and Rider Supplies for Mobile Mardi Gras Mounted School

Tack & Equipment—REQUIRED Horse Care—suggested • • • • rope(s) • or cinch • Hay net • Saddle blanket—for training • Water Bucket • Saddle blanket w/department logo—for • Feed Bucket street work, if applicable • Grooming kit, including brushes, hoof pick, • Lanyard or tie rope for horse while working etc. • Helmet with chin strap • Feed scoop • Boots with heel for training • Feed • Duty uniform(s), both long and short sleeve • Salt block • Duty riding boots • Any supplements (bran, hoof care, vitamins, • Duty gun belt w/all accessories, if applicable etc.) • Duty helmet • 10-12” length of chain with heavy duty snap • Duty jacket—leather and / or nylon (to secure portable stall) • Whistle • First Aid supplies for (cleansing agent, wound dressing, etc.) Tack & Equipment—highly recommended • Breast collar / / tie down Horse Care-optional • Reflectors for horses legs, breast collar, etc. • Shampoo • Reflective vest for rider • Sponge • Raingear • Small bucket • Cantle bag to carry raingear • Sweat scraper • Clothing layers for under uniform—for cold • Show Sheen weather • Hoof dressing or polish • Riding gloves • Fly spray • • blanket or sheet • Flashlight and holder • Bute paste or tablets • Water bottle and holder (for rider) • Linament • Body armor • Leg bandages • Cottons Tack & Equipment—optional • Clippers • Saddle bags • Manure fork—(some available at Mobile • Riding , if needed MP) • Chaps (no chaps will be allowed on the • Wheel barrow—(some available at Mobile street) MP) • Rubber boots (for you) • Chains / snaps to hang feed and water • Tack cleaning equipment—saddle soap, buckets from portable stall panels sponge • Any items you need or regularly use for • Boot polishing equipment your horse • Laundry detergent for washing blankets, etc. if required • Protective boots for your horse such as splint or

Tack & Equipment—optional (cont’d) three weeks before coming to the school. This will • Extra / spare tack (horses always break help ensure a proper fitting, comfortable and tight something) set of shoes for your horse. We also highly • Towels for drying horse, tack, self recommend some type of shoeing to provide your • Portable saddle stand horse traction on paved streets, such as borium • Tools for emergency—hammer, pliers, etc. caulks or studs, or a rubber-coated shoe such as • Any equipment you need or regularly use to Smooth Walker or Remuda shoes. An alternative to ride or maintain your equipment a permanent shoe that will provide protection and traction is Easy Boots, which can be put on and If you have a second bridle, you may use it during removed for working on pavement. If you opt for training to keep your duty bridle cleaner for Easy Boots, ensure that they properly fit your horse working on the streets. and you are familiar with how to put them on / remove them beforehand. We have a farrier who Weather can be called in if you have shoeing problems while Mobile is situated on Mobile Bay and the weather attending the school. However, he will not be able changes rapidly at this time of year. Temperature to answer all emergency calls immediately and you ranges in February are anywhere from the high-30’s may miss some of the training time until he is to the upper-70’s, and can hit those ranges in a 24- available. The best prevention is a good shoeing hour period. Damp and/or cold weather is job before you come to Mobile. Plan ahead. intensified by being on the bay. Bring appropriate clothing for riding in all weather types—both Fitness during training and street situations. You and your horse will work many hours together during the school. Both of you should be fit for that Riding Attire activity, so increase your riding times prior to the All training will be conducted on the grounds of the school. There are two long days of street riding at Mobile Mounted Police and /or the Mobile County the end of the school where you will have 8-12 Sheriff’s Mounted Unit. Uniforms should not be continuous hours in the saddle. Horses whose worn during training. Firearms are prohibited backs have become sore or who have become lame during training. Helmets with chin straps and will not be allowed to work during the final days of appropriate riding footwear (boots with a heel) Mardi Gras, when the parade and crowd activity is are REQUIRED at all times while mounted. at it’s peak. Athletic-type shoes will not be allowed while riding. We also have a veterinarian on call if your horse needs medical attention. ALL horses are required If you are approved to ride on the streets during the to have a valid Coggins test certificate, dated within parades, you must wear your approved duty uniform one year of the school start date, presented at the for your unit. Helmets are MANDATORY, time of your arrival to the Mobile Mounted Police regardless of whether your department dictates a . campaign cover for dress uniforms. Stalls On the final day of the school, you will be asked to Horses will be stabled on the grounds of the Mobile dress in uniform for a mounted group photograph of Mounted Police inside portable 12 x 12 stalls all school participants. (panels) under a large tent. Some shavings are provided. You may want to add shavings during the Shoeing school. You may bring bagged shavings if you Horses with bare feet may participate in training but desire. Stall cleaning will be performed on most will not be allowed to work on the streets of days by community service workers, supervised by Mobile. During Mardi Gras, the streets become the Mobile Mounted Police officers, or you may littered and / or wet quickly, creating potential clean your own stall. You are responsible for footing hazards for your horse. It is highly feeding and watering your own horse. recommended that your horse be shod a week to