HORSE MANAGEMENT NEWSLETTER AND MORE!!!
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Topics in this issue:
1) Update from National: Half chaps and Old Mac boots
2) Feature: A use for horse management skills
3) Rally and rating tips: What to watch for in a "C" rating
4) Recommended books, videos, and CD-ROMs: Horse gaits, balance, and
movement by Susan Harris
5) Fun and educational websites: Merck vet manual, saddle fit, and wild
horses
6) Featured rule: Cleaning hints
7) Horsey Humor: The classical way to get bucked off
8) Free item exchange

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Update from National: Half chaps and Old Mac Boots are legal!
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The following is straight from Wayne Quarles, the Activities director of
USPC. These changes are already in effect. For more detailed information
you can contact Mr. Quarles directly at: activities@... .

Regarding the use of half chaps, in competition. Paddock boots with a
matching smooth leather leg piece are acceptable for competition at all
levels as well as for C-3 and above ratings.

At D through C-2 ratings and lessons, any style of half Chap is acceptable.

It should be noted that using half chaps with riding sneakers is not
appropriate. Riding sneakers do not have the depth of heel to ensure that
the strap would stay in place. As with all equipment, half chaps should be
in good repair and safe. A worn and stretched piece of elastic on a half
chap is as unsafe as worn stitching on a stirrup leather.

This second part is in response to the inquiry a while back about the
legality of "Old Mac Boots" in competition. During the Fall Joint Council
meeting, the end of September, it was agreed that; as Old Mac Boots are
actually replacement shoes and not leg protection, they do not fall under
the definition of "boots" and are therefore, acceptable for competition.

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Feature: A use for horse management skills!
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by Maggie Weems, DC Middle Marin Hunt Pony Club, Sierra Pacific Region

In which The Whys and Wherefores of the obscure to bizarre pony club rally
horse management esoterica finally became clear to me at Galway Downs.  Full
phase events and FEI shows need them!

THE HEALTH AND RECORD BOOK, STALL CARDS

As it turns out, in international competitions you need to have all sorts of
records identifying the horse's identity (color, marking, size, age, breed,
whirls and swirls and cowlicks, scars...can you believe descriptions of the
horse's chestnuts?), even a passport with photo!  You are not allowed to
move your horse from its assigned stall without permission because folks are
constantly walking through, checking on the international level
competitors... One of our teammate's vet had lost her horse's vaccination
records, and without an up-to-date record book wasn't sure if she was
qualified to compete or was current on vaccinations!  At the front end of
the competition we needed resting rates for pulse, respiration and temp
which was followed throughout the competition to make sure the horse was
holding up to the stress of the new locale and the competition,  the
veterinarian and organizing officials asked questions and kept statistics
regarding each horse's conditioning schedule was noted (for the benefit of
the horse, and for the national organization records), the horse's and
rider's show records were important to confirm qualifications for the upper
level competition, record of feed and supplements because rules regarding
performance enhancing substances are extremely strict .... and oh yeah, if
you have a special vet prescribed thing, you need to take the note to the
TD...

LABELING

When 277 competitors all have the same brushes, rags, buckets, galloping
boots, bandages, pillow wraps, splint boots... and 4 of them are on your
team coming out of the same trailer tack room where contents have adjusted
during the haul--it's nice to know whose stuff is whose.  Plus, scratches
became an issue... we sure didn't want to use an infected horse's equipment
on any other horse.

