Checklist of Things to Take

Riding clothes for Remuda Camp, Sophie Hill Saturday ride. Unless weather is unusually cold or looks like rain, cost or slicker not necessary. Standard attire, cowboy hat, long sleeve shirt, Levi’s, boots, spurs, and chaps. Clothes will be dirty when you get back, don’t plan on wearing them again.

Clothes for Camp cocktail and dinner party/raffle Saturday evening which begins at 5:30 p.m. Dinner to follow at 7:30 p.m. Reservations required. Cowboy hats are appropriate; dress can range from western sports jacket, tie and shirt, down to a "wild rag" cowboy shirt and Levi’s. Most dress fairly casual, but western.

Clothes for the El Presidente’s Party on Sunday, which is at the Rancho del los Caballeros and begins at 5:30 p.m. Attire will range from "old time western" to western sports suit or jacket with shirt and tie or bolo ties, to fashion statement "wild rag" with a nice pair of Levi’s. This is a fairly "upscale" poolside cocktail party with lots of hors d’oeuvres and is a lot of fun. Frequently, many will get together afterwards and go to dinner together and/or go out and party from a "little bit" to a "lot." Don’t get too upscale about it, remember it is a very western theme and the location is one of the nations better known dude ranches.

Ride begins on Monday, and all of your camp gear needs to be delivered prior to 11:00 a.m. As indicated, camp fee must be paid before any gear is loaded on the truck. The ride begins from Wickenburg after a brief ceremony at 12:00 noon. We try to have all of the Remuderos ride out together and be sure you do not get ahead or in front of the ride trail leader. Also, do not go off on your own and take any side excursions from the ride itself. If you do either of those things, you will not be invited back, or you might be expelled from the ride itself.

"Cowboy Bedroll" - this is a canvas sheet, usually 7X18 feet with snaps. A good way to do it is to find the tarp "center" a jail type mattress (cot size about two inches thick and preferably of some fiber material, not foam - its cold), lay a Dacron sleeping bag on the mattress, include a pillow and then roll the whole thing up and secure it with straps. I use three leather straps with buckles. Some use ropes, etc.

"Footlocker" of military size - Can’t be any bigger than that, particularly if you’re using commercial aircraft. Either on your person, in a set of saddle bags or in the footlocker, you should have with you at least the following for the ride as a whole:

Total of five (5) long sleeve durable riding shirts and a minimum of three (3) pairs of Levi’s. Socks, underwear, etc., for five (5) days. Bootjack is preferable, riding boots and suggest spurs. Tennis shoes, wallabies or some foam of slip on for around camp and in the middle of the night. Riding chaps are suggested. Western hat that you don’t mind getting dirty. Felt or straw, the choice is yours. Oil clothe or suggest a 2X3 foot piece of rubber backed outdoor carpeting to put alongside your bed/bedroll. At least two (2) large heavy bath towels, hand towels and wash clothes as you see fit. Toiletries to include shampoo and hand soap. Canteen of water, one quarter size necessary. Camera - suggest 35mm size that will fit in your coat pocket and about three or four extra rolls of film. Binoculars are nice. Flashlight - two cell with extra batteries and bulb. Cotton scarf for your neck and which will also serve as a wash cloth to get the dust off your fact at the creek crossings. Glover - working type leather are a virtual must. Plastic hat cover for riding hat.

"Saddle slicker" - long raincoat split up the back so it will drape over the horse is a must. Depending upon the weather, an insulated vest is nice and can be kept in your footlocker. A medium weight coat is a must - suggest the canvas shall "Carhart" as one choice. Baby powder or cornstarch is welcomed by some, particularly if you do not ride horseback frequently and at the end of the day. Writing materials, if you desire, and if you have a favorite book and like to read, that’s a nice addition. Sunglasses are strongly suggested, sunscreen as well. Lip balm or Chapstick is a must. A pocketknife, pair of lightweight pliers and two or three pieces of leather thong or lightweight nylon cord can be very handy. The halters and lead ropes on the rental horses are sometimes pretty shabby, you might consider putting a lightweight halter and lead rope in your footlocker as a back-up. If you have a small, lightweight nylon tent, you might see if you’ve got room in your footlocker/war bag and which will be transport on a "u-haul" truck from camp to camp. The only thing you really need to do is to find your horse on the picket line, get on it and ride. At the end of the day, you return your horse to the picket line and go to camp.

You will want a set of clean clothes, hat, boots, good looking western shirt and Levi’s for the photo party, which will follow our return to Wickenburg on Friday. After that, you’re on your own. Some folks will leave immediately, others staying in Wickenburg for departure the day following or later.