Equestrian Travel Tips: Pack Light & Stress-Free Hacks!

Welcome to Equestrian Journeys. I'm Sandy Colling, your guide to the captivating world of European horse culture. In each episode, we'll talk about century-old traditions, rich history, and the vibrant modern horse scene. You'll hear great stories, get insider travel tips, and meet wonderful guests who share our passion. So whether you're planning your next adventure or exploring from home, Equestrian Journeys offers a unique perspective on travel and equestrian as well as non-equestrian culture all around Europe. So join me each week as we uncover hidden gems and stories from Europe's magnificent equestrian heritage. And today I want to talk about one of the top travel questions that I get: packing light. I know, I know, it's easier said than done. A friend of mine messaged me the other day and asked me about packing for her trip— not an equestrian trip, but also a trip where she needs to bring a lot of gear. And I get that she needs the gear for for diving, but clothes. And I suggested what I take and she says, oh my gosh, no, we're going for fancy dinners and we're going for this and for this. And I get it. But for me, I love to keep it simple. Just be able to throw everything in a bag. It makes it easier to get from A to B. So for me, packing light really does make everything about the trip go much smoother. And you know, it doesn't matter if you're bouncing between different riding tours or exploring European horse culture or going scuba diving, but at the end of this episode, you'll have some practical tips to make sure that your bags stay light unless you purchase a lot when you're overseas. And for that, I personally usually take an empty tote, my bag that I can have as an extra carry-on. So I wanna have your trip stay stress-free. So let's start with the why. Why bother packing light? And we've all been there, right? The feeling of lugging an oversized suitcase, especially if we're moving around in an area, getting on trains in Europe and then getting on the subway or in a cab. It's a drag, pun intended. Packing light keeps things simple and makes travel a lot less about managing your bags. And more about the experience. So when you're traveling light, moving around is easier, you're quicker getting through the places, and there's just something relaxing to me about knowing exactly where everything is. Fewer things to worry about means you'll have more time to enjoy your adventure. So first things first, the essentials. Pack the essentials and only the essentials. So you want to start with your absolute must-haves, of course, your passport, your phone, an extra SIM card, Of course, nowadays we have the eSIMs, credit cards, travel insurance details if you have any. And if it's a riding trip, maybe permits or documentation you'll need for the specific activities. Keep this stuff in a small pouch or bag. Put it in your backpack or whatever your carry-on is and have it together. Like, I like having all my important documents together. And there's a bonus tip that saved me more than once. To have digital backups. So to have a picture on your phone or a scan, whatever, a document, save it on your phone in the cloud. And it's a simple thing, but having digital copies can really make a world of difference if you lose something or if something goes missing. No extra papers and no chance of losing a physical copy, right? My tip number 2 is to have versatile clothing. So it can be tricky, especially with the weather, right? And we want options. So we want that pretty dress for the evening, and then we want the outfit for this event and for that event. But the secret is to pack pieces that work in different situations and match easily. So layers, right? A few nice tops, maybe 2 pair of pants, and something for warmth and rain. I was just in Dublin and I bought a raincoat, a light raincoat. And it's easy to throw in, because if you go to countries like Ireland or Germany, anywhere really where it rains a lot, it is nice to have that. And of course it depends also on the time of year. But in some places it just rains all the time, or it can rain all the time. We were actually super lucky in October in Ireland, and it— I think it only rained on the last day. So I like keeping it simple with colors that go well together. I'm a gal that likes to dress in black. I know a lot of people don't like black, but even simple, you know, neutral colors like beige and white— I don't wear white, but you know, white earth tone colors, they go together, so you can mix and match without a second thought. And then you can have maybe a scarf, one scarf as an accent piece if you want some color. I like to go for lighter, breathable fabrics that can dry easily. And here's the thing. Somebody said to me that they think it's gross for handwashing stuff, but I handwash stuff. If you're in a pinch, you can just take it in the sink, wash it out with some soap, and it's dry by the morning. So I like doing that. And for me, I've never had a problem with it. So all you need is 3 or 4 tops, a couple of bottoms, and a versatile jacket, and voilà, that's all you need. So tip number 3 is streamline the footwear. That classic packing struggle. Shoes can be the biggest space hog in your bag, so limit yourself to 2 pairs. Now, I sometimes wore a pair and take a pair, and then depending on if it's summer, also take a pair of Birkenstocks that take no room. But otherwise, if it's like a colder climate, I only take 2. I wore the heaviest. And then I take a pair that's practical for walking around. And now, if you're riding, you could possibly take a pair of paddock boots that you