Pack Like a Pro

Please Note: This is for the 2026 current rule books of USPC. This document is to help aid your rally preparation - not replace the current rule book. Please continue to read and understand the rule book to the best of your knowledge before the rally. 

- TEAM Equipment: As a team you are responsible to bring what's known as a “rally kit”. This rally kit is to help make a successful rally but also may be used in emergency situations. Your club is responsible for the rally kit as well as the equipment inside the kit. One of your team members will bring the kit to the rally. It is that team members and the captain of your team responsibility to ensure that everything in the rally kit is provided ahead of time. There may be certain items that you may need to bring for your pony that is required in the rally kit to include: 

1. Extra equipment (bridle, halter, girth) 

2. Stable quilts and track wraps 

3. For Eventing - An extra 5 gallon wash bucket per horse for vet box 

You may ask “why would I need to bring these things?” Well lets say that on your team there is a 17 hh warmblood and a 13.2 hh pony. The stable wraps or extra equipment is not going to fit both horses. So then it will be your responsibility to provide extra equipment for your pony. The extra 5 gallon bucket is a necessary item only for eventing rally. If you're going to another rally you will not need to bring this. Once teams are assigned, you then can figure out if you may need to bring your own extra equipment. 

- INDIVIDUAL Equipment: This is your own equipment that you will need to bring to the rally. Equipment not only for your pony but also yourself. The red star (*) is what is required for a rally. The Horse Management judges will check not only the team equipment but also your individual equipment. Therefore it is crucial that you bring all the necessary equipment for the success of your team. The items not with a red star are not required but have shown to help you shine at the rally. Below is a detailed packet checklist of the individual equipment. 

Grooming Kit 

You will be required to bring your own pony’s grooming kit. This does not need to be a fancy kit with fancy brushes. You will need: 

1. Hoof pick * 

2. Hard rubber Curry comb * 

3. Dandy brush (hard bristles) * 

4. Body brush (soft bristles) * 

5. Rub rag * Bring more than just one, these get used more than you think. This does not need to be an expensive Bed, Bath, and Beyond towels. You can purchase a 30 pack of car wash towels for $15 at Walmart. 

6. Main and tail brush or comb 

7. Wet wipes or 2 sponges marked Dock and face * - They say bring either or but I personally would bring both. This is an item that a lot of people forget or lose at the rally. 8. Sweat scraper * 

9. Wash bucket (labeled “Wash only”) * 

10. Body sponge * 

11. Baby Oil - an unexpected item but will give shine to the nose, eyes, and dock for formals. 12. Hoof polish (clear) 

13. Detangler 

14. Coat conditioner 

15. Fly spray 

16. Braiding kit 

17. Shampoo (for grey horses purple shampoo) 

18. Green spot remover 

For the liquids you can easily get travel size containers and transfer your products into them to save space 

Tack 

This is a general tack list that you may need at a rally. If you have special equipment you still will need to bring it. Before the rally make sure that all your tack is legal to show in. 

1. Saddle (Jump, dressage, or both) * 

2. Girth * 

3. Stirrup leathers * 

4. Stirrups (NO PEACOCKS) * 

5. Saddle pads (please make sure you have multiple clean saddle pads for the entire rally) * 6. Half Pad if applicable 

7. Bridle or bridles * 

8. Fly bonnet if applicable

9. Martingale if applicable 

10. Exercise boots if applicable 

11. Polo wraps if applicable 

12. Longing equipment if applicable 

13. Whips if applicable 

Personal Riding Equipment 

1. Helmet - make sure it meets all USPC safety requirements and is in good condition * 2. Hair net * 

3. Riding Gloves 

4. Riding boots - depending on your rating you can use tall boots or paddock boots and half chaps * 5. If you have tall boots you will want paddock boots or horse safe footwear for around the barn. * 6. Spurs if applicable 

7. Riding pants - make sure you have enough clean pants for the entire rally * 8. Belt * 

9. Riding shirts (sunshirts for around the barn but also white show shirts) make sure you have enough clean pants for the entire rally * 

10. Shorts for around the barn (neutral colors, without rips, and appropriate length) 11. Rain coat or winter coat depending on weather 

12. Riding socks 

13. Undergarments 

14. Showcoat * 

15. Cross country vest if your going to eventing rally* (Optional for stadium) 

16. Stock tie (depending on your level) * 

17. Medical armband * 

18. Pony Club pin and color felt - look in the rule book for what color felt you need * 19. Don't forget your PJ’s and personal hygiene items!!! 

