Crewless (was Cavalry Riding)

[Farafix@aol.com]

Kenzie,

Having a pit crew is a luxury for me (& how nice it is when I have one!), so 
the key to riding crewless is organization.  First thing is to check out 
where the pit stops are.  Some rides have all the pit stops back at base 
camp, so that's a good one to try (you'll have to check with your SE riders 
on rides in your area, or check with the ride manager --- sometimes the 
routes are changed yr to yr).  Some rides may have the pit stop just a mile 
or 2 from camp (like Ft Valley & No Frills) so that's doable -- have to 
unhitch the trailer to bring stuff out to pit stop the night before.
When you pack up, have all the stuff for your overnight camping area --- 
water, hay, blankets, grain, rider food, clothing.  Then have all the stuff 
you'll need for the pit stop packed separately in waterproof containers, as 
well as extra water buckets and water.  I have a rubbermaid tub that has 
rumprug, extra set of reins, extra easy boot, extra metal shoes, dry 
electrolytes & syringe, blanket scraps for throwing over rump, full 
lighweight blanket, stethescope, extra stirrup leather, and small to medium 
towels and sponges.  My friend also has extra saddle pad in her box.  If it 
looks like it will be rainy or cold, I may throw in some extra socks and 
gloves in the box. I should add an extra girth to the box (to do for next 
yr!)  I have several 5 gallon buckets with lids that I put out the night 
before (leave the lid on loosely--- will keep other horses from drinking your 
water).  I also have 2 5 gallon plastic gas containers for water (that have 
never had gas in them) to refill buckets or to refill my ice chests.  I have 
about a 3 gallon bucket with lid with grain (again, leave the lid on loosely 
so your grain doesn't get eaten by others).  I've added a lightweight grain 
bucket as a luxury this yr as the horse slobbers so much water into the grain 
that the grain bucket gets pretty mushy by the end of the ride --- I throw 
some grain into the grain feeder as soon as I get in.  Also a bag of carrots 
as some carrots are good to entice the horse to eat.  A plastic garbage bag 
with hay (in case it rains --- hay won't get so wet the horse won't eat it 
--- my horse goes right into the plastic bag for the hay) & again the plastic 
bag helps to prevent the hay from getting pilfered.  I have 2-3 small coolers 
that I fill with ice & water the night before if it's going to be a hot ride. 
 The small coolers are easy to move around the horse to cool him off as he's 
gobbling down food & water.  I prepare syringes of electrolytes before going 
to the ride.  I carry one in a plastic ziplock bag (in case the plunger comes 
off & all that gunk comes out, at least it's in the plastic & doesn't get all 
over the inside of my pommel pack).  I leave as many syringes plus one as I 
think I'll need with my pit crew stuff.  A lawn chair is nice if the 
rubbermaid boxes are too light to sit on.  I bring SlimFast drinks (throw 
into the coolers) & SlimFast bars to eat as they fill me up & are easy to get 
down, maybe throw some apples in the horse box as I can get those down & 
horse likes them.  Don't forget food for yourself.  I can carry enough 
gatorade in my camelback to last a whole ride.  My friend uses bottles, so 
she puts some gatorade bottles in her ice chest to refill bottles.
When I started out I made lists of stuff I needed for the rides.  Now it's 
sort of routine, so I don't use them, but it was helpful at first.
I carry an extra sponge on a string, all ready to hook up if the one on the 
saddle rips off.  An easyboot, one syringe of electrolytes in ziplog bag, a 
variety of snaps and clips for quick repairs, cheap plastic rain poncho that 
scrunches up real small   This is in a pommel pack.  In a waistback I have 
map, if given out by ride managmnt (in ziplock bag), rider card (in ziplock 
bag), gum, tissues (in bag --- for emergency calls of nature), chapstick, 
hoofpick, shoestring for emergency repairs, small jackknife, whistle (got 
that at a ride --- in case you fall off the horse to help rescuers find you). 
 I use a camelback, so I don't carry any water bottles.  You want some means 
of carrying water for you --- I used to throw some small ones in the pommel 
pack.  I had a pommel pack with bottle holders on either end --- the bottles 
liked to pop out, and it put a lot of stress on the fastners which 
periodically ripped out -- so check them frequently for wear if you use this 
setup.  Some riders have bottle holders in their waistpacks --- my friend 
uses this & she doesn't lose her bottles.
You want to get to camp early enough to get set up, check in and vet in, and 
get your pit stop set up.  I also bring my kids little red wagon for hauling 
stuff around in to get setup.
If it's going to be cold and rainy, or threatens rain, you may want to tie a 
rumprug on the back of the saddle.
This is just the stuff for the pit stop.  You'll need other stuff at your 
campsite --- learned the hardway to always have waterproof blankets and 
clothing --- even if forecast is for sun!!

Good luck,
Nancy
Md


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