Hi guys,

It is Horse Trials time again. Here are some reminders to make your day and ours much easier.

  1. BE EARLY. Wear a watch. You may get on and adjusted at the main barn or little outdoor. You are responsible for getting where you need to go on time. Your coaching times are posted. You must be on your horse, correctly attired and appropriately warmed up in the correct warm up at the coaching time. Make sure you are wearing your number! Make sure you leave time to get to your coaching warm up a couple of minutes early. It takes at least ten minutes to get to the warm ups from the barn. Dressage warmup is either in the little outdoor, big outdoor or on the grass.There will be a note on the lesson board as to what the plan is for where to meet me for coaching. Have all of your tack and clothing clean and ready the night before. If your turn around time is tight, you should bring a halter out to the field and change out there.
  2. KNOW YOUR DRESSAGE TEST!! Walk and know your stadium and cross country courses on Saturday. Walk each AT LEAST 3 times.
  3. Write your times on your arm, so that you know them.
  4. Give your horse a drink every few hours. Tell them how wonderful they are. You could not do this without them!
  5. Remember that you represent FMF. Be polite and friendly.
  6. Your parents pay for all of this. Be kind to them.

DRESSAGE CLOTHING:

YOU – NUMBER, jacket, ratcatcher or stock, britches, boots, gloves, hairnet, helmet, whip and spurs, if needed. You may wear a white polo shirt, tucked in with a belt with no ratcatcher collar or stock tie instead of your jacket.

HORSE – Clean and braided (with yarn if possible) Snaffle bridle NO BITS WITH CURB CHAINS. MOST OF THE MYLAR BITS ARE NOT LEGAL FOR DRESSAGE. NO MARTINGALE. White saddle pad. Saddle. Velcro bell boots for warm up if your horse wears them. It is your responsibility to get them taken off BEFORE your test or you will be eliminated. I will guarantee that I won’t remember to take them off for you.

NOTE – Do NOT enter the arena until the bell/ whistle blows or you will be eliminated. Keep track of your time. Go down to dressage 5 minutes early. Don’t forget to get a bit check.

STADIUM– Do not start before the whistle or you will be eliminated! Starter will be in the little outdoor. Warm up is in the indoor. Pay attention to your coach times. I am the only coach. I had to tweak the starter and intro times because I can’t be in two places at the same time. You will then proceed directly to XC

YOU – Helmet, gloves, britches, boots, whip, watch, x/c vest, medical armband, number

HORSE – Neck strap, boots if they wear them, bridle with big bit if your horse wears one, running martingale if needed. If your horse has a running martingale the reins must have rein stops. Saddle and pad. Studs if your horse has them. Studs should go in well before dressage warm up. Give yourself enough time for problems.

CROSS COUNTRY:

YOU – Same as stadium

HORSE – Same as stadium

MOST IMPORTANT: HAVE FUN!!!!!!!!!!!!