ridecamp@endurance.net: Personal Freedom&rules/road

Personal Freedom&rules/road

Nancy Mitts (MS-MITTS@VM.MSSC.EDU)
Fri, 14 Feb 97 09:21:11 CST

I am definately a strong supporter of personal freedom. The sticky part
comes in deciding when my freedom impinges on yours. At organized events
the actions of one person can effect the whole group, intentionally or not.
That is why groups must sometimes impose restrictions on personal freedoms.
I don't care what anyone wears or how they ride their horse or how their
horse behaves AT HOME. At a ride there are obligations to consider other
people's rights. Injured&"sick" horses & riders effect EVERYBODY"S
enjoyment of a ride.We should all try to do our best to prevent such problems.
Wearing a helmet doesn't seem like too much to ask for the best interest of a
group. IMO that IS taking responsibility, same as properly preparing yourself
and your horse to do the ride. And preparing your own vet check stuff, not
robbing others.

I'm not sure about Missouri's Laws, but I ride the ride of the road with the
best shoulder to get off of, & stay as far from the road as possible. Where
it's not possible to get off the road, I ride WITH TRAFFIC. I figure we have
the best chance if we're heading the same direction as the vehicle. In my
experience horses tend to stop & wheel away from something rushing TOWARDS
them, but will "run with the herd" the same direction. After dark, I wear a
headlight & Racer has a taillight.
Once on a dirt road Racer tried to BITE a car as it passed him, just as if it
was another horse! Nancy & Racer (who likes his herd to stay in line!)

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