Re: how do you do it?
Samm C Bartee (bartesc@mail.auburn.edu)
Wed, 22 Jan 1997 11:50:14 -0600 (CST)
Generally, if I can swing it, I leave Thurs evening. I am taking all day
Fri off anyway, and I am a night person, so driving for 4-5 hours is not a
problem for me. I generally have a buddy or two in the truck, so staying
awake is easy. It has gotten easy to set up in the dark, it's the rain
and the dark that give me fits. I have been known to get there, tie off to
the trailer with hay and water, and hit the sack. If it's nice, I usually
wake up really good after getting there, and setting up the corrall is not
a problem. Even in fairly dark conditions. With two people it goes fairly
fast too. Then when I wake up, I BS with everyone coming in, take my time
getting stuff together, and generally find time to help management if they
need it. Having all day makes it nice, and although there is usually two
adults to get three horses ready for the ride, it goes smoothly.
Sometimes my JR rider comes later than we get there, and sometimes it's
just easier for us to get it all done at one time--she will generally have
home work etc to do. Although, we do work our JR rider!!:-) She is a
great help to have in the camp and at the vet checks.
This is just our routine, and while I realize all cannot do this, it has
really helped me and my horses to relax before the hectic vet in and ride
start times.
Karen is right, though. It does take years to get it all together. I
have been riding endurance since 1991, and still modify my camping regime
as I go. I can really laugh at what I did in the beginning. IT's a wonder
I ever got to ride at all!!:-)
samm