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Re: [RC] Riding Cavalry - Angie FuraHi Michelle - I don't think there's anything wrong with it as long as you do your homework up front. Since this isn't your first time experiencing a ride, you should be fine. Plan what you want to bring to eat for both you and your horse. Don't forget electrolytes and probi if you use them. I always bring Advil too. Practice riding with your set up at home so you don't run into any day-of-ride issues. Watch out for anything that flops, rubs, or weighs too much. You may even want to simulate a lunch break into your conditioning ride to get your horse used to eating out of whatever container you'll use (I highly recommend Debbie Lashley's Cav Bowl - look her up on the AERC member directory).
Some riders bring mini fold-up chairs or stools, but I never found them to be useful. I usually just sit on the ground, but I have never done a 100 Cav - maybe someday!
Practice tacking your horse without any help and without tying him to anything stationary. This is useful anytime you don't have a crew.
Don't forget a mini bottle of bug spray for warm weather rides.
The only potential problem you might find is that you'll have to trot out your own horse at all VC's. If you have problem knees/legs, etc, you'll want to be prepared to drop Cav in case you can't trot your horse out on your own.
Every ride that does Cav has its own rules. Be familiar with them before you start. You don't want to go through all the extra work just to get bumped out of Cav.
You can talk to anyone, they just can't help you by holding your horse, running errands, etc. You'll get teased all day by folks who will refer to you as a leper and try to trick you into breaking the rules. Its pretty fun, but be careful!
If there's anything I can do to help you, give me a call. 931.682.2772. I am a huge fan of Cavalry and would like to get others interested too! You may find, like I did, that you don't need all the extra junk we so often haul to a VC. Riding Cav puts more emphasis on the relationship between rider and horse.
Angie Fura
From: Michelle Aquilino <michelle.antoinette@xxxxxxxxx> To: ridecamp <ridecamp@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> Sent: Thursday, July 16, 2009 12:55:36 PM Subject: [RC] Riding Cavalry I looked back in the archives over a year, and couldn't find anything on my question, so I'm posting, lol. Is there any detriment to riding cavalry as a newbie rider and horse (have done LDs, just not full endurance yet)? I know that you can't use a crew, or eat any food/hay lying on the ground from other horses, and that you have to pack all your vet check stuff in your saddle bags. I'm assuming that you can still talk to the vet and ask the vet questions during the hold? And that you can always drop out of cavalry and finish the ride as a normal rider, if something happens that forces you to have help... I never really have a crew, and like the idea of doing it all on my own, but didn't know if there was anything that I am not thinking of or realizing? Thanks! -Michelle -- "Don't breed or buy while shelter animals die"
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