Re: Have to have crew?

[Farafix@aol.com]

April,

I often don't have a crew at endurance rides.  Many of the rides loop back
either to camp, or to a site within a few miles of camp.  When considering a
ride, I'll ask before I send in my entry what the pit stop logistics are.  I
set my stuff up the night before.  I use 2 smallish coolers that I fill with
ice & water (at least one has a flat top which makes for reasonable chair
substitute). They're small enough that I can lift them in one hand & move
around the horse as I cool it off.  I have a bucket or 2 of water with lids
(to discourage other horses from drinking up all my water!), and a 5 gallon
water tank to refill buckets & coolers.  I put apples, bottles of gatorade &
Slimfast (not that I'm on a diet but it's cool, wet, & easy to get down & has
lots of nutrients) in 1 of the coolers.  I try to use 1 cooler to cool the
horse, & refill after P/R's from my "food" cooler.  If it's cool, I put
blankets in a hefty bag to keep them dry (never know if it'll rain), put
hay/alfalfa in a hefty bag too, as my horse will eat dry hay better than wet
(they go straight into the hefty bag after the hay).  A bucket of grain (with
lid so you can cut the horse off when you think it's had enough), some
syringes of electrolytes, a bag with extra shoes, extra reins, etc.  I can
usually find a kind bystander to hold the horse if I need to answer Mother
Nature. 

When I do have a pit crew, I feel very spoiled.  But with a little
organization, there's no reason not to enjoy a ride & still be able to care
for your horse & you.

Have fun!

Nancy
Md