The tack room

The tack room has a wide selection of reins, halters, saddles, pads, girths. Each horse or rider has specific equipment.

The sidewalkers look at the posting of the day's riders, the horses they will ride, and the equipment specific to the horse and the rider. Some riders need stirrups, some do not. Some need a thin pad under the saddle. Volunteers select a pad, a saddle, extra pad, girth, lead rope, reins, and the halter. We then get the bucket with the different types of brushes and the pick for the hoofs of the horses. Sidewalkers start the grooming process, but the horse leader supervises the saddling and putting  the halter on. 

When the horse is moved from the "grooming area" to the arena, the instructor checks everything on the horse again.

When the rider is on, another check is performed by the instructor to make sure the rider is seated properly. 

Then it is time to "walk on" and begin the fun.