CONTEST SCORING

EQUIPMENT:

1. Placed well behind horses/ponies on ground cloth.
2. Three complete sets are desirable, only one bottle of water, fly spray and chain lead.
3. Tools need not be new, but should not be ratty, dirty, or wet.
4. Tools should be placed on ground cloth with bristles facing up. If hats are worn, they should be removed before grooming and placed with tools.

TEAMWORK:

1. Teams should work smoothly together.
2. Members should look like they know what they are doing.
3. Members should not stop grooming until time is called - unless there is a question of safety.

SAFETY:

1. 4-H rules of safety handling should be observed.
2. Do not kneel or squat.
3. Do not crawl under horse/pony.
4. Do not reach across to other side
5. Do not go under neck.
6. Do not put head or face where it can be kicked.
7. Do not put tools on ground, under or on horse/pony. If tool can't fit in pocket, it should be returned to ground cloth.
8. If tool is dropped, use foot to move it to a safe distance from the horse/pony before picking it up.
9. Someone should stay near the head.
10. If horse/pony is upset, calm it before continuing.
11. If it becomes obvious that a certain procedure cannot be safely completed, such as handling rear legs, notify the judges.
12. Never get into a position that you can't get out of immediately.
13. Don't all bunch up at one end or one side of the horse/pony.
14. When feet are being cleaned, all should be aware. Unless there is a problem, it is not necessary to stop grooming.

METHOD:

1. Do not rush at horse/pony.
2. Groom from front to back and top to bottom.
3. Use tools in proper order - curry first then body and/or bristle, then dandy brush and rag..
4. Do not tear at mane and tail.
5. Use one tool at a time - free hand can steady the horse/pony.
6. Curry - do not use on head or below knees and hocks or on tender parts or on mane and tail.
7. Body brush - Do not use on head.
8. Stiff bristle brush - do not use on head. May use on lower legs, mane and tail.
9. Dandy brush - May use on entire horse/pony except hooves.
10. Hoofpick - may use edge to scrape mud from outside of hooves. Carefully. Pick feet in order, starting with near front, then near rear, off rear, and off front.
11. Water - use on cloth. Do not spray or apply directly on the horse/pony.
12. Fly spray - use with care. If it is absolutely necessary to use while grooming, all grooming should stop. Try to wait to fly spray horse/pony until the ten minute practice time.
13. Cloth - may use on entire horse/pony. Do not shake cloth near horse/pony.
14. NO TRIMMING ALLOWED - Hair will not be clipped or cut.
15. Halter cleaning will be part of the finished animal condition score.

TIMING:

Total time for grooming is 30 minutes. Teams are told by the announcer when only 10, 5 and 2 minutes remain --- then STOP.

Equipment is replaced on the ground cloth.

Teams return to their starting position away from the horse/pony.

SCORING:

Judges then inspect the groomed horse/pony. Scoring is based on the following:

EQUIPMENT	5 POINTS
SAFETY	40 POINTS
TEAMWORK AND METHODS	35 POINTS
FINISHED ANIMAL CONDITION	10 POINTS
TOTAL	90 POINTS