© MIKE COLLINS
At a P & R , riders do what is best for their particular horses to help them relax . an entry for each class . Our sport keeps you on your horse for 2 days and is money well spent .
You can ’ t put a price tag on the judges . The horses are judged by a licensed veterinarian . It will receive a thorough soundness exam at check in . The vet will check for hydration levels , gut sounds and other metabolic conditions and will do it all over again at check out . During competition they will continue to check soundness and condition on the trail when the horse is working and will check for soreness following the ride . The pulse & respiration crew will record the horse ’ s vitals twice during each day . You will learn how to get your horse to relax , to get into the zone for a good recovery . Your horse is under the eye of a vet from the time it checks in until it checks out . Your entry fee is cheap when you consider the rewards .
The horsemanship judge will judge you on your equitation , in-hand presentation , grooming , stabling , safety and courtesy , and your tack and equipment . That doesn ’ t mean they are going to tell you to buy a new saddle , but they may note if your breast collar is too tight or your latigo so cracked and worn that it might be a safety issue . They might offer suggestions for saddle adjustments to alleviate possible pain or galling on your horse , and you might lose a point for being heavy in the saddle or hindering your horse ’ s movement . While his or her job is to distinguish your horsemanship from that of another rider , you should also look at it as having a personal trainer helping you to become a better equestrian .
All this training and education is included in the cost of the ride . You will go home with your scorecard serving as your “ homework ” – a part of making you more successful as a rider in general as well as in this sport .
6 . Snobs ! All the riders are prima donnas !
“ Do not judge a person too harshly as you don ’ t know what battle they may be fighting .” Perhaps a little
16 • Walking On
Most of the time everyone a rider encounters has a ready smile . P & R volunteers often include seasoned open competitors who give back to the sport by volunteering .
melodramatic but you know what I mean . Maybe the person who snubbed you just found out their horse is lame . Or perhaps they are in competition for a national award and plotting their ride or most likely just in their own zone . Don ’ t let the actions of one or two be indicative of our sport . Ride managers like to pair new riders with a mentor , and many of our seasoned riders love mentoring . And don ’ t be shy ! Ask questions ! We are here to help . If you get your feelings hurt , brush it off and move on . Look for the positive . This is not the sport for the passive aggressive ! There is a camaraderie among riders that is second to none . You will get to know the riders not only from your region but others regions as well . The first ride is the toughest . Take that first step .
© CHERYL EDMONDSON
Western ( as seen here ), English , Aussie , Endurance , old McClellan cavalry , treeless , and may other types of saddles all work well as long as they fit your horse and you !
7 . All I have is a western saddle !
© MIKE COLLINS
I started out in my western saddle , a horn bag , a hoof pic , a wind-up watch , a knife , a granola bar or an apple , a rain slicker and a couple bottles of water . I