Endurance.Net Ridecamp Archives

I usually don't offer much training advice, because I've owned enough horses (~160) to know there are no guarantees. I've been bolted with at the start of a ride, which surprised and embarrassed me. That said, I will share what I did with my current horse, Fly So Free (1005 miles as of last Sunday), at her first ride start. I had been trying to get in shape by running a bit. Not being much of a runner, I took Fly along as my running buddy. When I got tired, I would get on and ride a bit. This had the wonderful side effects of teaching her to be brave about going out without another horse, to think of me as the leader,  and to stand most anywhere for me to mount. At her first ride I went to the start with the other horses, but didn't get on. I ran with her for the first mile or so of the ride and she stayed very calm about the pack of horses around us and established a good attitude about ride starts.   Libby

-----Original Message-----
From: ridecamp-owner@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:ridecamp-owner@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx]On Behalf Of martina keil
Sent: Tuesday, May 17, 2005 5:09 PM
To: ridecamp@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [RC] Prineville and planning for my first ride

The posts concerning the accident and whose fault it was/how it could have been prevented are interesting. I am planning on doing my first LD soon so I volunteered at the ride and it was very educational.

 

I would love to say the horse I plan to use will be totally predictable when I take her to ther first ride, but that would be a lie. I expect her to be nervous, I expect her to be curious, I expect her to see things she has never seen before (even if she really has!). I expect at least the first part of the ride to be a workout for me as well as her.  The tension, excitement and activity at the race was like nothing I had ever felt before. Although I have done some Ride and Ties (one on my other mare who acted fine and was as calm as could be) it seemed different.

 

When I participate in my first ride, I fully expect other horses to be acting nervous, excited and spooky. I think I would be waiting a long time to find a race where every horse, and for that matter every rider, was predictable.

 

So ....knowing that my horse is a horse and she could freak out as well as the next one, and knowing that I am going to be nervous and excited and I could forget to breathe for the first 5 miles, does that mean I should not do endurance. Should I go to these events fully expceting everyones tack to hold up, everyones horse to be quiet and every mile of trail to be meticulously groomed? I expect others to have done what they can to prevent accidents, I will not expect there to be accidents. I can hope I will finish with a healthy horse and no broken bones, but every time I set a foot in my stirrup, regardless if it is to do a short trot down the road, a full day in the woods, moving cattle or in the arena, I know anything can happen. Just for the record, I witnessed another "accident" that happend before the one being citiqued. It involved a single rider, with a friend, at a walk, in a wide open area. I watched as her perfectly calm horse tripped/or stepped into a hole flipped her over his head. Both trying to recorrect the imbalance a little too much maybe? No "spooky/uncontrollable horse"...no "ill equiped tack" no "narrow single track trail". She, for all appearnaces,  was a fine rider. I remember thinking how nice she and her horse looked together. Just goes to show it can happen under  even the most "safe" circumstances. (if you're out there let me know how you are!)

 

To the riders injured in the accident, I hope you are all doing well. You are in my thoughts.I am so very grateful you are all OK.....what a great ad for helmets

 

To the horse injured, you are in great hands, I met your humans and you have no worries. Not to mention the great vets who were there! Nice job.

 

To the riders involved, don't beat yourselves up. It could have been any number of us or any one of our horses. I will at least admit it could have been me or my horses!

 

To the event coordinators-ride managers, thanks for letting my husband and I help. I can only imagine the time and energy it takes to put something like that on. I will remember that every time I do a ride! You all are great.

 

To the rest of us, a good reality check. I know it has made me think about some things I want to work on with my horses.

 

So....keep an eye out for me on the trail, I will be the imperfect human riding the imperfect horse! I thought about riding a bicycle, but they just aren'e as much fun to feed carrots to.

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