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RE: [RC] How do you NOT act like a newbie? - David LeBlanc

Chelsea asked yet another question: 

I've heard you guys talking about some things that people, 
who don't really know what they're doing, will do on a ride. 
I try as a rule to be courteous and don't want to upset or 
bother anyone, especially since I'm a newbie, and I was 
wondering what I should know to NOT do on a ride. I read that 
list on endurance net, any other suggestions? 

Well, there's good newbies and bad newbies. A good newbie will admit that
they have no clue, politely ask for help, and are generally overwhelmed with
helpful people.

Things to do and not do:

Do not pass everyone at warp speed while whining that you can't hold him
back.

Don't follow someone who's going to fast. Ride your own ride!!! Do not ride
the other person's ride. Especially don't do this while whining that you
can't hold them back. If you need to get away from a horse that's going too
fast, find a place to stop - a patch of grass, or a water stop. Maybe even
get off until the other person is well out of sight.

Do ask nicely if you can go by if there's not room, and if there is, a
cheery "Hello!", followed by "passing on your left/right", while leaving
plenty of room so there's not a wreck if someone's horse kicks.

Do _not_ gallop past someone standing on the ground trying to fix their
tack. It wasn't a newbie who did this to me, but it was really rude.

Do slow down before the vet check. Get off the horse, loosen girths and walk
in. I do this 1/8 to 1/4 of a mile out, depending on weather and how fast
I'm riding.

Do not start in the front for your first ride. I prefer not to do that ever.

If you're at a water trough, and someone else comes up, it's nice if when
you're ready to leave, you ask the other person if it's OK. Some horses will
stop drinking if someone leaves. This somewhat depends on how much of a
hurry you're in, and whether they're already with other people.

If someone's in the process of getting on their horse at a water stop, it's
nice to wait until they're in the saddle before you run off.

Do not argue with the vet or the RM - ever. Groveling may be OK, depending
on circumstances.

If you get stuck behind someone, try not to tailgate. If your horse is being
a pain and wants to tailgate, or the trail gets congested, check with the
person in front of you and see how big a problem this is for them. If you
tailgate me at the start, you could get kicked, and I could get bucked off.
Later in the ride, it might be fine.

If you get pulled, that's not the time to discuss what's wrong with the vet,
especially if there's a line. The vets will be a lot more helpful when
they're not busy, assuming that you're not headed directly for the treatment
vet already.

If someone comes up behind you, it's because either you're loafing, or it's
because they have more horse left than you. Either way, let them by. If they
slow down later, you can pass them. Try not to consistently leapfrog people.

When someone does come up from behind you, asking "Would you like to go by?"
is a nice thing. They may be in a hurry, or they may be relieved to find
another horse to follow who's saner than their horse.



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Replies
[RC] How do you NOT act like a newbie?, Chelsea Marsh