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Re: [RC] The Great Santa Fe Trail Horse Race/Thanks - rides2farWilly > has grit> and heart, hopefully he will make it through the 50 mile vet checks. He is a> panting fool and all business. His business like attitude is his downfall as> he sometimes will not drink and cares not to graze when I offer it to him.> Hopefully someone bigger then us from up above will be watching because we> will be needing it Susan, If it weren't for the DVM after your name everyone on here would probably collapse with fear for you after reading the above quote. Those are the horses who are sooo willing to get themselves in trouble because they are so competitive. Out of shape horses go lame, but at least that doesn't kill them. Overenthusiastic horses with lots of heart and not enough experience to get religion kill themselves by doing something as harmless sounding as not eating when they have the chance. It's a hard thing to teach them and the way you do it is by boring them with miles of competition and convincing them that this is no big deal. I don't think I'd be so concerned if your goal was to go to regular established rides. I think everyone is nervous that this Santa Fe deal will go wrong, that lots of people who don't have the miles behind them to spot these little undramatic details (like not eating) will show up and the "Great Adventure" will involve lots of IV's. I'd just like to put in a good word for the Great Adventure of the sport of endurance in general. You don't have to go to the ride that's putting out flyers like the old promoters who were trying to get pioneers to move out west. "Move to Oregon, the soil is so lush you can drop a seed and tomorrow you've got a crop!" What's such a "Great Adventure" about *this* race that makes it better than doing one of the other Pioneer Rides out there? If you go to a regular pioneer ride you'll be surrounded by people who know what the heck they're doing. Their horses will set a good example for your horse which will encourage him to eat and drink whereas the other will probably have lots of horses who are as excited as yours at the novelty of the event. Everybody knows that when you go to a ride the first time it's held there are often problems that get worked out in later years. The management of an established Pioneer ride will almost without fail put on a safer more enjoyable event than someone who is figuring it out as they go. You sound like you've got a lot of potential as a future endurance rider. I'm just saying you'll probably stand a better chance of making a good one and helping your horse become a successful endurance horse if you both do your learning at established rides. BTW, I did buy a book > post-ride. I dug it out today. It is Endurance and Competitive Trail Riding, by Wentworth Tellington and Linda Tellington-Jones, copywrite 1979. I borrowed a copy of that when I got started in 1987. Good stuff, but we've learned a LOT in the last 28 years. Nancy Loving has a newer book you might check into. Also, why not get a copy of AERC's vet video on DVD. You can also go to AERC.org and click on the education link. There's lots of info there. Interesting book, here is what they discuss about clothing: One of the greatest contributions to endurance riding has been the development of women's panty> house, I heard of a guy whose leg hairs worked through the hose, then kinda knotted up. Had a bit of trouble getting them off. >g< I HATE panty hose. Tights have a more comfortable waistband by far. Also, if you get your jeans wet, you'll wish you'd worn tights. Laney, you talked of carrying two water bottles on your person. I have> thought about using my military Camelbak. Has anyone ever used one? Many do. I prefer waterbottles so I can squirt my horse's neck. After I use one up I can refill it from streams for more squirting while drinking from the other. Something else just occurred to me: what kind of horsehauling/living> arrangement do you have? Nothing anybody else would want to camp in....especially for an extended time. :-P I'll let others comment on that! bags, and a grill are all we need. I am not sure if showers will be available. I'll bet money you'll just be praying to find a gas station that will let you pay to fill up your water tanks. If not, in the past we have set up a sunshower system in that part of the trailer where the horses are housed. We do have a water container that houses several gallons of water for the horses. I go through 55 gallons of water for 2 horses at a one day competition. Angie =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Ridecamp is a service of Endurance Net, http://www.endurance.net. Information, Policy, Disclaimer: http://www.endurance.net/Ridecamp Subscribe/Unsubscribe http://www.endurance.net/ridecamp/logon.asp Ride Long and Ride Safe!! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
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