Ridecamp: [RC] Staying after rides (newbie story)

Ok, to preface my words, I have only done TWO limited distance rides in my 
life. And that was 3 years ago.

That said...

I left my first one not long after we finished. Maybe 2-3 hours? Why? I had 
ridden my Appy bareback. I had worn jeans. I was in total agony and could 
think of nothing I wanted more than a real bed, a pint of ice cream and 
vegging out in front of the tv so I didn't have to MOVE. I had had a 
depressing ride (was way late into the first vet check and still had to 
boogy down the mountain to try to complete). So basically, it was rider 
option. I couldn't even think of staying overnight. So I packed up, loaded 
my indifferent Appy and drove the 1.5 hours home. He was glad to get in his 
pasture to push all his friends around and I was glad to disappear from 
society until Monday morning.

My second ride went SO much better than my first ride. I still rode bareback 
(although wearing pantyhose and stretchy pants..NOT jeans!), still rode my 
indifferent Appy. But we completed in plenty of time. I was worried about 
the heat and had to take Pache back to the vet for a follow-up to be sure he 
was rehydrating nicely. But I was in lots less pain. I planned on staying 
the night, but just couldn't get comfortable. I'd disappeared into my tent 
after the huge rain storm to get some sleep, so I'd done my nap thing after 
the ride. Maybe that's why I couldn't sleep. It was cooler than daytime and 
I couldn't sleep anyway, so I loaded my Appy in the dark around 2 AM, I 
think. I was never more prouder of his loading skills! LOL. I probably got 
cussed out while I pulled out of camp, but I really didn't hear any of that. 
I was home (5 hour drive??) before it got too hot in the daytime and had the 
day to rest up before having to return to work.

Point? Just that sometimes it's a newbie thing, too. There are tons of 
reasons people leave the same day of a ride. My first go-home was probably 
distance-and-pain-induced mental retardation. My second was just 
restlessness. Neither were meant as a snub to ride management, a disturbance 
to others' sleep, or a disregard for my horse's well-being. Although, I 
realize now, I probably should have given Pache a BIT more rest time on his 
first ride than I did. Rookie mistake.

We have a ride coming up in September. 30 miles. On a Friday. We won't leave 
until Saturday at the earliest. Might move camp, but will stay in the area.


April (I wanna go to Summer Breeze this weekend. WAAAAAA)
Tanna (Chill, mom)
Serts (You gonna ride me bareback in an endurance ride?)
Daniel (There's not enough time for you to go to SB. Grow up.)

april@xxxxxxxxxx


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