Heading soon to Badminton Horse Trials and camping out? You're in luck!
Gem from @theworldofgem, our longtime customer at Hiho, is a star equestrian blogger. We adore her horsey adventures, fab outfits, and smart tips. Today, she shares her top five tips for surviving camping at Badminton Horse Trials.
Hi, I'm Gem. Having camped at Badminton for many years I have managed to compress my survival knowledge to this top tip list.
CAMPING KIT
This is probably the most important one, as the rest you can buy if you forget them. Make sure your tent is waterproof and windproof. May can get rather soggy, and speaking from experience, it can also be very sunny too! So make sure you have blackout material on your tent to shield your eyes from the early morning after the lakeside party. And a good gas hob and kettle will be your best friends in the morning.
FOOD & DRINK
Pack lots of snacks! You'll be surprised how hungry you will get marching around the cross-country. We tend to only eat out for lunch in Badminton, having food back at camp can also help to save a few pennies by the end of the week. We usually have a porridge pot and pastries for breakfast and cook at tea time.
Pro Tip; Bring your friends! That way you can share some laughs and share the cooking. Taking it in turns can add some lovely variety, from hand made pizza using a pizza stone on a bbq one night to a large curry night the next. It can be as exciting as you make it. Come to think of it, drinks are probably more important than the great food, so an insulated soft cool bag is what I would class as an essential bit of kit, keeping everything from strawberries and cream cool to helping the Pimms stay chilled. There are also plenty of fresh water stations scattered about, so don't forget a reusable water bottle!
FOOTWEAR
Footwear is hugely important. My advice is to pack shoes that are comfy, as you'll be racking up the steps and waterproof, as the grass in the camping field can get very dewy in the mornings and the walkways at Badminton can get rather mucky! I tend to pack a pair of boat shoes, old trainers, a set of ankle boots and long welly boots, as you will get every type of weather.
CLOTHES
Much like footwear, pack for all winds and weather! You never know, some days I've walked back to camp and changed as it's gone from drizzle to full sun. I tend to pick my outfits beforehand so I don't end up packing loads and taking forever in the morning to get ready. I recommend layering: gilets, jumpers, shirts and t-shirts. Coat-wise, I take a big long warm one, a proper waterproof, my Barbour and a puffa one. You'll be surprised how many cans of gin you can fit in your Barbour pocket.
ELECTRICITY
Unless your pitch has a hook up, you'll want to invest in a decent power bank. These will be your best friend for charging your phone, smart watches and cameras.
We have a large wattage Jackery power station which is amazing for at camp, but the little ones which fit in a pocket are brilliant. The first year I took two 100-watt power banks which lasted 6 days keeping my phone topped up and charging my smart watch.
These are just a few things to consider to make the most of your camping stay at Badminton horse Trials if you are camping this year or even if camping isn't quite for you and you're going up day by day.
