A MOMENT IN TIME BOBBY LINDSLEY 41191 BRETON BEACH

A MOMENT IN TIME
BOBBY LINDSLEY
41191 BRETON BEACH ROAD
P.O. BOX 1338
LEONARDTOWN, MD. 20650
301-475-5434
A.M.I.T. Level 2 Classroom
Parts of Horse
See Level 2
Basic Care of the Horse
See Level 2
Care and Cleaning of Tack
See Level 2
Parts of Tack
See Level 2
Introduction to Showing
See Level 2
C:\Documents and Settings\Bobby Lindsley\Desktop\AMIT Files\Instructing Manual\Level 2 classroom.doc-12/8/06
LEVEL 2
A. PARTS OF THE HORSE
B. BASIC CARE OF THE HORSE
DAILY
Grooming: You should groom and check over your horse daily for injuries or illness.
Exercising: Your horse should be exercised daily. If your horse is not turned out in an area where it can move
around freely (with plenty of room to run), then you should ride, lunge or hand walk the horse daily.
EVERY 6-8 WEEKS
Farrier: You should have your horse’s feet done, whether they need trimming or to have shoes put on.
Worming: Most worm medicine is given every 6-8 weeks, but some types are given more frequently – even
daily.
SEMI-ANNUAL OR ANNUAL
Shots: Annual shots include vaccines for Sleeping Sickness, Rabies, Tetanus, Potomac Horse Fever, West Nile
Virus, Rhino Virus, Flu, and Strangles. Other types of shots may be available, depending on your location and
rules of the stable where you board.
General: A horse’s teeth need to be checked at least once a year, and your horse will also need an annual
Coggins Test by your vet if you plan to take your horse anywhere.
C. CARE AND CLEANING OF TACK
Tack must be regularly cleaned and conditioned to remain supple and strong. It must be disassembled to reach
the filthiest areas. Cleaning tack without taking it apart is only doing half the job – but be certain you know
how to put it back together and adjust it correctly for the horse or pony. These are the basic steps for cleaning
tack.
LEATHER TACK
1. Wipe the tack with a dry-as-possible damp cloth or sponge (terry cloth works best).
2. Apply a light coat of cleaning soap or leather cleaner with a slightly damp sponge and gently work up a
slight lather. There are many brands of leather cleaner available. Glycerin soap cleans and seals
leather, so you should not use it if you plan to condition the leather immediately after cleaning.
3. Remove the black, gummy spots of filth by scraping gently with your fingernail, a soft toothbrush or a
produce scrubbing pad. Do no use household cleaners, bleach or ammonia, as they are destructive to
leather. Wipe off any excess leather cleaner from each piece.
4. Allow tack to air dry for at least 10 to 15 minutes before conditioning. Do not use any sort of heat,
including direct sun.
5. If the tack shows signs of dry or patchy areas, apply a leather conditioner. Do not use so much oil or
conditioner that the leather becomes limp and floppy – the leather will be weaker and unsafe. Leave
about ¼ inch from suede or fleece to prevent staining. Dried out straps of leather may be dunked in the
conditioner, but the excess should be wiped off immediately afterwards.
6. Leather conditioners contain animal or vegetable fat as their basic ingredient.
n Plain olive or vegetable oil may be used on leather.
n Baby oil should not be used. It is a mineral oil and can damage and weaken the leather.
n If using Neat’s Foot Oil, use only pure Neat’s Foot Oil, not a compound, since many compounds
contain harsh petroleum products that are damaging. Compounds can also cause cotton stitching in
the tack to rot.
n A lightweight conditioner, like Lexol, may be appropriate for thin leather items.
n Oil penetrates leather more quickly when it is slightly warm, but hot oil will damage the leather. Do
not heat the conditioner.
7. In order to protect leather from water damage, it may be sealed. This step is not critical. If done, it
should be done after the leather is conditioned. Typically, Glycerin soap is used to seal leather. It may
be applied with a damp rag or by gently rubbing the bar directly on the leather. Avoid creating a lather.
Buff when dry.
8. When cleaning off mold, clean off the visible mold with a cloth, then go over the leather with a white
vinegar-dampened cloth. Let the tack dry for at least 4-6 hours. Then clean and condition as usual.
9. If a piece of leather tack has been soaked in water, clean it and apply conditioner before it dries out.
Dried out tack that is stiff as a board has been permanently damaged.
SYNTHETIC TACK
Synthetic tack is usually made of a polyurethane-coated nylon. You can usually just brush off the dust
with soft brush. When necessary, this tack can be hosed off and allowed to air dry. If the tack is really
dirty, you may dip it in a bucket of warm, sudsy water (use a mild dishwashing soap such as Ivory) and
scrub gently with a medium bristle brush.
E.
INTRODUCTION TO SHOWING
SHOWING AT AMIT. All students at AMIT, from Leadline to Advanced riders, are given the opportunity to
participate in horse shows and other extra activities whenever possible. We enjoy providing these opportunities to
our students. Many students choose to show, and many choose not to. Other activities include Trail Riding, Hunter
Paces, and Gymkhanas.
