Attending your first mounted USPC rally

Lorri Witkowski, HMOMarch, 2013

RU ready 2 rally?Maturity of childMaturity of mountAppropriate disciplineAvailable horse transportationFinancial impact

Showing equipment (buckets, boots, etc.)Transport of horseHotelRally feesClub poloOptional show clothing (jacket, shirt, breeches, etc.)

Maturity of ChildLevel of independenceAbility to follow direction of peers

or youth mentorWork ethic (can clean stalls and

ride)Desire to participateDo you feel comfortable they will

be safe while your watch from afar?

Safe riding at level in new situation

Confidence in self and coach

Maturity of horseParticipated in mounted meetings

away from homeParticipated in show away from homeSafe competing at or slightly above

expected levelApproved by coachDo you feel comfortable watching

from afar?Has appropriate brakes when neededChild can manage on the ground

AND under saddleCan be confined to a stall overnight

Appropriate disciplineDressage, jumping or eventing?What does child want to do?

Have they practiced it?Do they know the basic rules?

What does horse want to do?Can he do all appropriate skills?Is he sound for the number of rides expected?

Does the rally date fit into your family’s schedule?

Financial ImpactAdd up expenses of rally fee, hotel (or camping),

possible horse transportation cost, new horse equipment, new child equipment, coaching fee

New horse and child equipment should be minimal as much is not required. Show jackets, black helmets and new tack are not required

Don’t forget the cost of lessons before the rally!

You are going, now what?Rally Packet Your teamDecide riding level with

club DC (or coach/instructor)

Complete volunteer or chaperone form as needed

Pay rally fees to club (club issues one check for all competitors)

Use for hotel or camping reservations

Some have optional t-shirt order forms

3 or 4 riders DC will try for a team to be from

all your club, but you may need to “scramble” with another club

Possible stable manager Most rallies have mixed ratings Team captain—should help

coordinate team with stall cards, extra equipment and source of information

Team chaperone—adult responsible for parental decisions if actual parent not available (possible food and cooler during rally)

EquipmentPersonal-your responsibility

Rally Kit-team responsibility

ClothingGrooming KitHorse EquipmentTackStable Equipment

Most are owned by clubsMust be cleaned and

checked (labeled?) by team prior to rally

REL in HM rulebookSmall ponies or large

horses may need to bring extra girth, bridle or halter if not in club kit

Rally Check List•You should already own most•At the D level, many things are acceptable•Most kids will have half chaps and jackets, but are not required at the D level•You will NEED•NICE to have•Can WAIT for later

Tack Bridle --Jumping Bridle -- Dressage Saddle –Jumping (+girth) Saddle – Dressage (+girth) Pad --Jumping Pad – Dressage Whip for Jogs and riding Horse Boots Breastplate/martingale Clothing Breeches/Jods Show Shirt(s) Jacket (w/PC pin) Medical arm band Stock Tie Pin Stock Tie/ Ratcatcher Gloves Helmet Hair Nets (3-4) Socks Club Shirt(s) Polos Tall Boots (paddock/half

chaps) Boot Trees (tall boots only) Short Boots/ Barn Boots Khaki Pants for Jogs Khaki Shorts (Longer) Watch Scrubs/Cover-Ups Garment Bag

Barn Equipment•Grooming Kit (complete??)•Fill Bucket (5 Gal.)•2 Water Buckets (5 gal.)•Wash Bucket •Sweat Scraper•Body Sponge•Twine (lots)•Scissors or knife•Double ended snaps (3-4)•Salt Brick •Standing Wraps (optional)•Poultice or liniment (optional)•Grain•Feed Pan•Stall Card Horse Equipment•Halter (break-away)•Cotton Lead•Tack hanging hooks•Lunge Equipment (optional)•Extra Rags•Fly Spray•Extra Labels (lots, sharpie) •2-3 Bags of Shavings•Baled Hay•Stall cleaning equipment (Muck bucket, fork, broom, shovel and cart)

Be sure they fitHalter •Helmet

Medical Arm Band

Label Everything!If it goes in the barn or to the rally, label it!•Paper label w/clear tape•Sharpie•Silver sharpie•Iron on labels•Tags •Name plates

Rally Storage•Large boxes are NOT necessary, especially for new members!!•Large boxes can crowd a tack room•They do make good chairs•Most members can fit what is needed in a storage tote•Large boxes make a good Christmas gift when you are ready.

Arriving at RallyWhat TO do

What NOT to do

Be as early as possibleEat before arriving (in the

car?)Find stall first before

parking the truckPrepare stall before

unloading horse if possibleHelp unload stuff as quickly

as possibleMove truck/car away from

barn as soon as possibleHelp hang fans or shelves

Arrive as barns are closing (it will be dark, you will be stressed and the HM staff wants dinner)

Block all trafficLeave truck/car close to

barnSet up tack and feed

stall for team

Horse Management at RallyAdults in the barnPurpose: Supervision, teach,

evaluate for the competitionSupervise: Health and wellness of

horses and riders, safe practices in the barns, adult resource

Teach: when a problem arises, give best practices

Evaluate for rally: set-up and safety, daily checks, horse inspection, turnout inspection, turn back inspection, and required equipment checks.

Parents at rallyHM staffChaperone—makes

parental decisions in the absence of a parent. Some clubs have chaperone coordinate food for team

Volunteer jobs—scribe, runner, warm-up steward, scoring, ring crew, traffic flow, fill water jugs

Take picturesEncourage kids

Communicating with Kids during the Rally•Rally is designed to allow kids to show what they know•Parents are expected to give kids the opportunity to be independent•During rally, parents are out of barns with limited contact with kids•Most times kids are too busy to seek out parents•The best way to help is to be positive, cheer for them and be sure they know you are there•Avoid critiquing their ride or problems with HM

Packing up to go homeWhat TO do What NOT to doWait till after awards to

enter barnsListen for announcementsHelp as many as possibleBe aware of overall

cleanliness of facilityBe sure your team’s

entire tack and feed areas are cleaned

Remove all equipment and twine from stalls

Be in a rushLeave without checking

out