Travelling alone isn’t for everyone… but working on various tradestands up and down the country has taken me to some truly fabulous equestrian venues where I’ve met some really lovely people as well as having the opportunity to watch top riders doing their thing.
Watching Charlotte Du Jardin do her thing at Sommerford Sept 2021
I’ve got to visit places that I would probably never have gone to otherwise and I’ve made money doing it. I’ve got to stay in some beautiful properties (and some definitely not so beautiful!) and seen the views of many different English counties.
Badminton 2022
Here’s my top tips from my own personal experiences…
Make a packing list
I have a digital checklist on the notes app on my phone which I go through for every trip (Un-horsey Mum has an old school and extensive Excel Spreadsheet she still prints out!!!)
If there’s something I find I’ve forgotten or I’d like to take for next time I add it on.
If you’re staying in a hotel, it can be handy to have things like a travel cutlery set and some form of container as they don’t have catering facilities (other than a kettle usually). The only reason I suggest this is because, generally on the first night at least, the last thing I want to do after an early start and a long day is go brave the supermarket. So I take some noodles with me that I can simply add water to and eat in the comfort of my accommodation. A Tupperware will do but I managed to find a large soup cup with a lid which has been brilliant! Add noodles or the like to your packing list!
You might be wearing branded clothing but it’s good to plan your outfits according to how many days your away. In true British style, the weather is changeable so check the forecast for your location then pack accordingly. Footwear included. I drive everywhere so I usually have a variety of footwear options with me anyway! I’ve had to make an emergency purchase at a supermarket of some £6 pair or jeans in the sale that I chopped the legs off to make into shorts once at an event when a heatwave struck! It was literally ALL they had in my size that I could justify the price of!
There’s a few car maintenance things I add to my packing list too as a check.
1. Full tank of fuel - it just means I don’t have to waste time searching for a petrol station and filling up whilst I’m away, one less thing to think about
2. Check my tyre pressures - good practice anyway but it’s also better for fuel economy and I personally have one tyre that does go down a bit as it was an emergency fit which are notorious for having rubbish seals and
3. also photograph my mileage - as this is charged back on expenses.
Car maintenance checks are advisable before any long journey
Take some home comforts
Take some cosy slippers or bed socks. A lot of Air BnBs in particular have hard wood or tile floors as they’re easy to clean. If you’ve been working on a tradestand stood up all day like I do then your aching feet will appreciate some comfort
Have a fave scented candle or air freshener? Take one with you! Or spray it in your travel bag before you leave. Triggering the sense of smell with something familiar can help comfort you and combat any home-sickness. Bringing your sense of home with you.
I invested in a gorgeous large leather hold all - which matches my handbag - and also has my initials on to make travelling feel just that little bit more luxurious. I travel a lot, why not make it a stylish experience…
My personalised Katie Loxton Holdall - and Cleo (not) helping me pack it
Some essentials to pack you might not have thought about...
Tea bags (or your fave coffee). Most places will cater tea and coffee but sometimes its nice to take your favourite brand/flavour with you. One Air BnB host even left me a hamper of goodies!
A lovely welcome hamper from one of my Air BnB hosts
On that note… self catering? Consider taking a carton of long-life milk. Doesn’t need to be refrigerated until opened and it saves you having to make a trip to a supermarket or shop if you’ve been up since the crack of dawn to travel and then worked all day.
I invested in a £6 mini hairdryer (which is actually way more powerful than my normal one at home!) because again, some places won't have one. This just stays in my hold all now.
TAKE A BOG ROLL!!! You’d be surprised how many (very good Air BnB hosts!) sometimes forget this one!
Safety
As a lone, female traveller, safety and security is of high priority for me.
Some people advise against posting you’re away from home on social media because “it can make your home a target” for break-ins. I can fully understand that, but I would argue the opposite; having as many people as possible know where you are means that should something bad happen, SURELY there’s a good chance your social media absence would ring some alarm bells. I have cats too so there is always someone there to look after my fur babies whilst I’m away (shout out again to The Un-horsey Boyfriend aka Cat Dad for looking after The Pride whilst I'm not there!) so my home is always occupied. ALWAYS let at least a few trusted people know where you are staying and working.
Another tip if you find yourself alone and staying in a dodgy area is to put something behind external doors or hang cups on the door handles. This way, you’d be alerted if anyone tried the handle or even gained entry. I have been in one place where the main door had clearly had an attempted break in at some point; the lock was well dodgy/lose and there was a large crack running up the bottom of the door (where someone or something had clearly kicked/rammed it). In the same property I also discovered that the back door was actually unlocked on entry – I’m glad I did a door and window check! – and I’d found out from a co-worker that a previous property of hers in that city had been broken into from the garden. I’m not saying this to scaremonger and to be honest I don’t know what I would actually do if I did hear the cup fall or my “barricade” tumble!!! But maybe I’d have a pre-warning to… hide? Escape? I dunno really… Very graciously I was promptly re-located to a much nicer Air BnB. I appreciate it can be difficult to gauge from photos and reviews.
in comparison, it's amazing how safe you can feel in a converted farm building out in the middle of nowhere compared to an urban location.
A stunning sunset view of the Gloucester Countryside from one of my Air BnBs
If you fancy visiting more places whilst making a bit of extra dosh, tradestand work is a great way to do it. Yes, it can be long days and hard, physical work but it is a great way to see new places and meet new faces along the way too. Coming from a sales and customer service background, I’ve been able to utilise my previous experiences and skills and incorporate them into my passion for horses... and made money at the same time.
Watching the jumping in the main ring at Bolesworth (by far one of my favourite venues)
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