I think that it's good to tell things like don't dunk
the sponge in a water trough, vet check procedure and
electrolytes for first time riders. One of the gals
didn't have a clue about electrolyting until I showed
her the syringe and how to mix it up. This is the day
before the ride after we arrived in ridecamp. She's
going to do Tevis this year (no - I didn't give
her "advice" on Tevis.... she's doing this one on her
own!)
Another one of my friends who was a ride and tie person
was soundly reprimanded by the vet for riding too fast
on her 1st LD and not electrolyting - resulting in a
thumping horse. She just didn't know; and she could
have been saved some embarassment about the poor horse's
condition if someone had clued her in. She did learn
though and is a very conscientious rider now.
The last newbie I took to the ride spent a lot of time
talking about her excitement and anxie
ty and wanting to
know all the details about going to a ride. It helped
that I spent the time talking to her. A couple of us
(the other person has over 8,000 miles and rides FEI) at
the barn convinced her to skip LD and go to straight to
a 50 with this particular horse. We wouldn't say that
to just anyone. Her first endurance ride was a
difficult 50 with a horse finishing in good condition
and a big smile on her face. The horse was a little
tired, which was the rider's goal was to have her
hyperactive horse a little tired! I think that this
rider/horse combination is real talented and in great
condition. She just needs someone to listen to her
anxieties about doing the right thing. At this point we
just spend time comparing notes about thisa and a thata,
two rides later for her and she's definitely more of a
peer. Just another endurance junkie who will probably
surpass me as an endurance rider!
I still have a lot to learn, but each experience builds
knowledge. I probably don't electrolyte my horse
enough, even though he gets a full dose of electrolytes
every vet check. He thumped at the 3rd VC at Wine
Country and if I didn't already have experience with
this we might have slipped thru the VC. I had to tell
the vet to look for it and it took her a long time with
a stethoscope to confirm it. She commented that I really
knew my horse well to pick up on this.
I received some very good encouragement and advice from
a friend (you know who you are MM) about thumps - oh
gawd - a year and a half ago. Unfortunately, I
backburnered the advice which resulted in this last pull
and has Beau in a non-alfalfa paddock after being told
by two separate ride vets "get him off of alfalfa".
Which is actually easier for me to dose him with his
Gastrogard.
I still want to do 100's with this thumping, gastric
ulcerated horse with a tweeky stifle, high-low heel
syndrome that wants to run until he's drops. I'll be a
newbie all over again doing my 1st 100, hopefully
Swanton, Barbara Mc.! We are doing some tough training
rides while he's still on the Gastrogard so once he's
done with the treatment he should be good to go. (Well,
maybe I should think about the 75....)
K.
We never know how our advice, encouragement or discouragement may affect
someone. 3 newbies from my spring clinic are going to their first "real"
ride this weekend and I am so nervous wondering if what I said or did will
help them or hinder them. :)
Maggie
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