horse's first overnight

["Pete, Deb and Beth LaBerge" <plaberge@epix.net>]

I have a horse that was ready for an introductory over-night at a 
competition site.
What worked out to be a low-stress introduction was to take him to drag 
ride the 3rd day of a 3-day 80 CTR near me last wkend. He got to sleep 
over the night before in an environment where
the horses were pretty relaxed at that point. I tacked up and warmed up 
with everyone else in the AM, he watched about 40 horses start and then 
we drag-rode the 20 miles and took down ribbons on some of the trail. We 
both had a really good time, and I think he developed more self 
confidence.    
Deb LaBerge