By Guest Blogger Amy Benenson
If you’re like me, you’re already trying to figure out how to afford the summer show season that’s fast approaching. If you’re unlike me, you already have everything planned out and you have decided to take a leap of faith and trade your AirBNB for RV accommodations. During the height of the pandemic, RV life became extremely popular to avoid crowded hotels and to enjoy a few days away without expensive hotel rates.
What do you really know to know about RV life while competing at a horse show?
DO
- Do your research
If you’re like me, you’ve never stayed in a RV before. There are many ways to rent a RV if you don’t own one yourself. RVshare is much like the AirBNB app, that allows you to explore accommodations in the area you’re visiting. There are multiple options to pick from including campers, tow behinds, and drive-able units.
Will this renter deliver the camper to your site and will that be an extra cost? Will you need to tow this camper with your own vehicle – and is your vehicle able to tow that weight? There are also come private RV companies that are also worth looking into that may help you avoid some additional fees that are integrated into using the app service.
Figure out what the sleeping accommodations are. Does the RV sleep 8 but there’s only 3 beds? Is everyone agreeable to share beds? Who is going to be the one sleeping on the converted table that flips over into a futon? These are important first crucial steps to avoid picking straws for beds when the RV pulls in. The last thing you want to do is add more stress to the horse show week, which already comes with its own challenges.
DON’T
- Don’t assume…anything
If you’ve never stayed in a RV at this horse show, call up or e-mail the horse show grounds with a list of questions. How much will it cost to park the RV on site? The Baker Charity horse show charged $175 for the show week to park on site. The Fieldstone Show Park charged $375 to park on site for the week. If you’re renting the RV on top of paying to park and deliver/pick up the RV – you may end up spending a lot more money than staying in a hotel. Don’t assume this is a budget friendly option.
Some sites will only allow RVs of certain lengths to be kept on site. This may be because there’s simply not enough room for XXL units, or because there’s no shot someone is going to be able to get the RV through the narrowest gate to the parking area.
Will there be a hook up for electric and water, or is it just parking? This is VERY important and may completely change your plan. Most RVs do come with their own available water and electric supply, but that will only last you so long. You’d be surprised how much water 2 days of showers between 4 people will take. Imagine on day 3 of a 5-day horse show, you come to find out that you’ve used up all the water available in your tank. If there’s a hook up, it will be similar to home – having a continuous supply of electric and water and you won’t have to worry about using the wash stall on day 4.
DO
- Do ask what’s included with your RV
Ask you RV renter what is in the RV for your use. Our RV came with an outdoor table with chairs, dish soap, plates and utensils. Our renter was available (living only 20 minutes away) to trouble shoot any issues we had. Having never used an RV before, we had no idea what to do when the hot water wasn’t working, and I was taking a cold shower at 6pm after a long day waiting 2 hours for the 2’6 derby to finally be over.
Of course, we tried to trouble shoot on our own – going down a dark hole on YouTube. Ultimately, we made a quick call to our renter who guided us through turning on the second tank of propane.
If you don’t have experience, I think it’s important to have someone on standby to help you navigate any issues that come up – whether it be a friend who has owned an RV or the renter themselves. Knowing what to bring is really important, like bedding or the most obvious thing you forgot – trash bags. Be well aware of what the RV has, where’s it’s located and if you as the renter, will be allowed access to it.
DON’T
- Don’t over pack
Finding enough room in the RV to store luggage and bags was a little bit of a challenge. Of course, we all overpack for horse shows. I will pack full rain gear, extra tans in case of an involuntary dismount, and all my show jackets – because if I have a bad round, that jacket will be retired from the rest of my classes that week.
That last bit may be a ‘me problem’, but regardless – a few days of supplies for you, your horse, and maybe a furry friend, ends up being a TON of stuff. Now if you’re sharing your accomodations, that may become even more tricky.
