Saturday, June 26, 2010

How to camp in your backyard for Great American Backyard Campout tonight

How to camp in your backyard for Great American Backyard Campout tonight


How to camp in your backyard for Great American Backyard Campout tonight

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Camping in your backyard is loads of fun, whatever your age. It's great for keeping the kids entertained, it offers opportunities to check the night sky, stargaze, be noisier than usual, and it lets you have friends over to stay who might not otherwise fit inside the house! Follow these instructions and you'll have a night you'll never forget!

Steps

  1. Put up your tent. Depending on the number of family members and guests, you may need more than one. Ask your friends to bring their tents if needed. Follow the instructions or check out wikiHow's article on assembling a tent.
  2. Prepare your bedding. You'll want your guests to be able to relax in comfort. Put something soft to lie on on the floor: A blow-up air mattress, thick comforter, or even couch cushions work well. Fill the tent with soft toys, pillows, and blankets. Have lightweight sleeping bags or cotton blankets for slight summer warmth, especially important if you live where the night temperatures dip considerably.
  3. Arrange a seating area. If you have a picnic table or a patio set, that would work best. Otherwise, set up a few lawn chairs and a small table to set out drinks and food. A low-maintenance option is to lay out a blanket in the sun, so that your friends can relax, eat, and chat. Be sure the grass isn't wet or damp!
    • Before laying out the seating area, do a sweep for doggy do-do, ant hills, prickles, or other irritants and nasties that might spoil the experience.
  4. Buy or make food and drinks. You could either prepare something ahead of time or order out. Pizza is a good option. Have a few bags of chips set out, as well as a cooler full of ice, soda, and water. For hot summer afternoons consider making homemade smoothies to cool off with. Some good recipes to get you started include:
  5. Light a bonfire. A warm fire is a camping classic. Just be sure you have municipal permission and that children have adult supervision. You'll need some type of dirt or stone pit, wood, and matches. Even a small charcoal grill can work well!
  6. Plan some activities. You're camping in the backyard, so it's time to make the most of being outdoors. Here are some ideas to enjoy the occasion:
  7. Make memories. Have a camera nearby to take silly snapshots of you, your kids, your family members, and your friends. Take one large group shot with everyone smiling and laughing. Be sure to make copies for everyone!

Video

Tips

  • Invite as many people as you wish! Camping is all about enjoying yourself outdoors. If a few extra friends show up, just cram them into a tent or set up an extra one; you can always ask a friend to bring another tent, or even ask the neighbors for a tent.
  • If you really want to go all out, send out invitations beforehand. Include a list of necessary items, like extra tents, sleeping bags, warm pajamas, and snack items. Your guests will also need to know where the party will be located, what time it begins, and what time they should be home the next morning. You can find inexpensive invites at any store.
  • If you participate in the "Great American Backyard Campout", you can even raise money for charity! Check a search engine for details.

Warnings

  • If children are camping in your backyard, remember that they get cold faster than adults; make sure that they're kept adequately warm during the night. They should wear layered clothing.
  • If you have close neighbors, try to quieten down as the evening progresses. Your neighbors may have small children who are trying to sleep. Don't be making loud noise or playing loud music all night, especially after 9-10:00 pm.
  • If you decide to have a bonfire be sure you have municipal consent as well as supervision. And be careful: Lighting your friends on fire does not make for a fun evening.
  • Look at the weather forecast the day before. In colder countries like England weather can change very quickly, leaving you in a freezing, wet tent!

Things You'll Need

  • Tent
  • Food and drinks
  • Wood for a bonfire
  • Blankets, lightweight sleeping bags
  • Air/camp beds
  • Pillows, cushions

Related wikiHows

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How to bridle a horse correctly

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When riding, a bridle provides you with the ability to control the horse to a certain degree. Bridling can be hard at first, but it is actually quite easy to do. Part of successfully bridling a horse is to take care that the bridle does not cause discomfort to the horse. This article takes you through the steps required.

Note: This article demonstrates how to fit a full size bridle. Bridles generally come in three sizes: Pony, cob, and full size.

