Showing horses takes a lot of energy and fluids, and a big ice chest full of food and drinks from home keeps us going while we’re on the run. Nobody has time the day before the show to cook up a gourmet picnic, but we do have time to make a quick run to the grocery store for this simple list. (Click on photo to enlarge.) We buy a bag of ice or dump the bin from our freezer into the chest and then put everything on top of the ice, starting with drinks, and leaving the lighter, crushable foods at the top. Things that you don’t want to get damp should go in heavy-duty zipper bags for protection. We like to put everything, even non-refrigerated items, in the chest so they are easy to find. For us, this menu works better than typical concession food -- donuts, pastries, hamburgers, hot dogs, nachos, potato chips, candy, and carbonated sugar drinks -- which leave us feeling tired. We still love the junk so we bring petty cash to
support the show’s concession stand and give ourselves a little treat at the end of the day. Check out our list below. We also like the Whole Foods Market Guide to Summer Food on the Go.
Show food shopping list:
- Carnation Breakfast Drink
- Gatorade
- Ice water (make your own jug or buy bottled)
- Nature Valley granola bars
- Cheetos (not so healthy, but a favorite)
- Kraft cheese sticks
- Snoopy fruit drops
- Beef jerky
- Apples
- Cherries or grapes
- Miniature carrots