Endurance Etiquette
It's always important to exercise good judgement and safe behavior when working with horses. Trail etiquette on an endurance ride is particularly critical as horses are often excited and in unfamiliar territory and circumstances. Here are some highly recommended tips on how to be a polite endurance rider. HINT - Wear something that makes you stand out as a Green Bean, such as a green ribbon, to let others know you're new at this! (These suggestions copied from this post).
- If you ask to ride with somebody, allow your "sponsor" to go into the pulse box or across the line first unless they have communicated otherwise.
- If your competitor comes up behind you in a creek and their horse starts drinking, don't blast off. Ask if it's alright to leave (and even wait a few swallows before asking).
- Slow down for all riders, unless you know them and their horses well; endurance riders usually have right-of-way.
- If someone opens a gate for you, pass through the gate and then wait for the person who got off to get back on their horse and continue.
- When you are coming from behind, alert the riders ahead of you. Say: "Passing on the left or right" and allow the person time to move their horse over for you.
- Don't block another rider who has obviously caught you. Ask, "Would you like to pass?" and slow down/move over to allow them room if they do.
- If you pass another rider, do not slow down once you're ahead of them. "Leapfrog" is not appreciated.
- Always allow enough space (the ability to see the horses back feet in front of you).
- Don't bump or run your horse into other horses at the vet check when they are pulsing down (or any time for that matter).
- Do not blast past other riders. Communicate with them and pass safely.
- Do not tail gate a calm horse just because you didn't take the time to train yours.
- Do not let your horse nuzzle or chew on another horse at water troughs, or bump/run into a horse at the trough.
- Do not soak your sponge in the drinking trough. If there is not a "sponge" bucket, scoop the water out and sponge/soak your horse with that (bring a water scoop!).
- Don't race your sponsor unless she/he tells you to go ahead of her/him.
- Slow down when you come across other riders and check to make sure they're alright.
- At the holds do not let your horse eat all of someone else's mash, grain, hay whatever especially if it obvious that the horse its been put out for hasn't come through the hold yet.
- Don't assume your good little horse will behave - stay alert.
- Many times, people are preparing their own cooling stations with water buckets at vet checks. Don't use their water! And if you do - immediately refill.
- Don't help yourself to someone else's strapping gear/water/sponges at holds without checking first.
- If you ride with someone for a major portion of the ride but make them do all the leading, don't race them in at the finish line. Exception is if you try to do your share of the leading but they just speed up. Then have at it...just don't make them pull you around and then take advantage of them.
- MY horse is not YOUR horse's brakes!
- Don't assume someone wants to "chat" just because you are riding with them. People often need to concentrate on the trail, the horse, etc. or may not hear well through their helmet. Don't assume someone wants company either. Often riders choose to ride alone.
- Be in control of your horse even if someone does come along.
- Don't get mad at someone and bad mouth them after a race. Talk calmly to them when you get the chance. Could be a misunderstanding.
- If you are riding with someone for a ways, whether you know them or not and they have an issue (that you know of), stop and wait with them.
- If you commit to ride with others, ride to the speed of the slowest horse.
- If you're riding together stay together at the vet check.
- If you have been riding with someone and come into a vet check and your horse is pulsed down, wait for the other person before leaving the vet area.
- Contain your animals so that they do not become an issue for other riders or horses - including horses, dogs, and children!
- Don't ask the person next to you to clarify something said at a ride briefing while the ride briefing is going on. Wait until the end please.