Unwritten Rules

[Wendy Milner <wendy@wendy.cnd.hp.com>]

A couple people have asked, but no one really answered.
Unwritten rules.

1. Always be as curtious as you can.  This will get you further
   than anything.  Then if you are in a really bad mood or things
   are going bad, your curtisy level drops a level and it still
   doesn't seem too bad to people.:-)

2. If you come to a water stop and horses are drinking, either
   wait for them to finish, or ask if you may go through them.

3. At a vet check, never ever walk your horse through the area
   where they are doing a trot out.

4. When you are getting a P&R, look around and see who else is
   there.  If you finish your P&R and they haven't, don't just
   walk your horse through the group.  You will probably raise
   the heart rate of the others by leaving.  You don't necessarily
   have to wait for everyone, but when you do leave, be just a
   little curtious, and maybe even ask if it is alright.

5. If there is a group of horses stopped on the trail, ask if you
   can pass or if there is something wrong.  There may be a horse
   or rider in trouble up ahead, or there may be a washed out trail
   that you'll go sailing off if you push through.

6. Inform the vet if you think there is anything wrong with your
   horse.  The vet will not pull you automatically.  They will help
   you.

7. Inform the vet if your horse kicks, bites, doesn't like to be 
   touched there, or what ever.  A vet that has been kicked at isn't
   going to give you a BC.

8. At the vet check, if waiting in line (or where ever horses are
   bunched up) give space around you.  Don't crowd.  I really hate
   to have some horse back into my horse because the handler couldn't
   handle the horse.  And the vets get really upset when a horse 
   runs into them.

9. At a gate, if some one must dismount to open the gate, wait
   for that person to remount before leaving. And always leave in
   the order that you arrived at the gate.  Once underway, you may
   change the order.

10. At a water tank, don't dunk your slimey sweaty sponge in the
    drinking water.  Put water in a bucket and sponge from the bucket.

11. At a running stream, it's ok to sponge from the water.
    Also look where your horse is putting his feet.  Don't step on
    some ones reins.  And look where the muddy water is coming from.

12. The horses and riders of a higher distance usually have the
    right away at the vet checks.  But, if there is an unoccupied
    vet, be sure to wave and tell him/her that you are waiting.
    Generally there is one vet who will do all the BC vetting, so
    they may not want to deal with anyone other than those presenting
    for the BC.

13. It is your responsibility to make sure that when you hand over
    your rider card, that you get *your* rider card back and not
    some one else's.

14. Don't take all the free stuff - water, hay, ice, whatever.  Leave
    some for the next horse and rider.

14. Common, or not so common, curtisy to everyone.

15. And for the helpers and volunteers out there, please forgive us
    all and not take it personally when DIMR takes over.

Next person please,

--
Wendy

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  Wendy Milner                     HPDesk:   wendy_milner@hp4000
  Hewlett-Packard Company          e-mail:   wendy@fc.hp.com
  Mail Stop A2-5UB3                Telnet:   898-2182 
  3404 E. Harmony Rd.              AT&T:     (970) 898-2182
  Fort Collins, CO, 80528-9599     FAX:      (970) 898-2038