TACK ROOM and barn area

Every morning and every night, we watered down the aisle and raked it.  Dust
and scattered hay and feed makes everyone cranky, dirty, itchy, watery eyed,
sneezey, and hotter--not only does a dusty barn area muck up your hard work
at putting together a decent turnout for the horse and rider it also makes
your cold beverage container a little gritty, which is gross.  Finally
topping off water buckets in the dark, it was nice to not wipe out someone's
pile of "junk", i.e. their saddle rack and bandages and saddle pads and
helmets...  because you pulled the hose tighter....   Since we were hanging
out in the barn area, keeping the stalls tidy wasn't just a good thing for
the horse, the people appreciated not inhaling  ammonia fumes and having
flies under control.  Having participated in a few rallies and having the
habit of putting up tackrooms at shows, we were pretty aggressive about
adding eye hooks and various small carpentry projects so that all the
equipment had a proper, convenient place to be put away in. Every morning
and every night we put all the rider equipment and each horse's equipment
away in a designated and labeled box, and took an inventory of what we
needed for the next day.  Believe me, the very nervous riders slept and ate
much better and were much more pleasant to be around when they knew where
their stuff was.  And the grooms consequently had a much more pleasant time
because they didn't have to suffer cranky riders or guess if the rider had
disappearing equipment from a last minute adjustment the previous day!  When
tasks of feed and watering had to be delegated, it was very nice to be able
to say--grab the bags labelled "Wednesday night" for each horse--and not
have to explain the special combination of oil, oats, flax seed, etc. that
each individual needed.  Boy, and by the fourth day (we were there for 7
days) you were feeling tired--competition adrenaline fatigue and muscle
soreness and never enough sleep or down time.  Everyone seemed to be on
their feet, moving, from dawn to dusk, literally.  And everyone was put to
work-- We were pretty efficient, much less time lost this show looking for
shampoo or the black crop with the blue stripes, or Hannah's arm band--or
the black short haired brush for Chuck, or a rag to dust off boots or
whatever the thing was that was needed on the that instant or the rider
would turn to ash and blow away.

Lots of tack cleaning.  All the time.  Much of cleaning boots.  We did not
have a sponge drying basket per se, so had to improvise.  Otherwise the
sponges got gummy and stinky-- or lost.  I think we had one all purpose
cleaning sponge by the end of the week...

LABELING SPONGES

It is totally possible to label a sponge it appears (and it would be totally
stupid to have a little tag hanging off the thing or to have it in a plastic
bag), when you are running a vet box between phase C (end of
steeplechase/roads and tracks phase) and cross country... as it turns out
the industrial synthetic sponges that can hold lots and lots of water were
the best.  Forget natural sponges. At a full phase, the rider has a pit crew
that cools down the horse, with buckets and buckets of ice water and sweat
scrapers and ice flying, and horse walking ... repeated in a confined area
for all the competitors as they come through -- everyone who has identical
looking equipment.  Nice to have the labels.  you also don't want to offer
the horse a drink of water from a bucket that has just had liniment, or
diluted alcohol rub for cooling down, hence "WASH ONLY" in big letters... 
AND we actually did wipe out the horses' eyes and docks and mouths (so
knowing which sponge was which was reassuring, the disposable wipes were the
best).

By the way, our horses were spotless for their many many formal inspections
and jog outs.   

Hmmm, we needed to talk about music ahead of time, but had not.  There was a
lot of turning on and turning off and turning up and turning down of various
sources of music, news, soothing and irritating....  I for example like
southern rock, loud at all times.  Someone, I haven't identified who yet,
really did not!

NEUTRAL ZONE--UNAUTHORIZED ASSISTANCE

You normally can't talk to your rider when they are competing on pain of
elimination.  But right after steeplechase, the pit crew was allowed to
observe the horse and rider, hand off electrolytes, get instructions about
time/timing, check shoes, adjust boots, etc. in a very small area between
steeplechase end and start of last roads and tracks--one individual was
delegated to do the team's communicating so the rider wasn't getting input
from 5 different directions -- in the authorized assistance/neutral zone!

