Pony Club Survival Guide: Random Rally Essentials

It’s no secret that Pony Club rallies are tough! Sometimes having the right items and hacks can make rallies go just a bit smoother. Below are 10 of my favorite rally essentials and hacks.

1. Absorbine Showsheen

This is a no-brainer. It’s a great detangler, and it gives a perfect shine. For full effect after grooming, spray over the body, wait 5-10 minutes, then brush over with a soft brush. But always remember, do not spray areas where you will be putting tack (saddle area, lower legs, etc.).

2. Shapley’s Easy Out No Rinse Shampoo

In my experience, Horse Management judges are always strict about dandruff, specifically in the mane and tail. A great short-term fix is spraying the roots and skin of the mane and tail bone with Shapley’s Easy Out. After spraying, scrub the area with a damp towel, then comb through the areas. This method can take a while, but it is extremely effective.

3. Ivory Soap

Ivory dishwashing soap is a solution to many small issues. Filthy horse? Bathe in Ivory. Dirty splint boots? Soak in Ivory. Messy buckets? Scrub with Ivory. Saddle mark? Wipe with a damp towel and a bit of Ivory, let dry, then brush away. It’s cheap, works well, and smells good!

4. Lint Rollers

A lint roller is a cheap, easy way to pick up dirt, hair, and grime off of wraps, blankets, saddle pads, and splint boots just in time for Turn Backs.

5. Gorilla Tape

Duct tape is one thing, Gorilla Tape goes a whole step further. A lot of the required rally kit items need to be labeled and hung up, and working out of a grimy stall tack room can make that a bit difficult. Gorilla Tape sticks and stays, and it holds up the trickiest of items.

6. A Good Rally Kit

There are a lot of required items in the rally kit. They become easily disorganized, lost, and broken. Having a good container is a must. Husky containers can be pricey, but they are long lasting, easy to transport, and organized. Ones that are compartmentalized are great for the smaller stuff.

7. Tarps

The more tarps, the better. For one, they make a great “carpet” for your tack room floor. Our tack rooms are generally stalls with dirt ground, which manage to make anything and everything particularly dusty and dirty. A nice tarp over the ground prevents the mess and is easy to keep neat and clean.

Additionally, if you are required to strip stalls at the end of the rally, tarps make the whole ordeal quick, clean, and easy. Push all of the waste onto a tarp, then have two or three people pull the tarp out to the closest manure pile. This is far more efficient than making a million trips with a wheelbarrow.

8. Shoe Polish

Aside from shining up boots, shoe polish can make anything look nice. It’s a great temporary solution to dirty splint boots or bridles. I personally recommend Kiwi Leather Dye. The liquid is fast acting and looks impressive.

9. A Good Attitude

Pony Club rallies are fun, but they can be undeniably stressful. Above all else, being kind, respectful, and helpful to your horse, your teammates, the judges and staff, other teams, and volunteers is essential.

10. Sour Patch Kids

It’s a Roanoke Valley Pony Club secret that Sour Patch Kids are a rally necessity. All jokes aside, good food and drinks, nutritional or not, are vital to keeping everyone happy and healthy.