What would you do different? Would you do things the exact same? Things you wish you had known about when you started? Or things you would tell someone going into their first endurance ride?
As i gather more and more info, I want to see examples of the above. Things that may save me hardship or problems when my first ride comes this spring.
Thanks!
At my first endurance ride, I let the mob leave as I hung back at the start. I had a very excitable horse and didn’t want to get caught up in the race. After everybody was out of sight I proceeded to follow the map. About 8-10 miles into the race, I had a group of 8 riders come past me. I figured they were the stragglers bringing up the rear. Because there were very few behind me when I left the start.
So I tagged in with thinking that must be the pace that the slowest riders rode at. When we got to the P&R, I found out this was the ride leaders. Everybody had gotten lost and they were making up time. Because I was following the map and not following riders ahead of me, I never got lost. My horse was spent from moving at their pace. I got held at the P&R. all the horses we had been riding with left and my horse got upset.
I ended up walking and leading my horse a lot of the last leg in order to finish.
Lesson learned, Know what my speed is and don’t get suckered into moving faster
First ever ride I did was a 30 mile LD on the 1st day of a 2 day ride. The person(s) doing the trail marking had started marking a trail to be used the second day, but that trail intersected with the prior day trail, making the dual markings confusing for the two riders (of which I was one) new to the trail, and the sport. And the trail manager had told us at the briefing that the “trail would turn up the mountain” near that spot, so we got turned onto the wrong trail and went 10 miles off course before the ribbons abruptly stopped. It was really discouraging, and infuriating. Management apologized profusely for that situation because NOTHING had been posted for that 2nd day trail to say as much. A simple pie plate saying “Sunday’s trail” would have sufficed, or just removing the first couple of ribbons to prevent people from turning wrong. The person marking the trail was an old timer who just assumed everyone “knew the right trail”. As it was, only 4 riders completed that 30 mile LD out of the 12, and three of those riders were big name 100 mile riders (Kanavey, and the Mackay-Smiths) who knew the trails intimately, and the fourth had done that same ride in two previous years so also knew the trails.
So my RO was the result of a management screw-up and me not having a map because the ride management didn’t print any - they just had the trail marked on a big map used for the ride briefing. After all, they assumed, it was only an LD. But what it taught me was to be extra special careful of where I was going, where the ribbons were going, and to always carry the ride map with me even if it was one I had to draw myself.
What would I tell someone going to their first ride? My advice would be this:
Study the trail map several times well before the ride, and always carry it with you. If possible the day before, warm up your horse by riding casually the first 2 or 3 miles of the start, and also the last mile of the finish. That way you will recognize those segments of the trail when you hit them.
RIDE YOUR OWN RIDE. Do NOT be pulled into group dynamics - that’s how people get lost on trail. Ride at YOUR pace, not someone else’s (which is how/why most horses develop metabolic issues).
Carry food and water for yourself, and some carrots or horse cookies for your horse. The act of eating or drinking, and feeding your horse reroute, has a calming effect of both of you and will help alleviate both stress and race jitters.
Shoe or boot appropriately. If you boot, glue them on.
My first one was an LD at a ride that is notorious for a big, open field start and lots of drama at the start. I didn’t know anyone there and I was totally winging it on what I’d read online and in books.
So my list of would have done differently/ wish I’d known:
For someone starting out- I’d repeat gothedistance’s #2 over and over- Ride your own ride. It’s tough to do when you’re starting out and unsure of yourself, but if you know yourself and your horse, you’ll be okay.
And if you can, definitely volunteer at a ride or two first. Get the feel and rhythm of the start, the vettings, etc. Watch what the successful teams are doing. I’ve found endurance folk to be very happy to answer questions and share info (just ask at the appropriate times 
)- so if you have a question about something you see, just ask. Or if you don’t want to volunteer, see if you can find someone who needs a crew member at a ride.
Not much more I could do on my first ride. It was an LD, I finished second, only minutes behind a hundred miler rider and horse who had only did the 25 miler that weekend .
I didn’t know how sore my shoulders would hurt because I had to hold the horse back most of the way.
-shudders-
My first LD I wore a big Camelbak that bounced the first 15 miles and rubbed my skin raw on my shoulders.
Mine was the same place and I got SO lucky that my mare was a saint and ignored the chaos around her, as I would never recommend that ride for a first time rider.
Things I wished I had learned sooner:
human eltyes are a life saver, as you can’t take very good care of your horse (or ride well) if you are bonking
cotton is NOT your friend… especially on the bottom half of your body
wear a 1/2 size bigger shoe for rides and you can feel your feet when you are finished
don’t be afraid to speak up/ask questions. most people are very friendly and helpful
I think I know what ride you and tr are referring to. I have been tempted to try for that one since it is loca. I have only done one competitive trail ride. My horse just might melt down at a chaotic start. On the other hand he does foxhunt and a big field galloping after hounds in full cry probably isn’t much difference- not that he is fun with that for the first couple of miles.
With my one and only CT I had to do a minor underwear adjustment at about 12 miles. They had shifted and were not in a convenient spot. Make sure you use the same underwear you are comfortable with in training rides.
In general for clinics, events, and competitions of any types- don’t change anything from your every day practice. No new/different bits, boots, breeches, underwear, gloves, saddle pads etc… on the day of competition. It can be tempting to use those new tights/breeches/gloves/saddle pad for the event. My luck normally goes that there will be something slightly different about the new item that I don’t like even if it is the supposed to be the same exact model as my old ones.
I mostly do low level eventing. Sometime early in the week prior to an event I make sure that I stadium jump in my vest with my crop, medical armband, tall boots and jumping boots on my horse. For practice I don’t normally wear those. Therefore I take them all for a test drive so I have time to make adjustments and re-acclimate myself to them. If I have a new dressage jacket I will wear that to practice once before the actual test to make sure it is comfortable and no alterations are needed.
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