A [Nursing Mom’s] Guide to Horse Show Essentials
You thought there was a lot to pack for a horse show regularly?! Throw baby into the mix and you’ll be like me - asking yourself why you opted for the Tahoe instead of a Suburban!
With a few horse shows now under our belt, I’ve come up with a few essentials to make horse showing with a little one it tow [a little bit] easier.
[Nursing Friendly] Show Shirt - One major thing I forgot to consider prior to my first show back after baby was nursing/pumping accessibility. My showing wardrobe mainly consists of snap collar shirts and it wasn’t until the week of Culpeper that I realized I needed something more ‘baby friendly’. So, I popped on to SmartPak and purchased this SmartPak brand full snap placket show shirt. It was super affordable, but size down - it runs large. I have my eye on the Alessandro Albanese Cleancool Competition Shirt next!
Off-Road Stroller - I’ll likely do a separate post on our stroller because it’s so great, but an “off road” stroller is definitely a ‘must have’ for the horse show (and at the barn in general)! Prior to having baby, I did some major research on strollers. I knew that I wanted (1) a stroller with air-filled tires, as opposed to solid polyurethane wheels, for the most comfortable ride on unpaved surfaces, (2) ONE stroller. Period. Not a stroller for jogging, a stroller for shopping, a stroller for traveling. The one we bought would have to be a good size to do everything. (3) a stroller that would take us from newborn to toddler, and (4) had to be attractive. I landed on this Bumbleride Era; it fit all of the parameters and we couldn’t be more happy with it. The bassinet attachment is “sleep rated” so it’s perfect for those necessary horse show naps!
Diaper Backpack - The diaper backpack is definitely the way to go. I chose this one and I’m super happy with it. It features large pockets, padded arm straps, and interior dividers. Added bonus, there’s a large compartment in the back where the changing mat is stored in which my MacBook Pro fits perfectly. Therefore, I was able to ditch lugging around my computer bag, too!
Kiinde Breast Pumping System - If you are a “pumper” I highly recommend the Kiinde System and Kiinde Twist Storage Bags! I find that at the barn, there’s a huge advantage to not needing to worry about washing bottles. With the Kiinde system, you use disposable milk bags so you only have to worry about washing the nipples. If your car does not have a 110V outlet (so thankful that mine does - I do most of my pumping while I’m driving!) you’ll want to purchase a converter like this one and make your car a “pumping station” since you probably won’t want to pump in the grooming stall…
Yeti Water Bottle & Cooler - You want to drink a lot of water while nursing and this 36oz Yeti Rambler is essential for keeping you hydrated during a busy show day! I actually would suggest purchasing two - one for water and the other for coffee. You’ll need something to help you stay awake and remember your course after a night of taking care of an infant! ;) I use a large cooler, like this one, for milk (and beer!) storage.
Portable Fan - We use this portable fan to clip onto the stroller. A “must have” while you’re waiting at the ring on hot show days.
Comfy Shoes - You’ll want some cute, but comfy, shoes as you’re pushing your little one around the show grounds trying to get them to take a nap. I love these (on sale now!) easy slip on ones with all of the fun texture!
When we were in Florida over the Winter, we wanted to keep Ella’s sleep routine as normal as possible even in the hotel. She was only a month old and still waking up throughout the night to eat. So, we opted to bring her SNOO bassinet with us. I’ll post more on the SNOO itself because we’ve had such a great experience with it (seriously, worth every penny in those early weeks!) but keeping her in the same sleeping situation as at home helped with less disruption. Now that she’s older, we’ll be bringing our travel crib with us when we’ll be staying at a hotel or in our camper.
Good luck!