Extraordinary Times Call for Extraordinary Measures

Keeping cool in the HM office!

On Wednesday, we were asking ourselves if it was possible for it to get any hotter here in Lexington, KY, and on Thursday, we had our answer - Yes, in fact, it could get worse.  Much of the country is engulfed in a record-breaking heatwave, and Lexington became an absolute sauna.  When I left my nice, cool hotel at 5 am to help sweep and clean the Rolex jog lane for Show Jumping jogs, and it was already 85 degrees, 65% humidity, I had a feeling a it was going to be a long, hot miserable day.  Something had to be done to protect our competitors, horses, and volunteers.
One thing the Ground Jury realized right away is that there is a culture in Pony Club in which members and parents perceive that it is expected that competitors remain in the stable area from barns open to barns close.  While at many rallies, this might be necessary to get everything done (or at least seem that way), with record heat, we had to work hard to push an immediate culture change.  Competitors were encouraged to just do what they needed to keep their horses comfortable and then leave to go somewhere much cooler than the very hot tack stalls.

I have to tell you, this was initially met with disbelief from competitors and parents.  Many of the kids were like, "Really?  You're only checking our horses for turnbacks and then we can leave until feeding time?"  Parents approached me asking, "Suzie Q told me that Horse Management said they could take care of their ponies and leave for a few hours - is that true?  I don't want them to get in trouble or get points off, but it is really hot..."  It actually saddened me that on a day in which the heat index hit 110 that parents and competitors really thought there was an expectation that competitors would have to boil in the tackrooms, but in the end, our efforts to keep competitors cool seemed to be much appreciated. 

Using bungee cords to make bandage racks

Rolling quilts around bandages to save space in the Equine First Aid kit

I took some time to help Show Jumping finish Required Equipment checks and wanted to share two ideas for storing your horse bandages that I thought were really cool.  One team used bungee cords to make a bandage rack on the wall, while another saved space in their Equine First Aid kit by rolling the bandage quilts around the leg wrap and then securing with a rubberband.  Pony Club members always amaze me with their clever solutions!

Eventing Vet Box

Over in the Eventing barn, competitors had to tackle the heat AND the cross country course, and I have to say, all the competitors - particularly the Stable Managers - were absolute rockstars!  Everyone worked hard to keep riders and horses cool, and awesome teamwork on the part of the HM staff resulted in a very in a very efficient Vet Box.

Shrimp, potatoes, mushrooms and corn...courtesy of Deep South Region!

The Deep South Region closed out the very hot, hot, HOT day with my favorite part of Champs - the Shrimp Boil!  As always, they were gracious and generous, bringing over 100 pounds of Gulf shrimp to share with the volunteers.  A Quiz tent was converted to a party tent, and a lot of us enjoyed an evening of eating, dancing, and catching up with old friends.  I absolutely CAN'T WAIT to see what they will have in store for us at the 2012 Annual Meeting!!!  If you've never been to a USPC Annual |Meeting, this is probably one that you will want to put on your calendars!!

Grady thoroughly enjoyed the Shrimp Boil and can't wait until Annual Meeting!