HM Corner
APRIL 2009 - Rally Season Preparation-Ways to reduce the stress!
Here are some helpful Horse management topics to consider for April/May to help in preparation for mega rally and Polocrosse rally, May 24th.
- Formal vs. Informal attire. This always seems to create confusion and should be taught at the club level. My club use to always teach this by demonstration of what is correct formal vs. correct informal using the HM Rulebook for clarification (pg. _). This only applies to all C level and above competitors for mega rally as we have a different dress code for formal inspections for all D’s in the MidSouth region. All D’s are to be neat, clean, safe and in appropriate riding attire. They do not have to be correctly informal or correctly formal (that is not covered in the ratings until C1). They are not required by USPC to wear a jacket. For all MidSouth D Rallies, competitors MAY NOT compete wearing show jackets. Note: These exceptions apply only in ‘D1, D2, or D3 Rally’ or ‘Ds in Non-Qualifying Divisions’ of a ‘Qualifying’ Rally.
- Helmet Fit. Please keep checking correct helmet fit at each club meeting as pony clubbers still manage to make it to rally with a helmet that does not fit them correctly. Many times the pony clubber decides to wear their hair different under the helmet and that can create a different fit or they have grown since they joined pony club and now their helmet is too small.
- Tack fit and safety. During safety inspections for April and May make sure to check carefully all stitching, bridle fit and suppleness of tack. Great time to teach tack cleaning and how to efficiently clean tack after riding for rally (wonderful time to use your upper level kids). If tack is cracking and looks unsafe, then now is the time to get it repaired or replaced, not the night before you leave for rally!
- Presenting Your Mount. This may seem minor but is so important and easy to teach at each mounted meeting. Teach the pony clubbers how to present their mount for all inspections and how to properly jog them out for the veterinarian at rally. Find out who has a difficult mount and work with them so this does not become a stressful or unmanageable situation at rally. Practicing this gives the pony clubber tools to work with when their mount decides to be obnoxiousJ
Any questions or need ideas on how to help prepare for rally, please email or call me.
Connie Jehlik cjehlik@hotmail.com 859-556-0057 cell
FEB 2009 - A few ideas to help you plan your Horse Management for the year.
Horse management is the corner stone to pony club and should be included every time the club gathers together. I realize that there are times when a full HM presentation or activity may not work but some how, it needs to be included to ensure that standards are covered and that HM and care for the horse is always the pony clubbers first priority.
Questions to help you plan and implement HM into your meetings:
- Are you using the newest standards for the level of pony clubbers you are teaching?
- Which topics can be covered by older or upper level members (which will help them to be future instructors)?
- Which topics can be addressed inside and which ones need to be at the barn or with horses present?
- Check the pony club website for HM lessons available to use for all levels. Ponyclub.org This is a wonderful resource, check it out!
Unrated through D2
During safety inspection, prior to the riding lesson, is a great time to ask questions about their mounts color, markings, condition, foot care, parts of pony and tack, safety about mounting and how to properly lead and present their pony.
Besides checking helmet fit (which is a must before clubbers mount up) the instructor could ask questions about tack and safety fit. Let your instructors know that in pony club the kids are asked during ratings(according to their standard) to verbally give answers to all types of questions. Here is where the instructors must be provided with the standards so they have an idea what areas are covered at each level in pony club.
D3 through C2
Same type of format can be used but increase the level of understanding, beginning with their standard and moving up. Asking questions about condition of pony and conformation during lessons is easy to incorporate because you will have a diversity of horses. Also including types of tack, fit, and use can easily be included at this level and is always engaging.
Depending on weather and times your club meets, will drive your instruction throughout the year. There are clubs that like to do a big push with HM during the winter months. I am encouraging all clubs to try and keep HM a focus throughout the year and when your club does ride somehow include discussion of issues surrounding HM into the lesson time.
Remember that depending on age of the pony clubber and maturity level, use your C1’s and above to teach unmounted lessons to the younger pony clubbers. This benefits all involved but must be monitored by an adult. Presenting a lesson plan ahead of time will help the pony clubber plus allows for feedback after the lesson is completed.
I hope to update the HM Corner at least once a month and more often as the rally season approaches. If you have questions about HM and how to include it in your clubs lessons plans please email me.
Happy Trails,
Connie Jehlik
MidSouth HMO
cjehlik@hotmail.com
