Do you go to your designated "area" or whatever you
> have
> picked out and just dump it and then go vet in?

At my crew area I have my saddle rack waiting. When I see the in timer I
hop off and drop the bit and just snap one of the sides of the bit to the
halter to use the reins as a lead. I loosen the girth there. When I get
to my crew area everybody just unbuckles something...girth, crupper,
breast collar & toss all over by the saddle rack. Saddle comes off, take
off splint boots and toss them in a bucket of water to get the grit off.

I like to clean my horse up good before I go to the vet before all the
crud turns to concrete. Once we're back from the check I don't want to
bother my horse with brushing or sponging. It may make me lose a couple
of minutes but I don't have to worry about crusty stuff under the girth
either. If I'm actually "racing" I may just get the outline of the
saddle. If I have time I'll get all up between the hind legs & do a good
de-sanding. Here in the south if I'm moving on he probably needs the
water on him anyway. Doesn't help to get the pulse down with cool water,
then walk over to a hot line and have it creep back up.

As for the saddling. If you re-load your waterbottles & everything while
the saddle's on the rack that gives the crew something to make them feel
useful. >g< The only thing you listed that I don't use is a HRM. They're
a pain, but then, *I* have to wash and put the splint boots back on and
you didn't list that. :-) Anyway, it's good practice. We may have to load
that crap 6 or 7 times on a 100. Just think of all the money we're saving
on weight lifting equipment. :-)

Angie


>
> I ride Codee in a Wintec 2000AP saddle, biothane breast collar and
> then
> all the attachments: HRM, sponge, water bottle, cantle pack with 2
> water bottles. Taking all this stuff off and then putting it back
> on
> can be a major pain. Is there a method that I haven't stumbled
> across
> yet?
>
> --- In AERCMembersForum@yahoogroups.com, "Ed Hauser" <ed@s...>
> wrote:
> > If you think about it, a horse can cool faster when the maximum
> surface area
> > is exposed to the air. Removing tack does this.
>
>
>
>
>
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