12 reasons horsey folk make the best possible festival-goers

crowds of spectators in the shopping area

(Image credit: Peter Nixon)

We are in the full swing of festival season at the moment and we thought we would reflect on why equestrians make ultimate music festival buddies — after all, we are often known for our grit, determination, bravery and ability to endure some of the toughest conditions…

1. Mud

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the Paris Olympics, Royal International, Burghley and more with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

Since joining H&H in 2018, Becky has covered a broad range of equestrian news including welfare matters, veterinary studies, FEI Tribunal hearings and road safety campaigns. She has also interviewed top riders including Scott Brash, John Whitaker and Ian Stark, to name just a few. Becky’s reporting has taken her to Canada for Spruce Meadows and France for Pau five-star, as well as the Royal Highland and Blair Castle International Horse Trials closer to home. She was also a key part of the remote reporting team for the Tokyo Olympics and the Europeans.

12 reasons horsey folk make the best possible festival-goers

We have spent a winter knee-deep in mud — what is one more weekend? While festival revellers flock to supermarkets to buy wellies for the weekend, we already have our trusty pair broken in from winter (and the winter before that too), which means no blisters for us.

2. Super strength

People arrive at the festival struggling with heavy rucksacks — we carry bags of bedding and feed without flinching. Our muscles have been in training for this all year!

3. Hardy

While festival-goers fret about spending a night in the great outdoors, sleeping on the ground, we have spent our youth at Pony Club camp. We’ll have the tent pitched before our neighbours have even got the instructions out.

4. Resourceful

When cries are heard across the campsite asking if anyone has a spare guy-rope, us reliable equestrians will always have some baler twine tucked away in a pocket at the ready (just in case of an emergency).

5. Crowds

We’re not deterred by huge crowds of people. We’ve been to Badminton and Burghley and made sure we got the perfect view at both the iconic Lake and the Trout Hatchery — we’ll have you at the front, seeing your favourite band in no time.

6. Memory of an elephant

Groups of friends are often heard debating which direction it is to the next stage. With our ability to remember a dressage test, showjumping course and cross-country course all on the same day, you can guarantee we’ll already have the site map memorised.

7. What sleep?

An equestrian has been tuned to thrive on as little sleep as possible. Late nights and early morning starts hold no fear for an equestrian — we’re already in show season mode.

8. Cleanliness

The line for the burger van has revellers furiously applying hand gel. We’re used to holding a horse for the farrier while eating a sandwich and simultaneously giving our horse a good head scratch (although on second thoughts, our horses are probably a bit cleaner!)

9. Did someone say hangover?

The morning after the night before at a music festival hears many complaints of sore heads across the campsite. We’ve done adult riding camp and successfully ridden cross-country at 8am even with a gin or two the evening before — what hangover?

10. Low maintenance

As people frantically scrub mud off with baby wipes and the air is thick with dry shampoo, we throw on a baseball cap on and we’re ready for the next day.

11. Stamina

An equestrian is already trained in the art of long days and little food — a music festival is literally just another walk in the park to us.

12. Our spirits can never be dampened

What’s a little rain at a festival? We have faced lost shoes, expensive vet bills, days where not one showjump will stay up — we know to always look on the bright side.

You might also be interested in:

10 reasons to date an event rider, plus 10 reasons to avoid us at all costs