GENERAL INFORMATION

Camp

Please see the camp master for your tent/pavilion location in the EQ Camp. It is highly encouraged that you bring a period, rather than modern, pavilion or tent. Equestrian Camp is located on a bluff and can experience high wind speeds which can be damaging to modern tents and/or pop-ups.

Per site rules, every pavilion must have a working fire extinguisher placed outside of it. Please label it with your name. Noise curfew inside camp is 10PM. Equestrians have to rise early to take care of their horses. Please be considerate.

Parking

Trailer/truck parking is available in the equestrian area. Only horse hauling vehicles and horse trailers actually being used to haul equines are permitted to park in the equestrian parking area. Trailers with living quarters are allowed to use generators until 10 PM, or sooner if neighboring campsites complain.

STALL INFORMATION

All stalls are reserved stalls and must be tagged with the owner’s name, cell phone number, any special needs or concerns for the horse, camp location information of the owner, and alternate person to contact in case of emergency. If you are renting a stall on-site or setting up a portable corral, contact the Equestrian Steward before setting up.

EQUESTRIAN RULES
Many of these large animals are more than pets, they are “family.” Please be considerate and keep the following rules in mind as they are designed to protect both the horses and those unfamiliar with them.

Minors are not allowed around the animals without parent or legal guardian escort. Do not feed or touch any of the horses without permission from the owner. A red tassel or ribbon on a horse indicates that the horse may bite or kick. Do not approach this horse. Some horses startle easily. Do not run, jump, yell, or make sudden movements around them. The Stable closes at sundown to everyone except horse owners unless accompanied by the owners.

NO Smoking anywhere in the equestrian area, equestrian camp, the arena, on or near any hay bales, or in the equestrian/trailer parking area. Per site rules, every pavilion must have a working fire extinguisher placed outside of it. Please label it with your name.

DEPARTING THE SITE

You MUST physically sign out with the camp master before departing site. Sign out will verify your area is clean, avoid this fine and potentially being banned from future CAID equestrian events. It is NOT advisable to leave any bedding behind for a friend; if they do not clean it up, YOU will be billed. The park requires we leave the area as clean as it was when we arrived. If you leave a mess, you effectively leave the stewards and their horses in the sun for clean up or risk the War being fined.

There will be a $75 fee for any bedding, manure, shavings, or other debris left in any stall, trailer parking spot, or portable stall location after your departure.

NOTICE OF INHERENT RISKS
Equine Activities are inherently dangerous.

Equines have the propensity to behave in ways that may result in injury, harm or death to persons on or around the equine, have unpredictable reactions to such things as sounds, sudden movement and unfamiliar objects, personal or other animals. They are susceptible to certain hazards such as surface or subsurface conditions, collisions with other equines or objects; propensities include kicking, biting, stamping, stumbling, rearing, and others;

Tack equipment can fail resulting in falling or loss of control; and activities have the potential of a participant to act in a negligent manner that may contribute to injury to the participant or others, such as failing to maintain control over the equine or not acting within the participants ability.

VOLUNTEERS
Volunteers are greatly needed and welcomed! Equestrian Ground-Crew positions in Caid do not require authorizations, but are approved on a day to day basis by the Equestrian Marshal-in-charge. Volunteers working around horses must wear closed-toe shoes (boots are preferred). Volunteers must be over the age of eighteen, or be accompanied by a legal parent or guardian at all times when working around the horses.

RENTAL HORSES
No rental horses are available at this time.

CAID’S EQUESTRIAN ACTIVITIES
For more info on Caid’s equestrian activities please join the Caid equestrian list:http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Caid-Equestrian*

PREPARING TO ATTEND WAR

Step 1: REGISTER 
Horses that are not pre-registered will not be allowed on site!
All equestrians must fill out a stall registration (if bringing horses) and an attendance registration. If there are any questions about completing the Equestrian Pre-Registration please contact the equestrian steward .

Participants who have not reserved pipe stalls in advance must bring their own portable stalls, and pay the portable stall fee upon arriving (Horses may not be tied, hobbled, or high-lined overnight).

Step 2: GET YOUR AUTHORIZATIONS IN ORDER:

All riders must be authorized, so update your equestrian authorizations if they are set to expire before the end of this event.
Read the Caid Equestrian Handbook.
Riding in the arena, surrounding equestrian area, and trails only requires the regular General Riding Authorization.
Riding on roads through camping areas or on the battlefield, each rider and horse combination must pass the Caid Parade/Camp Riding authorization.

Step 3: GET YOUR HORSE’S PAPERWORK IN ORDER:

Acquire a Health Certificate and current Coggins Test from your veterinarian if you are traveling to California from another state. Health certificates are good for 30 days and must be valid through the time of travel.

Make sure your horse’s vaccinations are up to date. West Nile virus, a mosquito-borne disease, has been found in birds on the site.

Horses who have not been immunized against the West Nile virus should not be brought on site. Horses should be vaccinated no later than two weeks before transport, which allows time for the horse to recuperate and for the vaccinations to take effect.

