All teams must come to rally prepared for equipment breakage. Since all the equipment a competitor is going to use must be in the tackroom at the beginning of the rally, any extra or replacement equipment must be there as well ("All equipment used in competition, other than clothing, must be kept in the team tack room unless otherwise instructed." 2007 Horse Management Rulebook, 14c Amplification). This means that if a rider breaks a stirrup leather, or if a girth is found to be unsafe, each team must have with them enough extra equipment to replace the item. Since every piece of extra equipment could be called into use on a moments notice, everything should be turnout inspection clean.
Requirements:
A note on storing extra equipment: Many clubs store extra equipment in airtight sealed plastic containers. While this is a good way to keep out dust and works well for bits, cotton lead ropes and stirrup irons, it can cause mildew in leather. A better suggestion is to store it in a zippered sports bag that can be hung on a hook by it's handles.
Two extra lead ropes, one with chain shank: Rules and guidelines below quoted from 2007 Horse Management Rulebook, 10d amplification.
Halter(s) (should be adjustable): Make sure every mount on the team has an extra halter that fits. If mount sizes vary widely, bring more than one. A correctly fitting halter is defined as having a noseband that lies half way between the corner of the lips and the projecting cheekbone, and allows no more than the width of four adult fingers between the noseband and the nosebone.
Halter rules: All halters used at rallies must have breakaway capability (2007 Horse Management Rulebook, Rule 10b); The mount's halter must have some form of identification on it at all times (2007 Horse Management Rulebook, Rule 10c)
Complete bridle(s) with bit(s): Extra bridles must be complete, assembled and include sufficient bit(s) to fit all mounts (2007 Horse Management Rulebook, 14d Amplification). If a team member can't ride with the bit on the extra bridle for safety reasons, they need to bring an extra one that they can use.
See 2007 Horse Management Rulebook, Rule 16c Amplified instructions for exceptions to USEF tack requirements at USPC activities.
Girths: Make sure it will fit all horses, if not, either bring more than one girth, or see if it would fit with a girth extender. As with all the extra equipment, make sure it is clean and in good repair.
See 2007 Horse Management Rulebook, Rule 16c Amplified instructions for exceptions to USEF tack requirements at USPC activities.
Pair stirrup leathers and stirrup irons: Stirrup leathers may be leather or synthetic. All stitching must be in good repair with no broken stitches. Any cracks in leather may not go through more than one-half the thickness of the leather. Fillis stirrup irons must have stirrup pads (2007 Horse Management Rulebook #16c)
See 2007 Horse Management Rulebook, Rule 16c Amplified instructions for exceptions to USEF tack requirements at USPC activities.
Two rubber bands and Leather tabs for Peacock irons (if used): These are only required if one or more riders are using peacock safety stirrup irons. There are some rubber bands that are designed to be used without leather straps, these have an extra rubber tab that hooks to the bottom of the stirrup. Make sure that your extra rubber bands are in good repair, or replace them.