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What to do on the day of the race:
1. Arrive and set up water buckets, etc.
2. Check in with the secretary, declare your race, show insurance and coggins, get your number
a) If needed, ask paddock judge for permission to saddle in the van area
b) Entries must be checked in 1 hour before race time
3. Walk the course - 12:00 is the official course walk - you should walk it twice
4. Bring horses to the paddock (bridled and haltered only unless yo previously asked permission of the Paddock Judge to be fully tacked) and walk around
a) 20 minutes before the race
b) When the announcer calls "horses to the paddock"
c) Helper to walk horse and help tack
d) Bring tack - weigh in with Clerk of Scales if in heavyweight
5. Mount when Paddock Judge calls "riders up" and be led around by helper
6. Under the direction of the Paddock Judge, follow outrider to start
a) Warm up (trot & canter on way to start)
b) Pony horse or leader is ok with permission of the Paddock Judge
c) No warm up fences
d) OK to show horese first fence
7. At Start.....Listen to Starter - he will line you up in order of number
a) Lining up "under starter's orders"
b) Pay attention to false starts - happens a lot in pony races
c) "flag is up" - go when flag drops
8. Race
a) Make suer to honor beacons - "white on the right"
b) Do not foul other riders or ride them into the wings(grounds for disqualification)
c) For Field Master races, passing master requires circling to back of the field and loss of place in race order finish
d) PAY ATTENTION to others and where you are going
e) Adjust plan if needed (e.g. Loose horse, lost stirrup)
f) Ride straight lines adn plan where you are going
g) THERE IS NO DISHONOR IN PULLING UP!!!!
h)Continue riding after finish - most falls in pony races happen after the finish. Plan your pull up with lost of room - NO SMALL CIRCLES!!!!
9. After pulling up, ride back to finish/stewards stand
a) Raise crop to stewards for permision to dismount
b) Pose for win picture with horse
c) Have helper take horse while you take off saddle & weigh in (if necessary)
d) Stay for trophy presentation - pose again for win pciture
e) Helper takes horse back to finish to cool out
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