STEP 4: ARRIVE ON SITE

Upon arrival, check in with Gate to pick up your site token and parking tags. After checking in, proceed to the equestrian parking area and park parallel to the other trucks and trailers. Please DO NOT park in front of or beside the equestrian campsite, as that area is reserved for temporary off-loading of human camping gear and necessities.

If you have reserved one or more stalls, those stalls will be marked with your name. You may offload your horses into the stalls that have been reserved for you before checking in with the Equestrian Steward.

If you will be setting up a portable corral, please leave your horses in your trailer while you check in with the Equestrian Steward. When you check in, you will be shown where to set up your corral.If you are day-tripping, you may offload your horses and tie them to your trailer; however, please do not leave your horses unsupervised.

If you will be camping at Equestrian, please check in with the Campmaster and you will be shown to your camping space.

HORSES AT WAR

Traveling with horses requires plenty of planning and preparation, but knowing your horse will be safe and comfortable in a new setting will bring you much peace of mind. Make a list of essentials that you can double-check before leaving to ensure nothing vital is forgotten. Here is a start, but be sure to customize your list with items important to your four-legged friend.

Emergency Contact Card

You’ll want to be easily reachable should your horse become sick or injured while you’re at the war. Contact cards are available in most tack stores, but making your own custom emergency card and laminating it is easy and more permanent. Be sure to include your modern name, SCA name, mobile number, home number, Barony or household you’re camping with, camping space and the number of the on-call vet you’re using at war. Punch holes through the laminated card and attach to your horse’s temporary pipe stall with plastic ties. and Vaccination Records

Be sure to bring copies of all your shot records. Many vaccinations require a few weeks time to protect your horse, so consult with your vet and don’t wait to update your vaccinations until the weekend before war! For those traveling over state lines you’ll need a health certificate and proof of negative Coggins issued by your vet within 30 days of your travel date.

West Nile Virus

Make sure your horse has been vaccinated against West Nile virus. The Great Western War site is beside a lake where mosquitos can breed, and birds at the site have tested positive for West Nile in previous years. In order to avoid catching the virus, horses whose immunizations are not up-to-date should be left at home. For more information on West Nile virus in horses, see the US Department of Agriculture page.*

Food

Horses have delicate digestive systems susceptible to colic with sudden changes of food, levels of protein, reduced amounts of hydration and stress. Your safest bet is to bring the hay or feed your horse is currently eating so there is no sudden change in diet. Be sensitive to the timing of his usual meal schedule and stick to it as closely as possible. Bring enough for the days you’ll be stabling at war plus a couple days extra for an emergency situation.

Buckets

Bring them for water, manure, supplements, bathing, etc.

Supplements / Medications

Pack any supplements or medication your horse needs in a water-proof, bug-proof, horse-proof container. Don’t forget to bring the feed you mix it into if applicable. And it’s always good to have Bute on hand for emergencies.

Electrolytes

Because hydration is so important, especially with heightened levels of activity and stress that comes with war, be sure to bring electrolytes just in case. Easily available at most tack stores, they come in a convenient powder form that can be mixed in with water or in a paste form that can be given orally like a wormer.

Tack

How many times have you trailered out and forgotten a bridle or girth? Make a complete list of every piece of tack you need as well as brushes, sweat-scrapers, fly spray, etc. and check through the list before leaving. Bring extras of critical things that might break or fail like a halter and lead, etc. If you plan to dress your horse up, don’t forget your caparisons and be ready to do quick fitting alterations if necessary.

Blankets

If your horse is used to being blanketed at night or not used to sleeping under the stars, be sure to bring temperature-appropriate blankets and covers. A waterproof blanket is good to have even though rain is rare in October.)

Bedding

A couple bags of shavings in your temporary stall will make your horse more comfortable and help insulate him from cold while laying down.

First Aid Kit

Horses are notorious for cuts, scrapes and other emergencies. Be sure to have the contact number of the closest on-call vet and farrier and pack first aid basics such as Betadine scrub, Hydrogen Peroxide, cotton, sterile pads, bandaging, vet wrap, blue coat powder, Corona or Antibiotic cream, Bute, calming supplements, liniments, electrolytes, thermometer, K-Y or Vaseline, syringe, Benadryl, portable ice/heat packs, scissors, wire cutters, latex gloves, insect repellant/sting kit, etc.

Ready your equine athlete

If you plan to participate in the equestrian games, tournaments, trail rides, etc., be sure to come prepared with a horse that has physically trained for the endurance and strength required. Just like human weekend-warriors that over do it, horses can become sore or injured when asked to do activities at levels they are not accustomed to. Spend the time at home working up to a good fitness level and you’ll be more likely to come home from war with a healthy, happy horse.

Baseline Vitals Familiarize yourself with your horse’s baseline readings before traveling so you know when things are going wrong.

Average horse temperature: 99-101° F
Average horse heart rate: 28-44 beats/min
Average respiratory rate: 8-20 breaths/min
Average capillary refill time (check on gums) 1-2 seconds