — and the horse stalls are in temporary tents in an open field, so there’s really no good shelter for the humans. I call it the “camping with horses show.” We bring in everything, including a generator and extension cords to power the fans for the horses. It’s a lot of work for everyone because we need to keep the horses cool in addition to all of their regular care. And, we also need to keep an eye on our riders, who aren’t always good at remembering to drink water or eat. My horse mom friends have agreed there should be some kind of badge earning program for those of us who make it through “camping with horses shows” and the like. (Especially when the horse mom has shingles, uggg.)
After experiencing many horse shows in those types of conditions, this resourceful horse mom has learned a few things to soften the experience. Here are some of my best tips and tricks:
- Make cool wet washcloths with a few drops of essential oil. I fill a large bowl with water and add a few drops of our favorite calming essential oil (lavender, mint, eucalyptus, rosemary, or a blend are some good options). I use basic white washcloths, submerge them in the water, squeeze the water out, then roll them into a uniform size so they fit in a container or zip food bag. I put them in the fridge overnight, then stick them in my cooler. Everyone loves them to wipe faces, forearms, and for the backs of necks to help cool down. (I bring a plastic bag to collect the used washcloths; they get washed with Oxy then used again, or tossed if they get too gross.)
- Use a wagon to haul your stuff. Get yourself a collapsible wagon with good wheels that can go through the uneven terrain. I like mine because the wheels are big and it folds up/down easily so I can manage it myself. There’s really no need to pile alllllll those things on your overheated, exhausted body. Seriously, you will be so grateful to have that wagon.
- Take time to pack your cooler with good food. This is key for me because I need good sustenance to get through these long days. I have a small Igloo cooler that is easy to put in my wagon, and I use the Rubbermaid Brilliance containers for fruit and other things; these small containers fit well in this cooler. Things like containers of blueberries, grapes, strawberries, carrots, cucumber, and pieces of watermelon that are easy to nibble on are great when it’s so hot. We also like cut up grilled chicken, hummus cups, and avocado mash cups. Toss some naan chips, tortilla chips, or other crackers in your snacks bag and you’ve got easy healthy bites to keep you going. Pro tip: bring forks so you don’t have to use your grimy fingers if you’re grabbing a quick piece of fruit from a container.
I feel like it could go without saying that I drink a version of coffee all. day. long. at these things. Often there’s an awesome coffee cart vendor making delicious hot and iced coffee treats to enjoy. But I don’t risk being unprepared. I always bring along my insulated backpack that holds my carafe of hot water and many pouches of instant coffee powders, cups, and spoons. And I’m always happy to share.
And one final word about camaraderie… there was also a lot of laughing and leaning on one another among the horse moms at the Stonegate show. We were all “in it” together and helped each other when it was hard. We understand each others’ kids, and the big emotions, and the extra stuff that comes with the “mom part” of the long days. I’m just really grateful for my horse mom friends.