EXTRA EQUIPMENT

We brought extra horse shoes, halter and lead rope, lots of rags, a girth,
galloping boots, clean dry gloves, crop, girth, bridle, stirrup leathers,
stirrups, saddle tight (!), saddle pad... down to the vet box.  When Rose
came through the finish flags for phase C, she had three minutes extra plus
her 10 minute allotted time to recover and get to the start box for cross
country.  We set up two rows of buckets with ice water, scrapers and huge
sponges.  Our stable manager, pit boss, met rider and horse at finish line,
rider dismounted answered some officials questions, took some electrolytes,
went to sit, while the stable manager raised the stirrups, loosened the
girth and started walking the very sweaty, blowing horse.  The vet crew took
the horse's pulse, respiration and temperature. The clip on the thermometer
became very important as the horse started walking away with the thermometer
in place, and then pooped the thermometer out!  The horse was walked through
our cooling station.  There were 6 of us plunging huge absorbent sponges
into icy water, getting as much cold water as we could on the poll, legs,
chest, croup, then belly and flanks, water on, scrape it off, horse would
walk, come back, water on, scrape it off, an official counting down the
time.  We did a safety check on the equipment, wiped all the sweaty wet
equipment off, wiped the horse as dry as we could, the vet cleared the horse
to go on to the next phase, girth was tightened, our rider was off!  While
we didn't use any of our "extra" equipment, some folks in the station next
to us borrowed some of ours....

TOOL BOX

I actually used the jack knife a couple of times, to open up hay bales, to
take down odd bits of rope and twine left around by the previous barn
inhabitants, and to cut off a pinney that had too many undoable knots
because our rider had no time to fool around before he got to his next
horse... I suppose he could have put the second pinney over the first one. 
We didn't think of that...  We used hammer and nails in the tack room, screw
driver and Allen wrench to change a gullet, replaced a battery in a cross
country watch.  Duct tape--for cross country boots, to patch a tear in a
sheet... to close up a feed bag, to label a box... to write new ride times
on and paste over the old ride times on the cards next to the stalls...
super glue to reinforce the sticky bit so we could fasten hooks on the
cement wall to hang halters next to stalls.  We might add a bicycle tire
patching kit.  Some weird kind of desert thorns did in 4 different bicycle
tires by the second day of the show, so folks had to walk/run from the barn
to wherever on errands which could be tired and cranky making...

FIRST AID KIT

We used betadine scrub, band-aids, a couple tubes of triple antibiotic
ointment (the people kind on the horse's-- we had to find out if the "pain"
reducing triple antibiotic ointment would introduce an illegal substance
into the horse's blood stream, it didn't), vet wrap, rubbing alcohol,
regular betadine, witch hazel, rubber gloves, Vaseline, ... and that was for
the horses that didn't get hurt.  Aspirin for the grooms' headaches and sore
muscles and here's a wild story, one mare who shall remain nameless (but she
was a chestnut and was previously involved in a midnight ride with Jose)
split open her face with her stall confinement hi-jinks.  Still unclear how
she actually managed to open up a four inch cut, where her blaze should have
been, I think someone reported seeing bone... anyway, head wounds create
lots of blood that needs to be soaked up.  Then a vet came, twitched her,
stapled her head back together, and the rider leapt on and had the most
brilliant cross country ride of their partnership!  Not a training
technique, but was quite an interesting experience.  After her ride and cool
down, the mare got a proper stitching up, and seemed extremely content and
proud of her performance. 

FORMAL INSPECTION

Our trainer and his horses were formally inspected 5 times over the course
of a week, and safety/bit checked.  For the jog outs we worked it out so
that the horses' hooves weren't dusty when we got there... and the rider's
boots were shiny even if they had to walk too. 

Our horses received many compliments for their "exceeds standards" turn
outs.  The officials seemed to appreciate the effort, the riders were more
relaxed and confident, and it was a total psych-out for the other
competitors.  Our horses and riders looked awesome, all the time!

BRIEFINGS ETC.

There were all sorts of competitor briefings, meetings, introductions,
course changes, rule announcements.  Time was a big deal.  Organizing course
walks, hacks, hand walking, feeding horses, feeding people, grooming, tack
cleaning, warm ups, cooling off ... you'd think with 7 days it wouldn't all
be so tight for time...  We definitely made use of our notice board.  Riders
and grooms never seemed to have time to eat, so folks took turns
replenishing coolers of drinking water, snacks, sandwiches...