Hopefully you’ll have a tack stall, which eliminates some of that worry. If you feel comfortable, leaving some things in your car may also help keep the RV less cluttered. We got creative and used unused bunks for storage. I completely moved in and unpacked my clothes into empty cabinets and left my bulky luggage in the trunk of my car. I made nightly trips to put dirty clothes in a laundry bag in my back seat. It kept my belongings organized in the RV, and when it was time to wrap up and go home, it was one less thing I had to pack.
Try to use every nook and cranny you can find to keep your belongings organized and out of the way. Pick soft sided luggage that can easily be shoved into a corner and try to stick to the essential. I suggest forgoing the 4 “dinner outfits” you’ll be too tired to change into anyway.
DO
- Bring your own pillows/bedding and other sleeping aids
After sleeping on the converted table for 5 nights, I WISH I had brought a mattress topper and my own pillow. If you have a mattress topper or mattress pad at home, it may be worth trying to roll it up and pack it with you. If you know anyone who camps, a camping pad may be another option. We got a little creative and took the mattresses off of the top bunks we weren’t using and doubled up on the lower bunks for some extra cushion. This also freed up some space to put luggage and other items.
If I had to do it all over again, I think a mattress pad with a fitted sheet may have helped keeping my Tetris of cushions together. I woke up each morning with at least one cushion on the floor. RV mattresses are not like the ones you sleep on at home, or in a hotel. If you’re someone who could fall asleep anywhere, you should be fine. If you fall into the category of “how bad will my back hurt today”, you should pack accordingly even if you are lucky enough to get a bed or bunk spot.
Earplugs or a sleeping mask may also be helpful. Even the most spacious RV can feel small. If you’re sleeping out in the main living area, you may come to realize how loud coffee brewing can sound at 6AM. You may also find out the RV parking is right next to where the water trucks fill up in the morning or where the jump standards are loaded to set the rings.
If you think you may need a little help falling asleep, please don’t try melatonin for the first time when you need to wake up at 5 AM to get into the lounge ring.
You’ll thank me later.
DO
- Do enjoy having your own hotel space on site
Having your RV on site is basically like having a hotel room within walking distance from the horse show. My favorite part about staying in the RV was being able to just roll out of bed to feed in the morning, and not having to pack up the car and make the drive to the show grounds at 5AM.
Likewise, having a cool or dry place to hang out in between classes when the weather was not cooperative, was really a game changer and really made the experience worth it. We saved a good amount of money buying our own groceries and cooking at the RV. Having dinner together without having to put on “real clothes” or wait in a crowded lobby for the one good Mexican restaurant in town was an added element to the RV that I really enjoyed.
DON’T
- Don’t get too comfortable
Having a nice place to hang out is great, but it also causes you to become a little disconnected from the horse show. When we hang out by the rings or the barn between classes, it’s easy to catch announcements like “the 2’6 warmup will start in 10 minutes” or “the short stirrup has moved to Hunter 2”. It’s easy to lose track of time hanging out in the air conditioning and live streaming Longines on your laptop (if you have a mobile hot-spot that is – remember there’s no Wi-Fi password for your home on wheels).
I would be cautious to continue to track your rings and check on your horses. Find out if the show announcements will travel back to the RV parking or if they only reach the speakers near the stabling areas. You may want to periodically text a friend back at the barn or wander over to the ring to keep track of the show schedule.
DO OR DON’T
Overall, I think staying in a RV instead of an AirBNB was a very affordable and fun accommodation that I believe will become more popular as the cost of horse showing continues to rise. I don’t think it’s for everyone, especially you savvy work from home equestrians who need some quiet and Wi-Fi for a few hours of work between classes. I would also tell those who need a high-pressured scalding hot shower and a tempur-pedic mattress to be able walk the next day, to maybe reconsider.
Before you sign up for a 12-week circuit in a camper with 2 dogs and your barn mates, I would ask as many questions as possible and come prepared to “make it work” and be flexible. You may find a new hobby and decide to trade in your Marriott rewards for your own home on wheels!
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