Horseketeers Pony Club

Before the rally:

AT HOME:

Make sure you have the appropriate clothes (are you going formal or informa? Check the rally rule book. Make sure they are clean and fit.

AT THE BARN:

Make sure you have appropriate tack. Check the rally rule book.

Clean all of your tack and boots.

Clean your grooming kit.

YOUR HORSE:

Two weeks before:

Make sure vaccinations and worming are up to date.

If you are trailering out of state, make sure you have a recent health certificate, correct vaccinations for the area you are traveling to.

Make sure hooves have been trimmed and shod recently.

Pull mane, clip whiskers and ears. Check for dandruff! Clean the sheath.

One week before:

Bathe thoroughly! Check again for dandruff, clean sheath (or udder).

One day before:

Another bath may be necessary! Again, check for dandruff!

TACK ROOM:

Go over all equipment and make sure you have everything. Check your rule book!

Check expiration dates!

HORSE TRAILER:

Make sure your trailer is clean.

Load your equipment a few days before.

Check tire levels, brake lights, etc.

LABELING:

Label EVERYTHING!

For individual items, an easy way is to print out sheets of address return labels with your name, club and horse name. At the rally, add your pinny #.

Team items need to be labeled with team name or initials.

Feed needs to be labeled with horse's name, your #, what the bag contains, amount, specify AM or PM feeding.

Use paper bags, not plastic. You can print out big address labels with the info and close with duct tape.

Hay: An easy way to keep your hay organized is to cut the hay string and tie the ends in loops. Attache a double ended snap to each loop. As the hay gets smaller, make more loops. Make sure the hay is labeled.

To label hay, halters, bridles and other items you don't want to attach a label to, purchase circular ID rings from an office supply store.

At the rally:

There is a rule for everything! If you aren't sure, ASK! Ask your team captain, your teammates, the Horse Management.

One important rule: Your horse comes FIRST!

Wear your pinny at all times! But be sure to leave in the tack stall at the end of the day.

Wear appropriate barn boots at all times. Leave the flip flops at home!

Stall cards must be filled out and affixed to the stall.

Include a feeding chart in your tack room with all team horses listed.

Make sure brushes are clean.

Have three 10 gallon buckets with a double end snap attached to hay string. Two for water, one for feed. Hang at appropriate height.

Do not use hay nets unless you know how to correctly.

Fire buckets: Do not use a small bucket. It must contain enough water to top off a water bucket at night. Leave in front of the stall only at night and make sure it is put away in the tack stall first thing in the morning. Do not leave out during the day!

Keep your stalls clean at all time!

Do not leave stall doors open while you are in the stall.

Close stall doors and tack room door while your horse is being ridden.

Keep the floor in the tack stall and the aisle way clean.

After you are finished riding, take care of your horse immediately! Make sure he is rinsed off and clean. Wash under the tail!

Clean or wipe off your tack!