General Rules for the Care & Safety of Horses:
- Horses will be located in the rear fields, and/or Rex Humphrey’s Yard/Shed from Thursday until Monday/Tuesday morning (During particularly inclement weather there is sufficient indoor space in the pens – if fields are muddy, but weather is dry, there is a large yard available to the horses. This will not generally impact upon weekday Instructors/Helpers.)
- For morning sessions Ryan/Ivan will have responsibility to check the horses feet and general condition, and tidy-up/clean as necessary. Also the Tack will be checked and cleaned regularly, and will be adjusted & taped by Sam to suit each horse– TACK Settings MUST NOT be changed – perceived problems with Tack should be reported to Sam
- Horses will normally be tacked up in the stables by Ryan/Ivan, assisted by experienced Helpers, AND SUPERVISED/CHECKED BY THE INSTRUCTOR. At evening/other Sessions the Instructor in Charge must designate responsible helpers to undertake this task
- The Leader will take their horse to the arena and walk it BRISKLY around the full perimeter TO WARM UP – after each circuit the Leader should check and tighten the GIRTH if necessary
- WHEN CALLED BY THE INSTRUCTOR the Leader will bring their horse to mounting block through middle door (the Rider will be waiting on the block)
- Rider/Leader/Horse will leave the mounting block as soon as loaded and gear has been fully checked
- Rider/Leader/Horse will walk into the arena by the end door and will walk around the full arena until the Instructor commences the ride.
- At the end of the ride each horse/rider enters the mounting area/mounting block by the middle door when called to dismount at the block or to the floor as directed by the Instructor.
- Horse returns to arena via end door.
- Rider returns to waiting/mounting area Only after the horse has gone
- If a horse is not required again, it is taken to the stables.
Droppings:
In the event of horse droppings being produced during a ‘Ride’, following Leaders must take an alternative path to avoid tramping in the mess. Droppings must be lifted as soon as it is safe to do so (i.e., not during, but at the end of the particular exercise), but must not be left until the end of the ‘Ride’.
