Clean all
your tack (including pads, halters, leadropes, etc.)
Clean your clothes and boots. Make sure
you have clean clothes for every day because you can get dirty.
Clean your grooming tools and kit.
Two weeks
before:
Make sure the
vaccination and worming are up to date.
Make sure the shoes or trimming are will
be right for rally. Don't shoe or trim closer than one week to rally.
Check mane and tail for pulling and
trimming, do it now so any mistakes have two weeks to mellow out.
One week before:
Bathe thoroughly, all body, clean ears,
sheath, udder, etc. Remember face, mane, and especially topline where
it's hard for you to see, but not hard for the horse management judge
to see. Removal of dandruff in the mane and tail may require several
baths. To keep you horse clean consider blanketing your horse with a
weather-appropriate blanket after the bath.
One Day before:
Weather permitting, rinse again
thoroughly. If it's too cold, sponge bath. It wont be too bad because
you have recently given a complete bath.
Go over all equipment and make sure
you have everything and everything is labeled.
Set up your tack room in the trailer you
are going to use so you can see if you have to do anything special to
make the equipment work in that particular trailer.
Wash the trailer thoroughly. It may have
to be cleaned a little after you get to the rally if it has brought
horses, but it will be easy to clean if it's fresh.
Label everything.
Individual items (grooming kits, saddle
and bridle racks, boot and hat bags, clothing bags, buckets, haynets,
halters, ropes, gloves, and other clothing), label with blank tape so
that all you have to do at the rally is write in your number. Be sure
unlabeled things like fly spray are identified.
Team items (stall cleaning tools, tack
cleaning kit, extra equipment, manure basket, etc.) should be labeled
with club initials.
Feed, each
feeding should be in a separate bag, with the horse's name, rider's
name and number, team name, what feeding (morning, noon, etc.), and
exactly what's in the bag by weight (i.e. 2 lbs. Oat hay and 2 lbs.
Alfalfa hay).
THERE IS A RULE FOR EVERYTHING. IF YOU
AREN'T SURE ABOUT ANYTHING, ASK!!! IF YOUR STABLE MANAGER DOESN'T
KNOW, ASK A STABLE MANAGEMENT JUDGE. THEY KNOW THAT NOBODY KNOWS
EVERYTHING, THEY WANT YOU TO LEARN, AND ASKING THEM, GOOD QUESTIONS
SHOWS YOU WANT TO LEARN.
ONE RULE TO REMEMBER THROUGH THE RALLY
(and other times too): In deciding how to do things, take care of your
horse first, then your tack, then yourself.
Wear your number at all times (Except
when you are showering or sleeping!). If there is a problem with your
number being lost our damaged, it is your responsibility to correct
it.
You must wear safe shoes around the
stable area. Make sure they are comfortable because you will be
spending a lot of time on your feet. Tie mockers are OK (no slip-ons),
cowboy boots, hiking sneakers, leather work boots, leather riding
boots, etc. are all fine. No sneakers, rubber shoes, rubber boots
(except muckers), open shoes, etc.
Should be put
in plastic cover suitable for taping or pinning. See the USPC web site
for stall card requirements.
Each horse
should have a feed chart. See the USPC web site for feed chart
requirements.
Put blank tape
on all items, especially the box itself, so you can add your number
quickly. Have only what is called for in equipment list (exception -
daily medication, labeled). Keep hoof oil and fly spray in separate
section.
Make sure brushes are
clean, clean, clean!!!
Two 10-gallon water buckets with a
double end snap securely and
tightly, filled often.
Salt in
blocks is preferred, in bucket or holder is OK.
Take haynet and grain buckets out as soon
as horse is finished.
KNOW HOW
TO TIE HAYNETS AND BUCKETS!!!
Keep them spotless, work together (one person hold horse while the
other cleans). Stall doors must be kept closed at all times.
KNOW HOW TO TIE STALL DOORS SHUT.