can also wear, you know, like the Blundies, or even like I have little Ariats or Cavallos. They look nice even with a pair of jeans. So you could wear those on the flight because they're heavier. You could wear them around, and then you could just take another pair of shoes. It's important to choose shoes— that's a tongue twister— to choose shoes that can handle uneven ground. So the cobblestones in Germany or in Europe and a little mud that you can just wipe off when you get to the hotel, but don't look too out of place when you're exploring a city. And the right kind of shoes really make everything, because if your feet hurt, you know what, all the fashionista situation thing. Doesn't matter. When your feet hurt, it's miserable. And we've all been there, right? We've all been there with those uncomfortable shoes and then have blisters, and it's horrible. Years and years ago, I was like young teens, and I was still wanting to be all cute and everything. And I wore— I bought a pair of brand new shoes that were really cute. I wore them on the flight, and I wore them, and my feet Hurt so bad. I learned that lesson at a very young age, and comfort for me triumphs everything. Toiletries. So tip number 4 is travel-size toiletries. And a lot of us— and I used to do this— go totally overboard, go with travel-size everything: shampoo, conditioner, moisturizer, toothpaste. And if it's not travel-sized, For me, it's not coming along. Keep your toiletries in a small clear pouch. It's not only easy to grab when you need it, but if you don't have TSA PreCheck and need to take it out, it makes it a breeze. So especially if it's a clear one, that's what I would do. Put them, pack them in a clear one, and then if you don't have TSA PreCheck and need to take it out, it makes security so, so easy. I also suggest you take it your hotels or the accommodation you're staying at. website before you go, because a lot of hotels or Airbnbs do provide shampoo and soap, and you can skip packing those if you know that they'll be available. Now, I'm very funny about what I put on my, you know, head. I like to keep it clean. I don't like a lot of parabens and stuff. But when I'm on vacation, sometimes for a week or so, honestly, it's not going to kill me. So I will go with the more toxic stuff. That's just me. Packing Tip number 5, packing organizers are the best. It's the packing cubes or organizers have really made my life so much easier and they're very inexpensive. You can grab them on Amazon. They come in all different sizes, but you can really organize your clothes and items into the little pouches or cubes and then you don't have to rummage and search and look for anything. I like to roll my 2 t-shirts or 3 t-shirts up and then it really keeps everything so organized and one carry-on suitcase is all I need. Like I said, rolling your clothes instead of folding them because it takes up less space and honestly it stays wrinkle-free. That's another tip for travel. I usually pack pretty much wrinkle-free or close to wrinkle-free fabrics. So actually, when I was in Italy in April for my daughter's wedding, the dress I bought just wrinkled a hair and I hung it in the shower And put the steam on, and that got it all wrinkle-free. I don't like to iron, and I know a lot of hotels have irons. I honestly can't remember when the last time I ironed. And so I also separate out my socks and smaller items into smaller pouches so that I really never have to worry about them. You can go as far as labeling them. I kind of know this is the pouch for my, you know, undergarments. This is the pouch where I keep my clothes. And so it just keeps it super simple. And a small step like that can really keep your packing from turning into total chaos. Okay, so here are a couple of quick tips. Try to avoid bulky fabrics, which are heavy and don't dry quickly. If you think you'll need an item only once or twice, consider getting it at your destination and leaving it behind if you don't really need it on the way home. I do that a lot. And here's one of my favorite hacks: bring a small collapsible day pack. These take up no room. And like I said, you can also, if you purchase something, have something extra to put your stuff in, and you can use it for all your daily adventures if you're exploring, if you're going riding, etc., etc. I usually don't bring a helmet if I'm riding somewhere. I know helmets are iffy, and we don't know when we go to barns how often they've been used, but they take up so much room. Now, if you're going to a specific just riding dedicated trip, You know, one of those treks where you go riding day to day, that's another story. I may want to take mine for that. But if there's only a couple of rides, I personally don't take a helmet. And there you have it, quick guide to packing light for your next adventure. Keep it simple, stick to the basics, and remember that packing light also means freeing up for the real experience— the sights, the sounds, the foods, the riding, and the cultural gems that Europe has waiting for you. So this wraps up another episode of Equestrian Journeys. I want to thank you for joining me. If you enjoyed our journey today, please share it with a friend who loves horses and/or travel. And don't forget to subscribe to Equestrian Journeys on your favorite podcast platform so you never miss an episode. And for more content, travel tips, and beautiful images from our equestrian adventures, visit our website linked in the show notes. If you have questions or suggestions for future episodes, reach out to us on social media at Equestrian Journeys. Until next time, keep your passion for horses and travel alive.