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GENERAL RULES:
THIS IS A PRE 1840 EVENT! Not everyone has 100% 1840 horse tack, so if you must use non period gear you will need to keep it covered at all times, both on and off the horse. No exceptions! NO NYLON HEAD STALLS OR LEAD ROPES. NO DECKER PACK RIGS ALLOWED. NO STALLIONS! All stock will be highlined or corralled at night or when you are off site. If you are off site, you must put someone in charge of your animals! FEED... Hay will be provided, and there is a limited amount of graze. Do Not bring your own hay. WATER...You are responsible for watering your horse! SAFETY...This is not a training ground. Do not bring greenbroke stock and try to work them in. You are responsible for the actions of your animals and for anyone you let ride or tend your animals. SHOES...We recommend that all horses be shod if they are not accustomed to rough ground. VET CARE...No veterinary service will be available! Bring enough first aid to care for minor problems. Anyone coming in from out of state needs to check with their vet about crossing state lines and to make sure all inoculations are up to date. As we have said, the entire camp will be open to riding. Please use common sense! Don't parade around in large groups just to stir up dust. Keep you horses pace to no faster than a trot, going into or out of any part of the camp! If someone asks you not to ride around their lodge, DON'T BE THERE! Some folks don't care for the smell of horse manure! Thanks for coming to horse camp. We look forward to seeing you soon! Tips and Hints We would like to see everyone that owns a horse to bring it to the P.P.R There are some do's and don'ts, but it's not as hard as you might think. With a little work, anybody can rig up enough tack to join in. Keep it simple. Remember, you are portraying working class people (how much could they spend on fancy tack? ). There are exceptions. English or American gentlemen, Spanish Ranchos, Traders, and Military officers, to name a few. Let's start with a naked horse and work our way through. Halters - For starters, rope halters are cheep and work well as long as they are not made from nylon. Leather halters can be picked up for as little as $15.00 if you shop, but try to get brass or nickel hardware. Lead and picket ropes. - Cotton, manila, sisal, etc., natural materials only. Cotton does not work for highlines because of the stretch. Bridles - Almost any simple leather headstall will work (one ear headstalls are NOT period ). Rope, braided leather and rawhide, wide Southwest, and narrow English are all fine. Reins - Leather, rawhide, rope, and cotton are all O.K. but try to get away from the modern rein to bit snaps. Bright chrome curb chains also standout like a sore thumb. Bits - Snaffles, curbs, rings, pellems, etc. are O.K. if you stay away from the chrome and aluminum. Bosels & Hackamores - Bosels are great, if you have complete control of your horse with one (riding in your pasture and riding in the middle of teepees and flapping canvas are two different things). Hackamores are somewhat in doubt, but there is some evidence that something similar to them were used (NO chrome or aluminum and make sure that there is no rubber or chain exposed on the noseband). Pads & Blankets - Keep it simple. A folded wool blanket is the most appropriate if it is made of the correct color of the time period, but many horses today need more padding. Any plain pad, made from wool and canvas or cotton etc. will be O.K.. Navaho blankets look good but the blankets of the pre 1840's are made with earthtone colors and very simple patterns. Mostly strips and very simple geometric designs -What blanket collectors call, First period blankets. Saddles Here we go, into the one subject that will cause the most fights, but I am going to try to stay very basic, to get most people onto the right track. English First, most English style, all leather saddles will work. For those that might be thinking about buying one, Jump seats or Field seats are close to the old styles. Try to get nickel plated irons ( no rubber pads ) and nickel or brass fittings. Western, or American Many people are just getting started with horses at the P.P.R. and don't have a period saddle. Don't feel bad, most of us did not start out with one either. You can bring your modern rig, but you must cover it up with some kind of cover that fits the time period (blanket,canvas, hides etc.) .Please tie the cover on, both for looks and for safety (remember to keep it covered when its off the horse also!). Santa FE,early Spanish & Trade or Contract saddles with Hope, apple, old Mex., gourd and half gourd horns are all O.K. Mexican platter horns are NOT of the time period. McClellan Cavalry saddles are not period, but up to now have been allowed and, at least for this year, will continue to be so. Australian rigs come close but are not close enough. They must be covered, just like any other modern saddle Rigging - Chinches. Get a chinch that is made of Mohair, cotton, or horsehair and try to get one that does not have nylon cross ties or ribbons and also does not have buckle tongues for half-breed billits. Many, if not most Trade saddles were centerfire rigged, most Spanish were full rigged and Santa Fe's could be most anything. Remember, many would have been modified, in the field or by a saddler to fit one horse, just as you might have to do. Research material on pre 1840 tack is hard to find, but it is out there. How serious you get is up to you. Just remember to make your gear look as good as you can, to help keep up the look of the entire camp, and enjoy having your horse with you. For more information contact: Tina "Black Bottom" Carver |