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Although I'm new to endurance (this is my first year
and I'm starting a green 5 yo gelding) I'm not new to
exposing horses to new fast-paced situations.  You
think the start of an endurance ride can be exciting? 
How about participating on a flag team?  Imagine 50+
horses, galloping into an arena, riding one handed,
carrying a huge, loud flapping flag, riding at VERY
close quarters with the other horses, and then
expecting your horse to stand still on a rail facing
thousands of specators, flying debris, music loud
enough to thump your body, horses galloping past
behind, and the thunderous applause following the
national anthem.  And if you think you can get off,
think again.  The trick is to expose them to the scary
stuff in pieces so it's not so overwhelming when it's
all at once.  Here are some suggestions to get you and
your horse safely through your first few events:

1.  Take your horse with you to a ride, but don't
ride, volunteer.  This was single-handedly the BEST
thing I did for my new guy.  He was very excited and
unsure of himself at our first ride.  Took a long time
to pulse down at vet checks due to the excitement,
carried on in camp, jumped around during saddling,
etc.  I took him to a ride where he could stand tied
to the trailer all day where I could keep an eye on
him and he spent all day eating, hanging out, and
watching horses come through the vet check.  He didn't
get saddled or ridden all day.  At the second ride I
took him to, after this occured, he was a TOTALLY
different horse.  Walked into the vetchecks in the
high 40's on pulse and he received the Horse of
Excellence at that LD.

2.  Volunteer to ride drag.  Then you don't HAVE to
pay the entry fee and your horse gets to have that
experience.  Learning to stop and stand on the trail
while you pull ribbons is very helpful for other
situations.

3.  Do a training "race" at home.  Have other people
leave at a fast pace while you ask your horse to stay
slow and listen to your aids.  If you can't do this at
home, your not ready for the start of a ride in the
pack.  She doesn't have to behave perfectly, but
enough to keep you and others safe, since that is
obviously a main concern of yours.

4.  As others pointed out, start well behind everyone,
start slow (on foot if necessary), and see if you can
find someone to ride slow with you.  It helps to have
a calm buddy horse.

5.  Expose her to other fast-paced situations where
she is not expected to perform.  Take her to local
barrel races, team pennings, rodeos, fox hunts,
whatever you have locally where she can see and
experience running horses and fast paced action but
doesn't have to do anything but stand there.  Then
start riding her around at these events.  I need to do
more of this with my guy cause he's still very nervous
in a crowd and absolutley HATES other horses
misbehaving.  The sight of another horse crow-hopping
or acting up is enough to send him scurrying for
cover.

All of these are calm, safe ways to get your mare
experience without any medicated, herbal, natural, or
whatever substances.  How about some more suggestions
from you more experience endurance folks?  Did I leave
something out?

Crysta & Sinatra

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