Ridecamp: Re: [RC] Trail Etiquette - Advice

YIKES! I don't think on those rare but unnerving occasions where I HAVE indeed "shared an opinion", that there was any time or opportunity to first acertain that the riders cared to hear it, or that there was any partnership and time to be respoected. IN most cases, it was indeed a case of a poorly trained horse and/or rider demonstrating such behavior so as to put others within about a 50 yard perimeter in imminent danger. Secondly, I don't personally care what a rider rides his or her horse in - hack, bridle, rope or baling twine, so long as it is of course humane, and secondly, that the horse IS in control, and I don't consider the "weave pattern" down the trail "in control". If this isn't you I mean in general), great! If it IS, then your horse is not in control, and better training and/or a bit more steering is in order. Same goes for brakes. Finally, many kickers are made - by OTHER bad mannered horses and riders who floor it right on up 
another horse's rectal cavity. I would NEVER turn my horse's butt toward another horse - but if someone rear-ends my horse, and gets decked for their trouble (understanding that as a cautious rider, I don't ASSUME that every rider is going to slam into me but ride cautiously myself) I won't berate my horse. I don't slam into other horses and riders and I expect the same of them. A lot of this topic really comes home to rest on training, experience and personal decency. And so to the lame brain who allowed his noisy and badly managed stallion to BITE MY STALLION IN THE BUTT in a VET CHECK - thanks for putting ME in the position of having to re-train my horse to undestand that oen idiot does not mean EVEYROEN is going to run you down and make a snack out of your posterior. It took a LONG TIME to work through that. So don't blame a horse who happens to kick - check it out - perhaps there is an antagonist in that act.



> 28.  No matter how experienced a horse person you are do not provide unsolicited advice to other riders on how to manage their horses.  Your ten second evaluation can not make up for the time and partnership of that horse and rider team.  If you simply cannot contain your comments ask politely if they would like to hear your opinion.
>
> I only write this since I've grown tired of the comments about riding in a rope halter.  I know there are other endurance riders who do this too and I'd love to hear what you're responses are to people! Why should I use any more than is necessary to control my horse?  Should I sacrifice my horses comfort because of someone who thinks there an expert on my horse from the two second evaluation?  Why do people feel the need to tell me what to ride my horse in, especially when their own horse is jigging next to mine who is walking obediently?
>
> And I'd like some clarification on one item...
>
> 5.  If you ride a kicker, point his butt away from riders if they politely ask to pass.