KNOWING THE RULES

Dude, you have 30 minutes from when the times are posted to challenge
scores.  At that level of competition, folks checked, and knew the
rules.  No one wanted to be eliminated for a whip that was too long or an
official timing error or a volunteer who scored a run out when the rider
clearly called circle before a cross country fence, or losing to someone who
hadn't crossed through the finish flags and so on.  When we were all
completely baffled about a dressage score relative to another dressage score
(three judges marks could each be pretty different on any particular
movement depending on tastes and particular perspective) it helped to know
what the FEI rules were that set out the parameters of what was scored and
what was not.

Anyway, lots and lots of examples... test me.  Send me a note about your
biggest pet peeve regarding horse management and what the goofiest piece is
and I'll give you a for instance...

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Rally and rating tips: What to watch for in a "C" rating
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by Nancy McKnight

The "C" pony clubber is learning to be an active horseman, to care
independently for pony and tack, and to understand the reasons for what he
or she is doing. The "C" is beginning to be a problem solver, and not just
a direction follower. The "C" shows development towards a secure,
independent seat, and increasing control and confidence in all phases of
riding. The tremendous jump from C1 to C3 reflects a growing competence in
riding and horse care that will make possible a lifetime of pleasure with
horses. Going from familiar local and regional instructors and raters to a
new face with wider expectations requires a maturity and confidence that
must be considered.

1. The "C" rider is beginning to be an independent problem solver. Using
the tools (aids etc.) he has learned to understand his riding questions.
The WHY of riding and horse care are becoming increasingly important, and
his reactions reflect an ability to use his knowledge in effective ways.

2. A "C" is open to suggestion, but reflective about its use and value,
working to integrate new ideas into a growing understanding. He is growing
in his ability to analyze his actions and in his ability to verbalize his
reactions to situations.

3. A "C" knows how to accept new challenges without jeopardizing his sound
base. He is becoming wise in knowing the limits of his and his horse's
capabilities. He can widen his capabilities and wisdom based on the firm
base he has developed as a growing horseman. He uses his skills and
knowledge to look at advanced challenges in a safe and sound manner.

4. A "C" is beginning to accept responsibility for helping younger riders
understand and develop skills. He can relate to their difficulties and yet
inspire them to view a bigger and more skillful picture.

5. A "C" realizes pride, but also humility and exhibits a hunger to build on
the sound base he has developed. He is willing to admit weaknesses as a
challenge and not as a defeat. He appreciates his mount, or any horse he
has a chance to ride, as a work in progress to whom he owes his best insight
and abilities. He looks to his horse as a teacher and a partner. He seeks
always to be fair and accurate in his analysis of a horse or another rider.

6. A "C" is proud and humble, hungry for more, confident in his well
considered skills and knowledge, compassionate about his partner, demanding
of himself to be able to care for and enjoy his sport and his partners human
or equine.

The jump from C1 to C3 is and should be tremendous, but each step should be
significant and a definite change in levels. Growing must be understood as
a raising in levels of skills and knowledge. No compromises can make up for
lack of solid progress. Study the STANDARDS. Don't let the C3 requirements
gloss over holes in a weak C2.

And after C3, maybe on to "B".....

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Recommended books, videos, and CD-ROMs! Horse gaits, balance and movement by
Susan Harris
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Horse gaits, balance and movement is written by the same author who wrote
the USPC manuals and is on the recommended reading list for all candidates
taking their C3 and higher ratings...nuff said.