Steps

  1. Prepare yourself by gathering the bridle. Put on your riding riding helmet at this stage if wished.
  2. Tie up your horse securely. Your horse should have a basic halter on at this point. Common halters for use with a bridle are low-profile nylon types rather than double-layer leather types.
    • If you have a person holding the horse the first few times you try this, it may be helpful.
    • Don't be afraid to ask for help from an instructor or experienced horse rider if you are aren't sure what to do.
  3. Measure the bridle.
    • Begin by undoing all the keepers on the bridle.
    • Place the appropriate sized bridle against the side of your horse's head. This is to roughly assess the height of the bit and to make sure that when you do put the bridle on, it will not pull on his mouth and hurt him.
    • If the bit is too high, or too low, adjust the cheek straps to the approximate, correct height.
    • Place the bridle against his head once more.
  4. Try the bridle on. Position yourself next to the horse's shoulder on the near (left) side.
    • Hold the reins in your left hand and the headstall in your right hand. Slide the reins of the bridle over the horse's head. Pass the bridle under the horse's chin to rest on his nose.
    • Offer the bit. Lay the reins across the horse's neck and put the bit mouthpiece in your left hand. Open the mouth by working your thumb into the corner of the mouth until he opens it - your goal is to apply some pressure downward on the mandible. One trick is to push the horse's lip in under your thumb to protect your thumb from being bitten (horse may bite you, but won't bite themselves). A horse may not accept the bit if it is very cold so try warming the bit in your hands first to make the bit more welcoming.
    • Draw up the headstall. Take care not to click the metal bit mouthpiece on the horse's teeth as you draw up the headstall.
    • Place the headstall over the ears, gently pushing the ears into the ear loops and pulling away any forelock. Put the near ear under the headstall first, then the far ear. That way, if the near ear hurts and they pull away or act afraid in any way, you can walk to the other side of your horse and put that second ear through the headstall. This will help avoid your horse jerking away from the far ear and hitting you.
    • It is best if you can do this without removing the halter until you are certain that your horse will accept a bridle being put on in place without being secured. Slip the halter off once the bridle is in place.
    • Check the fit of the bridle as outlined in the following steps.
  5. Measure the height of the bit. Open your horse's mouth. The bit should be resting on the corners. If not, shorten the cheek pieces to the precise height.
    • Adjust the cheek piece on the other side as well, so that they are both level.
    • A good indication to show that you have correctly fitted the bit, is a wrinkle around the mouth, when he has it closed.
  6. Measure the width of the bit.
    • Place a thumb on either side of the bit rings. There should be a thumb's distance either side of the mouth.
  7. Measure the throat lash. The throat lash strap is normally attached to the head piece. It is always done up on the left hand side.
    • Once fastened, you should be able to fit four fingers or a fist between the throat area and the lash. This is to make sure that there is no interference with the horse's breathing.
  8. Fit the caversan noseband.
    • The noseband should be at a height where you can fit two fingers under the projecting cheek bone. If it is too low, adjust the fastening to the correct height.
    • Check once more with your fingers. When the noseband is fastened, you should be able to fit two fingers inside. This allows the horse to relax his jaw when ridden.
  9. Check the brow band. This should fit snugly around his head. It should never be too tight as this would pull the head piece forwards and pinch the horse's ears. The brow band should not be too loose either - otherwise it could slip backwards.
  10. Fit the reins. The reins should be the correct length for the size of your horse.
    • When you take up the rein contact, with your horse's head in his normal ridden position, the spare ends should not interfere with the foot or stirrup. If the reins are too short, your horse cannot stretch and relax.
    • Hold the reins in place whilst undoing the halter and removing it.

Video

Tips

  • When you are buying a new bridle, it's best to always have a few holes extra to be able to adjust shorter or longer as leather stretches in time. Or you may need to change the horses bit at some point.
  • Horses tend to accept the bit more easily if they associate it with something good such as a treat or a good taste, so try putting some honey or rubbing a mint on the bit to help the horse accept it.
  • When putting your finger in the horse's mouth, push it towards the back where there are no teeth, so that the horse cannot bite you. When you press down, the cue will make him open his mouth.
  • If you have a horse that is causing you trouble, for example, holding his head high, squeeze the base of his ears and he should lower his head. If he doesn't, put your hand on the bridge of his nose, and behind the base of his ears, and shake his head gently and say "Down" firmly. He should respond.

Warnings

  • Horses can sometimes be unpredictable animals. If you are bridling one, you are dealing with its teeth, so take care.
  • Do not let your reins lie on the ground, because if the horse steps over them, he could become quickly entangled, putting you and the horse in danger.
  • Never tether a horse using a bridle. Leather is not strong enough to withstand a horse pulling against it and if the bridle snaps, the metal pieces on it can become dangerous.

Things You'll Need

  • A safe, well mannered horse or pony
  • A suitable bridle
  • A halter and lead
  • Boots
  • Helmet

Related wikiHows

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