Donna, I understand your problem exactly. I've
been there! My old retired endurance horse is known affectionately as
"Freak-out Charlie."
On our ride, as long as you have checked in at the
starting line, a rider may disappear and start after all other horses have left
and are out of sight, usually 15 minutes or so. We just must know
that you have gone out on the trail. We are very concerned ride managers who
look after our riders, and if one doesn't show up in reasonable time, any vet
check, after all the others have come, we are out on the trail looking for
him/her. Short answer to your question: It is up to the ride
manager. This does not mean you can start two hours later, but 15 minutes
or so is OK.
What is the rule or general policy about starting late
at a ride? I mean, you have already checked in at the pre-start time about 15
minutes early, either in person or w/ your horse. So how late can you then
leave camp? Is there any rule or is it up to the ride manager? My new Arabian
horse is having serious "emotional" problems at the start and for safety
reasons I'd like to wait til everyone is WAY out of sight when I try my next
ride. At least til he has had more starts and experience on trail. He is
difficult, to say the least, at the starts. Doesn't matter if other horses are
around or with him or behind him. I can only imagine what he's thinking ... He
acts as if the world is ending and if he doesn't GO this instant with all
those other horses, he'll never see another horse again in his life (oh the
terror of it all). Unfortunately, he's coming close to taking off with all
those other horses without me.
