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[RC] Need opinions...Ride situation - WRSINOSKY

I kept telling myself to keep out of this very interesting topic.  it can be looked at from so many different ways.  And I am notorious for going off course.  The lake at Color Country was beautiful.  Funny....they didn't say a WORD about seeing the lake at the riders' meeting the previous night.

But we do have cattle out here who think those ribbons are tasty morsels, set out just especially for them.  At Color Country once I left the water tank, I somehow ended up "between" the ribbons and got waaayyy off track. Doimas' ears were burning with the amount of cussing going on above his neck.  But he's used to that, since it's generally directed at him.  Well, I figured the cows had eaten the ribbons. There had been mention of it at the meeting. So, we trotted merrily down a road I knew we shouldn't be on, looking all over creation for those d*!@ed ribbons. And  went about 5 miles out of our way when we came to the lake. Can anybody say DUH?

I turned around and retraced back to the water tank. Fortunately for me (and Doimas, who was getting pretty disgusted trotting back and forth on the same dirt road), there were some 50 milers at the water tank.  We went tearing down over this hill (did I mention that initially I had the idea to go up a hill to get our bearings, only to find another hill, and another?) and joined up with these folks who got us back on the trail. 

If there had been a horsetrailer out there at the lake and I would have been invited to load my horse and get taken back to the water tank, chances are high I would have refused.  In my little pea brain, that would be wrong.  I got off track and it was my responsibility to retrace my steps sans a motorized vehicle.  Besides, what no one mentions is the fact that both horse and rider get a little break by riding in said vehicle. 

This is my opinion only.  It is what I "think" I would do. That does not necessarily mean it is right.  I must emphasize that I think I would refuse a ride unless I decided to voluntarily DQ myself.  Having not been faced with the situation of an offered ride, I can only go by what my gut tells me would be the proper course of action.


Cindy Edwards
Buckeye, AZ