Pre-Ride Checklist with BONUS Pre-Show Checklist Pre-Ride Checklist: Why? A few simple checks BEFORE you ride can protect your horse from injury and save your time and money. A well-used pre-ride checklist will minimize the chance of an accident to horse and rider and maximize your valuable lesson time (= $$). When you and your horse are ready to ride, physically and mentally, in safe and quality tack, before your lesson starts, you don’t waste your, your trainer and your horse’s time/energy. You don’t waste your money as your lesson ticks away while you are looking for your spurs while the rest of the group just jumped the big oxer in the outdoor arena. At Swan Training we recommend a simple yes/no checklist modeled on the USPC inspection list with a few of our own values added. We hope you print it, keep in your tack trunk, and use it before every ride. Pre Ride Checklist YES NO NOTES RIDER Safe, neat & clean attire Appropriate attire for the event Boots in good repair, appropriately clean Spurs (if used) put on properly; polished HORSE (the rider preforms the horse pre- checks before mounting, regardless of who was responsible for preparing the horse) Well groomed, reflecting regular care; no sweat marks or dirt; healthy coat Mane and tail clean and tangle-free Sheath/udder showing regular care Feet well-trimmed and/or shod Feet picked out Eyes, nose, lips, dock clean TACK Safe, clean, supple, reflecting regular care Properly adjusted All stress points clean No cracked leather Metal clean & polished No residue in holes or lacings Saddle pad clean & brushed Tighten girth before and after mounting SPORTSMANSHIP Mentally ready to ride Ready to work in sportsmen-like manner with trainers and barn mates Physically prepared to work PRE-RIDE CHECKLIST (EQUI SUPERMARKET 2017) 1. Check Your Horse for Lameness Look at your horse as you leading them to the tacking up area. Look carefully for stiff or clipped steps, a bobbing head and any signs of soreness. If you suspect that any symptoms are the result of stiff muscles, allow your horse to warm up gently and then check them again. If in doubt, don’t ride! 2. Inspect Your Horse’s Skin and Coat While grooming, check your horse’s back for rain scald, hives, sunburn or other skin irritations that might make your horse uncomfortable if you sit it on him. Do a quick scan for cuts and other lesions that might need your attention. 3. Check Hooves Before each and every ride, clean out and check your horse’s hooves. Pull out any debris and foreign objects such as stones or pine cones are very uncomfortable to walk on. If your horse is shod, check all of his shoes and ensure that they are not loose. As part of this check, look for any signs of trouble in your horse’s legs. 4. Inspect Your Tack Look for frayed stitching, cracked leather, cracked bits, buckles or other metal fittings, weakened saddle billet straps and girth straps. Billet straps and girth straps are particularly prone to wear and so should be checked for tears, cracks, thinning or ripped buckle holes. Broken tack is a safety hazard so this is one check that you should never overlook. 5. Wear Your Helmet If your helmet is very comfortable, it is easy to forget that you are wearing it and equally easy to set off without it! Establish that you are wearing your helmet and then make sure that it is properly adjust and fastened. 6. Tighten Your Girth Your final check should be the girth. Before attempting to mount, check that the girth is sufficiently tight otherwise the saddle could turn and you will end up on the floor. Check the girth again after a few minutes of riding as some horses tend to expand a little when a saddle is first put on. Another value checklist for equine competitors, horse and human, is a Pre-Show Checklist and WOW is it ever a long list. The example below, from May 2005 Horse & Rider, clearly illustrates just how much ‘stuff’ it takes to get even one horse and rider ready for the show ring. PRE-SHOW CHECKLIST PAPERWORK