Equipment for Your Tack 

1. Saddle stand - Can be hanging or standing. Standing is best! * 

2. Bridle rack - each bridle will need to have their own hook. You can not stack bridles on top of each other. * 

3. Tack cleaning kit - now this is not required however I try to not use the kit that's in the team rally kit to preserve the items for as long as possible. Also, there have been times that a piece of the tack cleaning kit for the rally kit went missing because it was used. 

4. Boot trees and toe fillers if you have tall boots * 

5. Booties for footwear - this keeps your boots clean on the way to your formal 

6. Lead Rope holder. This is to hold your lead rope outside the stall. Some venues have this already but just to be prepared this is a great tool to have.  

7. Tack Trunk *

Utility/ Extra Equipment/ Horse Care 

1. Fan for in the summer 

2. Extension cord for fan 

3. Bungy cords to secure fan 

4. Stall guard 

5. HAY STRING * 

6. Duck tape 

7. Painters tape (for labeling) 

8. Extra double ended snaps 

9. Sunscreen!!!! 

10. Human bug spray 

11. Wet wipes (not your baby wipes) 

12. Zip ties 

13. Lint roller 

14. Scissors 

15. Utility tool to help get possible nails out of stalls or any thing else 

16. Fly sheet if applicable 

17. Blankets or cooler if applicable 

18. Sharpie’s 

19. If possible please bring a small equine first aid kit for your horse trailer 

Feeding Equipment and Stall Care 

1. Grain (in paper bags) * 

2. Enough hay for your pony * 

3. Hay storage bags* 

4. Grain storage bin. I love the yellow bumble 

bee boxes from Lowes or Home Depot * 

5. Two 5 gallon buckets for water in your ponies stall with double 

ended snaps * 

6. 5 gallon top off bucket (make sure it’s labeled top of bucket) * 

7. Hanging salt block * 

8. Hay bag * 

9. Feed Cart * 

10. Stall Card * 

11. If you have some food that needs to be soaked make sure you have a container or a pitcher with a lid 

12. Heavy duty feed pan for your pony to eat out of. (This needs to be labeled with your horse’s name on it) * 

13. Muck bucket and cart 

14. Pitch fork 

15. Broom or rake 

Items 13 - 15 you will need as a team. Your team can organize one person to bring it or every person on your team can bring it.

Extra Items You Will Need 

1. Your Pony’s Coggins 

2. Record Book 

3. If going out of state you may need a health certificate for your pony 

4. Water Hose 

5. Your pony’s shipping items (shipping boots, bandages, etc) 

6. In a rally you will need to label your halter and lead rope for your pony. I hate putting duck tape on these items as it never sticks. I would HIGHLY recommend getting a pet ID tag to put information on. For example: I would put the general info on it 

and then you can add a small piece of tape on the back with the 

stall number or etc on it. 

7. Storage Containers! Tack trunk, containers for tack trunk, ziplock bags, etc. The more organization the better. I love to use the 

old bags that new blankets come in for storage. 

Organization 

- There are multiple kinds of tack trunks or storage ideas. If you're looking for a tack trunk, before you buy a new one look on Facebook marketplace as they may have something that's cheaper. Here are some images of how one of the upper level members store some of their individual items. 

- Note that everything you bring will need to be labeled with your name and/or your rally competitor number. Personally I would label everything with your name so the item won’t need to be re-labeled for the next rally. 

- Some items will need more info, like your feed will need your horse's name and stall number. 

- The muck bucket, broom, and pitchfork will need your team number. All of this info should be gone over when teams are assigned. 

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to any of the club officers or an experienced rally member!