EN blogger finalist Yvette Seger is back with more Tips for Eventers Living in Itty-Bitty Apartments in the City. Yvette will always be remembered for the famous Insane Walmart Ride, and we welcome her contributions to Eventing Nation.
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From Yvette:
Tips for Eventers Living in Itty-Bitty Apartments in the City: Two-fer Tuesday Edition
Hey there, Eventing Nation! I hope everyone had an awesome weekend! Area II was hoppin’ with Radnor on Saturday, and the fourth recognized Maryland HT of the season spanning both days. I was fortunate enough to take my 14 hands of fury – Finders Keepers, aka “Super Pony” – for a spin around Loch Moy’s lovely course on Sunday as his last prep before the classic format 3-day at Waredaca. We weren’t the only ones doing some last minute prepping at MDHT – the Super and I spied some Fair Hill CCI** hopefuls partaking in some fancy prancing dressage while we were just trying not to spook at trees/dogs/shiny dry erase boards/people with bags of potato chips while performing Novice Test A over in Ring 4. So, sorry to any/all Fair Hill riders that I may have horrified/offended/
Anywho. I think all riders can agree that competition weekends are pretty hectic. There’s the horse to bathe and braid, tack to clean, courses to walk, trailer to pack, yada yada yada. Further complicating my situation is the fact that my gear is scattered among four key locations: my itty-bitty apartment, the trunk of my car, farm of horse #1, or farm of horse #2. The majority of the competition gear – you know, the XC vest that need to shower with, my garment bag, saddlepads and galloping boots that I need to wash at bizarre hours to avoid nasty looks from my neighbors, etc. – ends up in the apartment. That’s all fine and good, except…there are usually at least 2 blocks separating my apartment from my car.
Yes, I could pay for a parking spot in the garage directly under my building, but come on – that’s one entry to Maryland Horse Trials (did I mention it’s a beautiful facility with free entertainment at the SJ in-gate courtesy of resident comedian Tommy? The color commentary alone is worth the entry fee…but I digress) per month. Pshaw…I’d rather pay the District of Columbia $30 for a 2-year street parking pass and go gallop around some more events! So I’m left with the quandary of getting a bunch of awkwardly shaped and frequently heavy/smelly/muddy gear from my apartment to my car (or vice versa).
My solution? The Citybarrow!
All hail the mighty Citybarrow!
No…it’s not a stolen shopping cart (I contemplated that option and realized that it would have taken up too much precious space in my apartment). It’s my little “I-live-in-the-city-and-can-
Tip for Eventers Living in Itty-Bitty Apartments #10
While most city dwellers use these carts to transport items such as groceries while navigating city sidewalks or public transportation options, eventers use them to unload their gear after an event, sort of like a citified wheelbarrow.
…and since I’m in a giving sort of mood…
Tip for Eventers Living in Itty-Bitty Apartments #11
Do not – I repeat – do NOT leave wet galloping boots in your car overnight! Your commute probably sucks enough without the added aroma of “water jump funk.” Consider this your one and only warning.