Showing is just one of the many opportunities we offer to broaden your experiences with horses. Horse shows are a
lot of fun, a great learning experience, a goal to work toward, and a lot of hard work. Provided we have the space
and you show enough interest, any student may ride in horse shows or come to away shows to help and learn.
Students will be chosen to compete according to availability of horses, space on trailers and interest shown.
Most people want to know when they will be ready to show. That depends on the age of the rider and how much
time and/or money they want to spend. I recommend (for a total beginner, age nine) six months of lessons, then
most riders should be ready to show in Leadline, Walk or Beginner classes. A year after beginning lessons
(especially if the rider leases a horse or takes a second lesson), riders should be ready to show in Walk/Trot and
Green Rider divisions. While showing is not required, it does give riders a goal to work towards.
When the time comes for the activities you need to check the board and discuss the activity with your instructor.
If you are selected for any activity (IT IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY to check the board to find this out) you
need to fill out the entry form and return it by the Wednesday before the activity. If you cannot participate, please
cross your name off the list and let Bobby or your instructor know. Remember that lessees and boarders get first
choice (this is due to the extra time and money they have invested).
Before participating, it is a good idea to come and watch any activities you think you may be interested in.
Remember that VOLUNTEER HELP IS ALWAYS APPRECIATED! The most important thing for you to know
is that showing (or any of the "EXTRA" activities) is something to pursue only if it interests you. It is not a
requirement. You may continue to ride at whatever level, pace, and degree that interests you. All you need to do is
communicate with your instructor what you would like to do.
SHOWING PHILOSOPHY. It is important to keep the proper perspective. Showing is an opinion of how the
rider and horse did that day. The rider and parents' ability to realize this can mean the difference between a
frustrating day and an educational day. Keeping this perspective in mind will enable everyone involved in showing
to have a positive, rewarding experience.
WORKER VOLUNTEERS. For our AMIT activities, we reward our volunteer helpers -- for every two “jobs”
you sign up for and do at any AMIT activity, you can earn a free division at one of the AMIT shows. See the
bulletin board before activities for details.
SHOW PREPARATION. Our riders need a hands-on approach to the show preparation routine. Some of the
items you will need to learn to do include: Grooming, bathing, cleaning sheaths/udders, clipping, pulling mane,
braiding, and cleaning, fitting and marking tack. You also should know what types of Show clothes to wear.
We will weigh and measure each horse/pony, check the age of rider (as of Jan 1 of the current year). Time
permitting we will show how to blanketing, wrap, and load, as well as the preparation of stall, and how to clean
it afterwards.
BULLETIN BOARD. Always check the bulletin board located in the center aisle. It contains up-to-date
information on activities and any notices that you need to know. It also has miscellaneous items such as things for
sale and various informative articles.
COMMUNICATION. There is a drop box located by the bulletin board for any payments or notes. If you have
any suggestions, questions or problems, and Bobby is not able to deal with them right then, just put a note in the
box and he will call you to further discuss it.
ACTIVITY PREPARATION. You should work during the week on things like clipping and pulling the
mane. For shows that begin in the morning, come out the day before the show (after 12:00 noon) to prepare the
animal. Be finished by 5:00 p.m.
DAY OF THE SHOW. You can school the morning of the show. If you don't show until the afternoon you
can come out on the show day, prepare the animal and school during the lunch break. The day of the show,
arrive in time to clean up, school, and be ready to show on time (arrive about 1 ½ hours before the start of the show
-- check the prize list as to when the show starts -- the times do change from show to show). If you are in later
classes, adjust your schedule accordingly. For shows in the evening: come the same day around 2:00 p.m.,
prepare the animal, school around 5:00 p.m. and the show generally starts at 6:00 p.m. If you are in later
classes, adjust your schedule accordingly. All riders should stay at the show until their animal is done
(approximately 2 hours). A lot can be learned by watching classes that you will eventually be in! ALL RIDERS
MUST HELP PUT YOUR ANIMAL AWAY!
RESPECT. Another key element to activity preparation is care and consideration given to AMIT equipment
and facilities. If you see trash and manure PLEASE stop and clean it up (we hope someone will do the same
for you). PLEASE pick up any feed and grooming items left out. PLEASE keep all indoor and outdoor tack
areas neat and clean. Lastly, you need to respect and take care with any items you use from the
Medicine/Supply Room. This has become a free-for-all and products are being used incorrectly, items being
broke and spilt, ½ used items set aside in favor of unopened, etc. This is an area AMIT spends $ 3,000 to $
5,000 annually so our riders do not have to. PLEASE do not make us lock up this room!
