Re: [RC] Follow-up to EN's July "Ride Managers Forum" - Crash Courseat the ML50 / VT100! - rides2far@xxxxxxxxHey Sharon, Here's some advice from a former ride manager. It's easier to borrow garbage cans than water troughs and they hold plenty of water. You can also haul water in them better...If you've got 2 cans you can fill one *to the top* and put the lid on (if it's not full there's more sloshing). When you get to the spot where you want to unload it, use a bucket to scoop the first few cans into the "receiver can" which you left empty, then you can tip the rest over into it. It's the fastest way I know to haul lots of water. Keep plenty of extra markers, signs, staples, and a marker in your truck so if you get a call that markers are down you're loaded for bear. Contact the local rescue squad and let them know what is going on there this weekend. It would be good to have a mental image of the best route to get someone out if they are hurt and have *road* maps with the trail transferred onto it for them. Find out if your AERC director will be at the ride. If so, you can pass the buck on any tough decisions about rules to them! Regardless though, read the rulebook ahead of time and have one handy. One of the most common questions is the legality of passing off a junior from one rider to another, etc. They can't remember the rules, I often can't remember exactly enough...for instance, if you think your horse is lame and pass off your junior to a sponsor with a sound horse while on trail, then you decide your horse is OK after all, do you have to pull? I *think* the rule is that if you pass them off on the trail, you've got to pull. Is it? Better check and have your answers ready. Have extra vet cards handy at the vet check to replace any riders lose. Don't forget your spotters or anyone who is on duty far from camp. They really appreciate food or relief throughout the day. Try not to save *any* jobs for the ride manager. Don't think, "I can take pulses in the AM, and figure ride times towards the end of the day, etc". You may do that anyway, but don't plan to. Lots of jobs will come up for you that you can't predict so don't have anything other than trouble shooting on your job description. Your timer can do more to make that ride work smoothly than anyone else can. If I were you, I'd fly Nancy Gooch up for my first! :-)) Angie =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Ridecamp is a service of Endurance Net, http://www.endurance.net. Information, Policy, Disclaimer: http://www.endurance.net/Ridecamp Subscribe/Unsubscribe http://www.endurance.net/ridecamp/logon.asp Ride Long and Ride Safe!! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
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