If you've ever wondered what it's actually like to spend 8–10+ hours at a horse show with a camera in your hands, let me tell you, COMFORT MATTERS. 😂 Sure, there are plenty of times you'll catch me sititng in the dirt. However, as the ripe age of 40 is slowly creeping up on me, comfort has become increasingly important, and necessary, for me to last an entire day.

I'm outside most of the day in the heat, rain, wind, and fighting for my life in the dust. Horse show photography means I'm sitting, standing, walking, or sprinting, shooting, changing batteries, checking schedules, waiting between classes, and trying to keep my equipment and myself from overheating.

Over the years, I've put together a little horse show photographer survival station, and these are some of the things I use regularly that have made those long show days SO much more comfortable.

Since I've recently become an Amazon affiliate for my photography page, I'm linking the actual products I use below. Some of these are affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission if you purchase through my link, at no additional cost to you.

🪑 The Chair: ALPS OutdoorZ. This is probably the foundation of my entire setup. I originally had a different brand swivel chair, but I was sitting on uneven ground and ended up toppling backwards, sending me and my camera into a gymnast-level backflip. In the process, it snapped one of the legs of the chair, so I needed a replacement. I had some specifics that I wanted in a chair. This one is geared toward hunters, but I picked this one because it swivels 360 degrees and is quiet while it does so, so it doesn't spook any horses. It has a fully adjustable base to raise or lower the height, with legs that also adjust, so I can sit evenly and comfortably on uneven terrain and not worry about a sudden dismount 😂. The armrests also adjust, which I did not think I'd care about, but I ABSOLUTELY love that they do. I also wanted a chair with a mesh seat and back, so I get airflow, and if it rains, it drains, so I am not sitting in a puddle. I was pretty picky when searching for my show-day chair, so I am really happy that this checked off so many features I wanted.

There are only two things that I do not love about it. First, it is not light. This is a sturdy chair, and you definitely know you're carrying it. Second, it requires me to assemble and disassemble the base from the chair with every use. Not a deal breaker for me, but worth considering if that might be for you. It is not difficult to assemble, just four simple screws. Due to the amount of gear I lug around in my poor little SUV, leaving the base assembled is not an option. But overall? I LOVE this chair. When I'm going to spend an entire day sitting in something, I'm willing to sacrifice a little portability for comfort and functionality.

☀️ The Shade: If you're photographing horses outside all day, especially in an arena with little to no natural shade, you realize quickly that shade is highly desirable. 😂 This attaches to my chair with clamps and gives me a little personal bubble of shade while I'm sitting and working. It's not just about keeping me comfortable. Keeping direct sun off my camera, phone, and other equipment is also a huge bonus. The best part? I can still sit right where I need to be without hauling a giant canopy everywhere. Photographers and/or spectators: if you spend all day outside, give yourself some shade. Your future self will thank you. After suffering some serious and permanent sun damage to my skin, I need all the protection I can get! I like that it clamps on, and the clamps themselves are sturdy, it survives wind when I am not sitting in it, although I do make it a point to fold it down, because I worry if it did catch wind, it would cause my chair to fall over and potentially spook a horse if I was nto sitting in it.

There is one downside that I wish were different: I do wish it sat a bit taller. Sometimes my head is nearly up against it, which is not only inconvenient at times, but because it restricts airflow, it's like my head is in an oven. 😂 Yes, I am protected from the sun's harmful rays, which is more important to me. However, this does mean I am prone to feeling hotter than I would in natural shade.

One more point about this shade I want to make: This was attached to the old chair that I flipped over, and because I backflipped, the shade suffered some damage when I ungracefully landed on it. It is worth noting that the frame is aluminum and bends easily. It still functions as it should, but mine is now bent, making it slightly difficult for me to lock it into place.