Original or photocopy of registration papers (Tip: Keep these and all papers/certificates in a binder with your horse's name on it.) Coggins certificate, if needed Health certificate, if needed Association membership and amateur/youth cards Show bill Rule book Paper and pens/pencils Horse insurance card Map/directions to the show facility; phone number to call in case you get lost Emergency equine roadside service phone number Cash/checkbook/credit cards TACK Saddle Saddle pads or blankets (schooling and show) Girth Bridles (schooling and show) Bits Martingale Show halter/lead Draw reins, if you use them Extra pair of reins Extra stirrup leathers and stirrup-iron pads Spurs Chain shank Crops Protective boots/wraps Spare bridle screws and screwdriver Leather hole puncher Tack trunk Saddle covers HORSE CARE ITEMS Feed Feed bucket or tub Supplements Hay Hay net Water buckets (two per stall) Water hoses Bucket hooks and/or snaps Stall fans Extension cords Duct tape and bungee cords Tools Molasses, cider vinegar, Jell-O, or Kool-Aid (if needed to flavor water so your horse will drink) Electrolyte paste or powder (if it's hot consult your vet) Manure fork and bucket or wheelbarrow Broom Bedding shavings or straw (if you're not required to buy it on-site) Horse blanket and hood, if needed Sheet or fly net/fly mask Cooler Shipping boots Halter and lead rope (two of each) Tail/leg wraps Lunge line and whip Treats for a good horse TACK CARE Saddle soap/leather cleaner Saddle oil Sponges/cloths Roll of paper towels Silver polish Small bucket Bit wipes Old toothbrush for cleaning saddle stitching FIRST AID (FOR YOU AND YOUR HORSE) Complete vet kit including equine first-aid book Your vet's phone number/phone number of vet near the show facility Iodine-based antiseptic solution (Betadine) Triple antibiotic ointment Nonstick gauze pads Self-conforming gauze rolls Stretch bandaging tape Elastic adhesive tape Scissors Cotton/disposable diaper or sanitary pad (to use under wraps as an emergency bandage) Chemical ice pack Liniment Sunscreen (for you and your horses, if needed) Bute and Banamine (if needed and your show association permits) Eye flush Advil or Tylenol (for you) Human first-aid kit GROOMING SUPPLIES Currycomb, Brushes, Mane/tail comb Towels Sponges Hoof pick Sweat scraper Bucket Shampoo/conditioner Mane/tail detangler Fly spray/insect repellent Baby powder or corn starch (for brightening white markings) Baby oil or commercial highlighter (to dress eyes and muzzle) Hoof sealer or hoof black (if your association permits) Electric and/or battery-operated clippers Plastic razor (for last-minute whisker clipping) Hair brush Rubber bands for banding Yarn for braiding Scissors Tail wrap RIDER ATTIRE/PERSONAL GROOMING Breeches Shirt (show shirt) Tie, pin, or choker Coat or vest (hunt jacket, etc.) Boots (schooling and show)/socks Boot pulls Gloves Belt and buckle, if needed Sports bras Helmet (check your breed/sport association's rules regarding helmets) Baseball cap/sunglasses for sun protection Hair nets (bring several and make sure they match your hair color) Bobby pins Safety pins Grooming apron/coveralls Schooling clothes Hair comb/brush Hair spray/gel Mirror Appropriate jewelry, if needed Rain jacket Rubber rain boots Extra towels Boot polish and rags Stain remover Sewing kit and scissors MISCELLANEOUS Emergency cash Jacks/spare tire/tools for vehicle and trailer Jumper cables/spare fuses Flashlight/batteries/emergency flares Camera and/or video recorder Folding chairs Plastic bags Extra clothes Extra paper towels Wet Ones (or other antibacterial wipes) Umbrella/sun shade Trailer block Shade awning/rain canopy Insect repellent for you Ice chest Cold drinks/bottled water/Gatorade Nutritious snacks: fruit, sandwiches, granola bars, energy bars, nuts Paper cups Reading material for downtime: books, newspapers, crossword puzzles, horse-related reading material Box for putting ribbons in (to protect them) Cell phone LEARN MORE AT SWANTRAINING.NET.