Each young rider (from Leadline to Short Stirrup) must have a responsible helper (your parent is fine) to assist as
needed. If you do not have a helper, you can pay a fee to hire one of the older girls to do it. It is up to each rider to
communicate with the other riders on your horse to coordinate preparation times and work. We recommend that
even experienced riders have ground help.
The way we select our riders for our home shows is to give first preference to lessees and boarders. Then we
rotate among the other riders. It is important to let AMIT know if you are selected for an activity and can’t do it.
If you do not let us know, we will assume you intend to participate. That means you rotate to the bottom of the
list for the next activity. However, if you let AMIT know you can’t do it, then another rider will get a chance
and you will be at the top of the list for the next suitable activity.
If you are in a show at AMIT, and you are in:
Leadline,
Walk,
Beginner
All other
divisions
You need to wear a nice, neat outfit as close You need to come out and watch the other
to proper as possible, but the Judge will be
riders get the animal get ready, assist
very lenient. You must wear an
somewhat, but the more advanced riders have
AHSA/ASTM approved hard hat.
the responsibility to get the animal ready.
Braiding is always a question mark. Braiding was done originally to keep the horse’s mane
and tail free from getting tangled in briars while foxhunting. It became a tradition in the show
ring, as well as a way to better show off your horse. While this is still true on a rated level, on a
local level it does not have the same importance it once did. Currently the USA Equestrian
rulebook states an un-braided horse will be penalized. No matter what, ALL ponies and horses
must be nicely turned out – manes pulled, tack cleaned, and animals clipped!
Rider clothing is another question mark. You always want to look nice and be safely attired.
While all activities at AMIT require a hard hat and boots with heels, you have to wear formal
horse show attire (coat, shirt, collar/tie, etc.) only at the Spring Frolic, Fair Warm Up and Fair.
You should use your formal attire whenever possible so you are use to performing in it and to
look your best. Check the prize list for guidelines but remember that horse shows are about
performance and appearance. If your horse has a good performance then the appearance may
help you to the top. The reverse is true in that a poor appearance may distract the judge from a
good performance. The same holds true for you in competition.
For the activities that allow less formal attire (including schooling shows, hunter paces, etc.)
you still need britches/jodhpurs and boots. You may wear whatever shirts/blouses you wish, but
the shirt/blouse should have a collar, and not be a tee shirt or sweatshirt. Be creative and
colorful but tasteful!
SHOWING OFF THE FARM. Showing at home or away involves the same basic set of rules. However, for
shows off farm, generally we take lessees and boarders only.
C:\Documents and Settings\Bobby Lindsley\Desktop\AMIT Files\Instructing Manual\Level 2.doc-1/12/07
Level 2
A.
PARTS OF THE HORSE
Name the parts of the pony #1-20. (1pt.ea.)
For extra credit, name the remaining parts (#21-38). (1pt.ea., up to 10pts. total)
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
B. BASIC CARE OF THE HORSE
Answer the following: (5 pts.ea.)
How often should you check over your horse?
How often should the farrier check your horse’s feet?
Name 4 shots that horses in this area typically require.
How often is a Coggins Test required for showing/trailering locally?
C. CARE AND CLEANING OF TACK
True or False (T/F) (2pts.ea.)
_______ Tack must be regularly cleaned and conditioned to remain supple and strong.
_______ You do not need to take a bridle apart to clean it well.
__________
Cotton balls are a good material for cleaning tack.
_______ When cleaning leather tack, you should apply a light coat of leather cleaner with
a slightly damp sponge and gently work up a slight lather.
_______ Only “Lexol” brand leather cleaner should ever be used.
_______ Heat, including direct sun, can damage leather.
_______ After cleaning, you should soak your tack in leather conditioner at least
overnight.
_______ Baby oil should not be used on leather. It is a mineral oil and can damage and
weaken the leather.
_______ If a piece of leather tack has gotten soaked in the rain, you should let it dry
completely before cleaning and conditioning it.
_______ Synthetic tack can usually be cleaned with a soft brush, but you may hose it off
when necessary.
All of the parts of tack numbered on the drawings are listed above. Place the
correct number next to the name of the part. (1pt.ea., up to 20pts.)
E.
INTRODUCTION TO SHOWING
SHOWING AT AMIT
What classes/divisions would you like to show in this year? If you are not interested
in showing, name the classes/division you believe you could show in, if you wished.
(5pts.)
What are some of the things you need to do before the show to prepare yourself and
your pony or horse for the classes/division you named? (15pts.)
Extra Credit - Fill in the blanks. (5pts.ea.)
When the time comes for AMIT activities, you need to check the board and discuss the
activity with your instructor. If you are selected for any activity (IT IS YOUR
RESPONSIBILITY to check _________________ in the center aisle to find this out), you
need to fill out the ______________________ and return it by the Wednesday before the
activity. If you cannot participate, please cross ___________________ off the list and let
Bobby or your instructor know.
C:\Documents and Settings\Bobby Lindsley\Desktop\AMIT Files\Instructing Manual\Level 2 Test.doc-1/26/07