What’s On Your Horse Show Packing List?

July 25, 2025 | Filed under: Current Articles,Featured | Posted by: Delores Kuhlwein

Pros share their must-have’s when they’re on the road to the majors.

When we are hitting the road with your show horses, there’s often a lingering doubt on our minds – “What am I forgetting?”

Just in time for exhibitors packing for the NSBA World Show, the AQHYA World Show, The Championship Show, and not too far away – the Congress – we consulted with the best professionals in the business to ask what absolute top two items are on their list! We asked them to elaborate if they have more must-haves! Read their responses to see if you have a new item to add to your packing list:

Ted Turner

Vacuum, show halters, razors, baby powder, and towels!

Jim & Deanna Searles

Stallion swag. Peppermints. Flowers boxes. Sonic ice maker. Hot tamales.

Robin & Jenny Frid

Robin said, “All the clients stuff is number 1! Ha!”

Jenny added:
-Enough jeans to get through the long show.
-All the horse medications- enough bute, regumate, ulcer guard and feed supplements

Sara Simons

– Everyone’s stuff (outfits, hats, show saddles)
– All the essential show prep items (hoof black, fly spray, face grease)
– Ice boots for horses to keep them comfortable always
– Fans to keep horses feeling cool in the hot temps

Jesse Jones
My two must haves are:
– My three favorite bridles!
-Dr Pepper!

Clint Ainsworth:

A great staff and a sense of humor!

Carly Parks:

Lots of treats, Pepi, and Gastroease! And energy drinks.

Ryan Kail:

Jollyballs – we bring them from home, and the horses seem to leave the stall mats alone.

One can never have too much black spray and electrical tape.

Brian Isbell Garcia

My number one is Crystal Light, but there’s only one flavor “Peach Mango Green Tea”
#2- my lucky hunt coat and tie.

Leslie Lange

-Refrigerate or a cooler
-Microwave
-Coffee pot
-Chairs
-Table
These seem silly but they are essentials:
-A reclining chair for short naps
-Fans for summer shows – not just for horses, but for people also!

Katy Jo Zuidema

Baby wipes and Pinot Grigio!

Mike Hachtel

Poultice and hoof packing.

Casey Willis

Horses that are ready to show and your favorite pair of spurs.

Kristen Layher

I have a 3-drawer Tupperware organizer – it’s probably 2-3 ft high. But it has every random lifeline in it, from zip ties to hair ties to a hoof pick/wine opener. I cannot do a horse show without it!

A wise old horseman Ronnie Stallings always told me if you have your paper book, feed for your horses, and work saddle and snaffle, you’ll be able to make everything else work out. Those are the first three things I always write down on my loading list to this day: paper book, feed, work tack.

Anthony Wilson
For me the first thing would be my wife, Kylee Miller – I can’t live without her. She helps keep everything going.

But as far as non-human things, I would say the most important thing is my toolbox. I hate packing it around, but I can’t live without it. It has ear plugs, leather punch, safety pins, bands, meds, rule book, curb straps, zip ties, bandaids, Tylenol, extra supplies and even a little cash in case Kylee needs a diet soda from a vending machine.

Kylee’s answers:

1: A Paul (meaning Paul Alexander, assistant trainer at Elite Show Horses)
2: The Carrot Bag
3: Fly Spray

We also had the short, sweet, and absolutely essential answers: