I Ran a Horse Show with an Electric Truck. Here’s How It Went

Every June, the Mudslingers — a non-profit gymkhana horse club I’m part of — hosts a special season-ending show in Southern California. This year's Mudslingers Summer Showdown was the culmination of a season of hard work, the thrill of competition, and the joy of community. We look forward to the special show, celebration, and fundraiser every year — and this year was our biggest yet.  

As a founding board member of the club, a show secretary for the event, and an avid horse fan and rider myself, I knew that with 65 riders, 12 events, and more than $10,000 in prizes across three full days, I needed a reliable partner. 

That’s where my Ford F-150 Lightning Flash truck came in.  

Seamless Towing from Stable to Show Ring

One anxiety for anyone going to a horse show is safely transporting your horse. Thankfully, my F-150 Lightning is a perfect towing partner, capable of towing up to 10,000 pounds with the available Max Trailer Tow Package. For the Mudslingers Summer Showdown, I trailered two of our quarter horses to and from the show in addition to tack and feed. With horses and supplies loaded up, our trailer weighs almost 5,000 pounds.  

Although I’ve been hauling horses for a while, I’ve always been nervous about backing up the trailer. Thankfully, Pro Trailer Backup Assist helps me get it right the first time.  

With the rearview camera, sensors on the trailer, and a knob on the dashboard, I can control the trailer for more precise — and much less stressful — reversing maneuvers.  

I only towed our horses about 20 miles each way for the event, from San Diego to Riverside County, but I found some peace of mind knowing the towing package included a cooling property for the engine. And the advanced visibility features gave me more confidence on the road.  

Plus, with an EPA-estimated 320 miles of range for my 2024 F-150 Lightning Flash, the robust battery life proved more than efficient for towing, running electronics, and cooling the cab each day. I simply plugged it in to charge overnight at home and set out each morning confident I’d have the power I needed for the day ahead.¹

A Climate-Controlled Hub for Efficiency and Comfort

The weather over the weekend climbed to more than 90 degrees with the California sun beating down. Once again, my F-150 Lightning came to the rescue with the air-conditioned cab as a much-needed sanctuary. 

As a show secretary, I’m usually running the show from the announcer booth, which can get windy and dusty.  

The wind picks up in the afternoons in Temecula, which leaves us using everything we can to keep papers from flying away. It also whips up the dust, jamming the printer and forcing us to shut equipment on and off several times to complete our administrative tasks. 

This time, I set up my laptop on the available Interior Work Surface in my F-150 Lightning and used the backseat outlet to power a printer for schedules and results. We even kept thousands of dollars in prize money secure in the available center console safe.  

My fellow show secretary and I worked comfortably inside, a stark contrast to our usual battle against the elements. 

A Frunk that Goes Way Beyond Storage

Perhaps one of the most unexpected heroes of the show was the frunk, primarily due to Pro Power Onboard. This ingenious system effectively turns your truck into a mobile power source with multiple outlets and electricity on demand.²  

We used the outlets and ample space in the frunk to transform it into a key part of our Judges Lounge, a much-appreciated resting space for our volunteer show judges.

We powered a coffee maker, a standing tower/mister fan, and a phone charging station. We even laid out a spread of snacks. It was a small way to thank the dedicated volunteers. 

By the end of the weekend, we’d awarded dozens of trophy buckles, handed out jackpot winnings, and hosted exciting match races. It was another incredible show, and people are already looking forward to next year.  

From hauling horses to hosting our judges, my F-150 Lightning played a key role in every moment. It truly is the perfect workhorse, supporting and elevating whatever I choose to undertake. If you’re looking for a vehicle that can match your unique adventures, the F-150 Lightning could be the one. 

Christine Benton is an experienced writer, horse enthusiast, and F-150 Lightning owner. She is an executive vice president at Burson and works with Ford’s communications team.

¹ When properly equipped. Towing and EPA-estimated Fuel Economy Ratings are independent attributes and may not be achieved simultaneously.

² Maximum power available is limited to the combined total of all items in use. Power may also be limited in Drive mode or in certain ambient temperature conditions. Some electrical equipment requires higher start-up power capacity of the system. See Owner’s Manual for important operating instructions.