Ridecamp: RE: [RC] What is the ONE thing? rules

> I am going to try my first Endurance 50 in Nov. I have done a several
> CTR's. Is there any rule against starting the ride whilst leading the
> horse? I was going to hang back and start late. But, it appears to me
> that it might be a better option to start walking the horse and get on
> when all are away. This may help with the training issue of staying calm
> at the start too:)

Nope, no rule against it, but while it may work well for some horses and
riders who have a good rapport on the ground and who have done a lot of
groundwork together, it has been my observation that this strategy has not
worked out well for most folks who have tried it.  What DOES seem to work
well for many (and has worked well for me as well) is to get on BEFORE the
start, before other horses get crazy, and ride off in the other direction.
 (Yes, check in first if you are at a ride that has a check-in--not all in
our region do that, but rather report you as started unless you come up
and say you are NOT starting for whatever reason.)  I sometimes get on as
much a 15 minutes before the start and just go ride around somewhere out
of the hubbub, until horse is calm, relaxed, and warmed up, and then come
across the starting line after all the whoopla has died down.

Heidi



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