🍑 Seat Cushion: This might be one of those products that doesn't look particularly exciting, but after sitting for hours, your butt will have opinions. I added a cushion to my chair because even a good chair can get uncomfortable after spending a huge portion of the day sitting in it. This is one of those little additions that makes a surprisingly big difference when you're at a show from morning until late afternoon, or even later. It is gel, has a removable, washable cover, and was relatively inexpensive. I don't really have anything bad to say about it!

💪 Armrest Pads: Another tiny upgrade that makes a big difference. The stock armrests on my chair are functional, but when I'm sitting there for HOURS, I wanted something softer to actually rest my arms on. These basically turned my chair into a little photographer throne. 😂 If you're spending long stretches sitting at a computer or resting your arms between classes, adding some padding is such an inexpensive comfort upgrade. Again, these have a washable cover, and are memory foam, which my elbows appreciate when I am using these bad boys to prop myself up with a heavy camera in hand.

My only issue is actually the Velcro straps. The armrests on my chair are narrow and not super thick, so these pads barely have anything to wrap their ridiculously long Velcro straps to. I get a ton of excess, and they aren't super secure. Functional, yes, but could be better. If I were more skilled in the sewing department, I'd alter these to work better with my specific chair.

👜 Armrest Organizer: I wanted something to shove a drink or two into, and maybe my phone, and the chair itself did not come with cupholders. So having little pockets right on the chair is incredibly convenient. I can keep the things I need constantly, like my phone, small accessories, etc., right beside me. Anything that keeps me from having to get up and hunt for something every five minutes is a win in my book.

Again, the attachment option for this is not my favorite. It has a nylon strap with a clip, like a dog collar, and it seems to work its way loose as my day goes on. The cup holder on this is also quite flimsy, so my Gatorade is dangling precariously from the edge like a person ready to jump with a parachute from a plane. I have lost a drink or two in the dirt. 😂 It's better than having none, but I will be shopping around for a sturdier option. If all you drink is cans or small water bottles, it's great. If you've seen me around, you know that I have a giant 50oz Frost Buddy for my iced coffee addiction. It will NOT fit in this organizer.

🌬️ Portable Fan: Horse shows + summer + sitting under a shade = eventually becoming a human rotisserie chicken. 🥵I added this little fan to the setup so I can get some airflow while I'm sitting and working. While the shade DOES provide sun protection, it also restricts airflow, making it feel a bit like I am in an oven under the shade. It's small enough that it doesn't take up much space, but having air moving around me makes a huge difference on hot show days. I like it because it has a hook that I can hang it off of my sun shade, and the battery life is decent. I will report back with how long it will last on full power for a show day. So far, I don't have anything bad to say about it! It charges via USB-C, has a built-in night light (it was marketed for camping), and I bought two of them!

💾 SD Card + Battery Holder: Okay, this one isn't necessarily about comfort, but it is about keeping my sanity. When you're photographing thousands of images over a weekend, you don't want loose SD cards and batteries floating around your workspace. Having one organized place for them means I can quickly swap out dead batteries or full SD Cards. Its waterproof and durable, which is SUPER important to me, as SD Cards are priceless to us photographers, and batteries are not cheap either! I have nothing bad to say about it; it works perfectly for me, although if you are shooting mirrorless or using live view and burning through batteries, you may want one that holds more batteries than this one offers. I like that it came with a small clip; I clip it right to my sun shade so my batteries and SD cards are readily available when I need to swap them out.

This is essentially my horse show command center. It isn't glamorous. It isn't fancy. But it keeps me cooler, more comfortable, more organized, and much happier when I'm spending an entire day outside with a camera. Because here's the thing I've learned after doing this for a while: The gear that makes your job more comfortable is just as important as the gear that makes you better at your job. Yes, I care about my camera bodies and lenses. But after 10 hours at a horse show? I'm also REALLY interested in whether my butt hurts. 😂

Affiliate Disclosure: Some of the links above are affiliate links. If you purchase something through one of my links, I may receive a small commission at no additional cost to you. I only share products that I actually use, love, or have found useful in my own photography workflow.