unaffiliated one day events hints and tips please

[xxhannahxx]

hi all

im hoping to a 1day event which will be my first ever if any of you have any hints and tips please give me them and any experiences you have had good or bad would be greatfull.

im pretty confident on my dressage and showjumping but havent done cross crountry in 2 years and having my first xcountry clinic this saturday so quite scared.lol

[rosieee]

Sorry i can't help, but thought i'd 'up' your thread and i'd also be interested to hear tips etc as i am planning to do my first 1day event soon too.

[rosiesmumof4]

make a list of everything you need for each phase, and tick it off as you pack it.
don't forget loads of drinks for rider, and plenty of water for washing off/drinking for horse.
If it's close walk the xc the night before, and the SJ if it's up for your class, frequently at an event you won't actually get an opportunity to walk the Sj course but will just have to study the course plan. don't forget to ring for your times, get there in time to collect number, have hat checked (possibly - is this unaffilil?) etc.
take a competant and calm helper (my DH then my dbf once came to help me - we fell in the woods on the furthest part of the course and mare was lame so i retired - no sign of dbf, limped all the way back to box, asked him - "didn't you hear we'd had a fall on the commentary" "oh yes, but i'd no idea where you were so i just thought i'd wait here for you!!").
make sure horse is fit enough.
don't work in for so long before dresage that horse is then on it's knees for the other phases.
check if stopwatches allowed xc, find out optimum time and work out roughly 1/4, 1/2 way and 3/4 way round course so can check on your progress, but this might be one to worry about for a subsequent event.
if it's hot cool aggressively after xc - loads of water, scrape off, repeat and repeat until cool, intersperse with walking/do while walking.
take waterproofs for horse and rider, spare clothes for rider, first aid kits, chocolate.
don't worry about taking slow routes at a couple of jumps if it will ensure you get round clear partic if it's first/second event for horse as well.