January 7, 2014

Organize 2014: Connor Binder

Second (really third) snow day in a row means CobJockey is getting organized for 2014!  Today's victim was my emergency information/event binder.

It's one of the things that most helps with my peace of mind and stress level at home and at shows both.  It stays in my tack trunk, and is just a plain 1/2" binder with plastic page protectors to keep the pages nice.

The first section is permanent, and is intended for anyone who cares for Connor in my absence, and anyone who might come across me after a barn accident.  It contains:

- Emergency contact information for both me and Connor



- Record of Connor's normal TPRs
- Connor's general information, including breed, DOB, official markings, etc (for when the vet needs his info and I'm not there. I realize this looks like overkill, but I did this because last year Connor was listed a 5 year old Haflinger with no markings on his Coggins!  Not even close!)



- Copy of Connor's WPCSA papers
- Copy of Connor's current coggins



The second part of the binder is empty until we go to a show.  At an event, the first thing I do after getting my registration packet is go straight back to the barn and put the contents in page protectors in the binder: XC course map, day sheet, numbers, and our team's course walk/warm-up/ride times sheet provided by my trainer.


One of our team course walk/warm up times/ride times sheets from a one-day HT last year. 

Having all of my show documents in the binder cuts down on my stress level at shows by ensuring I won't ever have to go searching for ride times, my number, or my course map, or for his papers when we show at Welsh shows.

Finally, I thought I'd make the cover of his binder slightly more official looking this year, since last year's cover was just his name written in Sharpie and his picture taped to it, so I asked Austen, a graphic designer, for a font recommendation for a Word document I was working on.  Instead, her also snowed-in self came back with this:


How cool is that?!  Now we are legitimate professionals.

Now to get my hands on a color printer...

14 comments:

  1. CABIN FEEEEEVER!!! Three days in, the insanity is starting to set in. ;)

    Glad you like it!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Also, I really enjoy all the different bits showcased in this collection of photos.

      Delete
    2. Oh yes, the cabin fever is here. I didn't even notice that! That's funny for a pair that only changes their bit every six months to a year. The D ring photo is from before I owned him, and the other three were at various points in our training.

      Delete
  2. I need to make one of these! Looks great.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks! It is definitely a stress-reliever at shows, I highly recommend it.

      Delete
  3. I actually love it better in black and white! Looks great :)

    ReplyDelete
  4. Nice cover! I have one of those two...super handy!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Totally. I have a little shoulder bag that it fits perfectly in, and you'll see me with that bag pretty much everywhere except while I'm actually on Connor at a show!

      Delete
  5. I have a show folder, but it's getting a bit raggedy and stuff is bulging out. You've inspired me to "upgrade!" And now I have to do a fancy schmancy cover, too! :0)

    You know cabin fever isn't an issue here, but OCD is. That means that since I've SAID I need a new binder, I HAVE to get it done. :0)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You are so welcome! :) I love inspiring OCD. Show me the cover when you're done!

      Delete
  6. I really need to do this! I usually end up scrambling to find the horse's coggins the night before the show (because inevitably I was tired and hot after the last show and just shoved them somewhere), and just kinda hope that if I get injured somebody knows to call 911!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Do it! It is so worth the time it takes to make it, and it doesn't have to be all snowed-in fancy like mine. The time it saves me at shows and stuff is worth it. And hey, I figure my husband wants to know if I get hurt in addition to 911, right? Ha!

      Delete