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RE: [RC] [RC] What do I need? - heidiHelmet and Easy Ride stirrups. Secure water carrying system. First aid pack.(skip the splint boots unless your horse interferes, then keep checking them to make sur eyou don't get sand, dirt under them--bad rubs). (Tights to ride in,undies with no seams in delicate area). Maybe halfchaps-- Huh. I rode for years in regular irons with no problem. Just switched to EZRide stirrups as a consideration to creeping middle age and various other physical complaints. I have yet to carry a first aid pack with me. A "secure water carrying system" can be something homemade that will allow you to tie a cheap grocery-store water bottle to the saddle--the wonderful commercial adaptations are nice, but not a "must" to start out. I also rode for years in regular undies (until I got <ahem> "gravitationally enhanced" which aggravated the rub factor), and do admit that I love my high-tech riding undies--but again, we're talking the basic necessities for getting started here.... Also rode for years with knees wrapped in Elastoplast or Vetrap, over regular jeans, to keep the seams from chafing. Then moved "up" to leotards, shorts, and knee socks, before all the good endurance tights became available. You really don't know WHAT you need for your own self until you go ride and find out where your own personal "weak points" are. I sure wouldn't go buy anything besides the basics until I've found the sore spots--and then I'd recommend going out to see how riders have specifically dealt with those things, and try to figure out which solution would work for me. What I'm trying to convey here is that a newbie needs to go ride first, and then start cataloging what happens--and trying to seek solutions to those issues. Every horse and every rider has their own personal set of issues, and will have to find their own personal set of solutions. I think it is a big mistake to look at pictures of endurance riders and go try to deck yourself and your horse out to look like the pictures. What works great for one rider may actually cause a problem for another, so you have to define your needs by riding before you go shopping for the "extras".... Heidi ============================================================ This weekend, many of you are at rides...25's, 50's or 100's. You are the lucky ones. I know you did whatever you had to do to get to 'em. I know that each of you go to 'em with different so-called "goals" in mind...but I also know that each of you cares for your horse and realize that "carrying you" is the least of what he/she does for you. LIFTING YOU is the true effect. ~ Ryder ridecamp.net information: http://www.endurance.net/ridecamp/ ============================================================
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