Endurance.Net Ridecamp Archives

Having ridden a runaway, I have some sympathy for newby tailgaters.  With my 
horse, I tried really hard not to tailgate and generally would just pass 
people.  I really only ran (or currently run) into trouble in situations 
where I cannot pass and the horse is really up.

So, I generally try to be sympathic to tailgaters, UNLESS they make a habit 
of it.  I have used my horse as an emergency brake for quite a number of 
people.  On at least four CTR rides, my horse has been the brake, guidance 
system and cruise control for new horses.  I even held one horse's head in 
my lap while it jigged on the diagonal next to me while the junior riding 
him got her composure and tried to get him under control.

However, there is one person who rides many of the same competitions I do 
who tailgates habitually.  She has had her horse for quite a while and has 
been competing longer than I have, but still tailgates and doesn't seem to 
see much wrong with it.  There was actually an occassion when I thought I 
needed to tighten my fanny pack because it was bumping me, then I realized 
that I wasn't wearing my fanny pack.  It was the other horse's nose!  
Another time, we were in nice a canter and the other horse just went nuts.  
He actually was banging into my horse.  Getting away from this person is 
impossible and letting them pass doesn't work because they slow to a walk 
once they get a fair distance ahead and the horse walks SLOWLY so invariably 
we catch up.  It drives me nuts.

So, habitual tailgaters get no sympathy from me.  But, sometimes newbies 
need help from those of us who have been there and have horses steady enough 
to lend assistance.

Rhonda



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