An excerpt from the inside flap:

Horses move! It is what makes them useful, able and beautiful. A foal can
walk, trot and gallop within hours of its birth. The horse knows how to be a
horse without human help. But when we ride, drive, train and judge horses,
we soon discover that not all horses move equally well. Even though there
are over two hundred breeds and types of horses and many different
disciplines and styles of riding, the horse's basic mechanism and nature are
the same. At the heart of Horse Gaits, Balance and Movement is what is
natural and common to all breeds, and herein lies the broadness of this
book's appeal to riders, instructors, trainers and judges ‹ anyone concerned
with equine movement. Lifelong horsewoman Susan E. Harris addresses in her
writing and in her more than 300 superb drawings ‹ which demonstrate the
kind of nuance and detail photographs do not permit ‹ the following topics:

* basic structure and anatomy
* the cycle of movement
* gaits and transitions
* balance and movement
* poor movement
* flexion, bending and lateral movement
* conformation and movement
* shoeing and movement
* how a rider affects movement

Her chapter on practical tips for improving the horse's movement will be
especially valuable to the rider, whether he or she is in reining, show
jumping or dressage. Indeed, the information given in this book will go a
long way toward enabling horsemen to interfere less and thus permit the
horse to achieve the best movement it is capable of achieving.

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Fun and educational websites
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All vet students and the most savvy of horsepeople use the Merck Vet Manual
as their main reference book. If you ever wondered just where the vet comes
up with his or her diagnosis, prognosis, or sense of humor, just look up
whatever ailment you can think of in this online version of the Merck Vet
Manual!

http://www.merckvetmanual.com/mvm/index.jsp

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Lisa Schuessler sent along a neat saddle fitting site, thanks!

http://www.saddle-fitting.com/

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Wild horse sanctuary: www.wildhorsesanctuary.org

This site tells about a unique 5,000 acre ranch near Shingletown, CA that
has become home to many unadoptable wild horses. These horses were saved
from slaughter, find out how you can help. The ranch offers trail rides,
cattle drives, volunteer and internship opportunities, as well as ways to
sponsor and help other horses in need. If you're fascinated by wild horses
and want to see them up close and personal, this may be the way.

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Featured rule: Cleaning hints
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2002 Horse Management Handbook pages 45 & 46 section 2: Tips for Successful
Horse Management at Rally, Cleaning hints

A. Listerine can be used to help remove dandruff from a mount's tail, mane
and forelock. Pour a small amount of liquid onto the area. Rub liquid into
the base, near the skin. Let it stay in an hour, then thoroughly rinse it
out. Shampoo, condition, and brush as usual.

B. Cleaning under the tail with a little baby/mineral oil on a tissue will
soften the skin and relieve itching.

C. The night before turn out apply hoof dressing (not polish). In the
morning, towel off to a sheen before turn out. Use of dressing on a sole
and frog will give a cleaner look to a picked-out, brushed-out hoof.

D. A clean, damp towel kept handy when grooming can be used for wiping any
dust or dirt from the hands when finished. Cleaning the hands before
touching clothes will help keep clothing clean.

E. If dressed to ride while grooming, the wearing of a chef's apron with
pockets helps keep clothing clean.

F. For boot trees: Roll up newspapers or magazines to match the diameter of
the calf. Then spiral-wrap tape around paper to hold the shape. Slip the
paper into a knee-high stocking. An old tennis ball in a sock put down into
the lower part of the boot will support the toe area.

G. A small amount of Armor-All or Vaseline rubbed on rubber riding boots
helps make them shiny. [Stormy's note: these products also work well on
rubber bell boots and splint boots with rubber elements.] Do not put on
inside of calves; that will make the boot too slippery.

H. Black boot dye will cover scuffed toes that polish alone won't cover.
Dye should not be put on the inner calf where it will rub off on the saddle.
The black dye can also be used on rubber boots to give them a shine.

I. Old nylon stockings make good buffers for putting a shine on leather
boots.

J. Black dye can also work on faded velvet, as will permanent magic marker.

K. Pam sprayed on suede knee pads before washing will make them last longer
and stay softer.

L. A sink cleaner [such as Comet or Ajax, not Drano!] will clean white
stirrup pads.

M. A small amount of Mr. Clean or Scotch Brite in tepid water removes
caked-on dirt and jockeys from tack. Tack should be oiled afterwards.

N. Spray 'n' Wash or Shout worked in with a scrub brush will clean girth
elastics. Rinsing should be done carefully so leather doesn't get too wet.

O. For long hair done in a "bun," use a "bob" sized hairnet. Put on hairnet
at forehead, and twist at nape of neck before putting over the bun. The
figure-eight shape keeps in all stray hairs.

P. The stock tie pinned at the bottom with four pins ensures a supply in
case any are lost.

Q. To take metal deposits off of leather, rub the area with hair from the
mount's tail [a good supply can usually be found in the mane and tail comb].
Then clean as usual.

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Horsey humor: The Classical way to get bucked off
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There is a definite "classical" method one should strictly follow while
one's horse is bucking.


1. Ensure that you have an audience. There is absolutely no point in being
decked by your horse unless there are, oh, say a hundred people around to
watch. This way, you will have made them feel better about their own
inadequacies, and you won't have to go into tedious detail explaining to
everyone you know exactly how it happened. It is considered good form if at
least one of the audience members is either:


a. Someone you admire and want to impress; or 
b. Someone you despise and don't want to give any ammo to; or
c. Someone you have the hots for and want to impress; or 
d. Your best friend, who will have no compunction in falling over, laughing
and pointing.


2. Try to be spectacular. I mean, anyone can just get bucked off and land on
their backside, can't they? You want to try to make this "the decking to end
all deckings." The Titanic of bucks. You get the picture. Now, for this you
will need the following: An extremely acrobatic horse - you want one of
those twisty-turny jobbies last seen at the National Rodeo Championships; a
supple back - you should practice somersaults, pirouettes and handstands at
home; a hat- see, I can be sensible!!!

3. It is best if this buck comes at a time when everyone is watching you,
but no-one is prepared for what is to come. During a dressage test is good.
Your horse should be working nicely, giving no indication that you are about
to become "the person who learned to fly." Of course, experts at this will
point to the tail swishing, the ears twitching back, and the tension around
the nostrils, but they are show-offs and should be ignored. To the
uninitiated, this will look like a dramatic performance which you and your
horse have practiced at home. 

4. When the horse leaves the ground, and launches you into the air like a
cannon ball, it is far more gratifying for the crowd if you can let out a
blood-curdling yell. Kind of like William Wallace when they cut his, um,
thingies off. Practice this at home. When the local rangers knock on your
door, asking if you are keeping a wild cougar in your back yard, you will
know you have it right. 

5. You should try to stay elevated as long as possible. The longer the
better. If your arms and legs fly in impossible directions, as if you were a
rag doll, you will achieve additional marks for artistic impression.

6. When you land, try to do so with a thud! The kind of dull sound that you
hear when you drop a melon from a great height. Try not to go "splat" - it
puts the audience off their hamburgers. 

7. Lie immobile for a while, as your horse runs off into the distance. After
a suitable time, raise your head and groan : "you b****d".

Submitted by Margaret Juergensmeyer

http://www.equerry.com/html/fun/eq_humor-shl.htm

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Free item exchange
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**FREE**FREE**FREE**

<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>

Submit your free horse-related items or services here. If you or your club
has items they are willing to pass along to a new family, this is a great
place to list them. Listings can come from any part of the country, or even
overseas!

Free items may include but are not limited to:

riding clothes
rally equipment
horse-related games and toys
tack and training equipment
blankets, wraps, halters
books or magazines
horse-related artwork
and of course...horses and ponies!

The recipient may be expected to handle any shipping costs.

Please provide a phone and/or email contact with each listing. Items will
be listed in the next HM Newsletter and will not be renewed unless an
additional email is sent asking for the listing to be continued.

So...clean out your tackroom and make room for more stuff!

To submit your items, simply reply to this email or write to:
stormy@... .

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Call for submissions
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Help make this newsletter the best it can be. Do you have any issues you'd
like to see addressed here? How about ideas for recommended products, books,
or videos? Want to submit your own article, or a question for the questions
and answers section? Send them to: stormy@... and I'll keep a log
of topics and articles for upcoming issues.