Fall Apart and Annoyed

As you can guess, Day 4 is all about my carefully laid plans falling apart.

 

Allergy meds made me stupid and groggy.  I anticipated that, which is why I started Monday.  However they also made me sleep through my alarm, which means my trailer will NOT be going into the shop to get the DOT lights fixed this week, since this morning was the ONLY morning I had available. 

 

And have I mentioned yet that it's raining here?  Which means my fabulously planned week of ground work is NOT going to happen.  And my plans of running have turned into walking.  I'll be trying out my rain outfit (pants included) which is a GOOD thing because the forecast has moved from "rain unlikely" to "definitely rain" for Saturday.

 

I'm contemplating doing the whole drive on Friday instead of leaving Thursday evening.  That's one less day she has to stand in the rain.....

 

Now since I promised you no more whiny posts, I have to pretend that the post below was the real reason for this post.  In reality, I just wanted to whine. 

 

On one of the boards I follow and post, someone asked the question of what annoys you the most when new people show horses.  Along with the more predictable responses of "I'm annoyed when the veterans aren't nice to use newbies!", there were a lot of complains about newbie turnout and horse cleanliness. 

 

Now - before you get all hot and bothered, I will admit that there is a LOT veteran riders can do to make a newbie's experience enjoyable.  HOWEVER, I remember as a newbie being very concerned about being a "nuisance" and really wanting to do the right thing....if I just knew what was expected.  Lists like this one really helped me ride courteously at my first ride and as a result, people were more likely to stick around and help me out and explain stuff. 

 

Here are my top 10 pet peeves in the endurance world (no matter if it's a veteran OR a newbie:

 

First my list of caveats:  Sometimes "stuff" happens.  I totally understand.  We are all human.  An apology and a quick smile goes a long way.  I don't expect any horse to be perfectly behaved and I've been horrified at behavior that has NEVER happened at home.  I think we've all been surprised......however how the offending rider handles such a situation in recognizing and rectifying it counts for a LOT.  So please don't' assume if some poor innocent person accidentally does one of these, I automatically roar and singe the whiskers off the horses face in rage!

• Using my horse as "brakes" because you are in a hackamore, have no brakes, and somehow it's OK because it's "their first ride".  BS.  Control your horse or take it home.  You are putting my and my horse's safety on the line. 

 

• People who ride up my tail.  Never appropriate.  Just don't do it.  I usually tell the person behind me that "she's in season, can you please give us some space?" as a polite way of saying "DO NOT PUT YOUR HORSE'S NOSE IN MY HORSE'S A$$ PLEASE!!!!"  She's sweet and doesn't kick, but doesn't concentrate as well on a technical trail if some is RIGHT THERE.  I then I'm ultra careful I don't do this to anyone else.  :)

 

• Flashing your car lights into the tent and setting off the alarm CONSTANTLY throughout the night. 

 

• People who talk to me in the early morning of a ride (before dawn) with their headlamps on. 

 

• People who don't listen to the ride managers instructions so we can ALL have a good ride - such as sponging or scooping out of water troughs when it has been expressly forbid so that the WHOLE ride will have horse water, not just you, in the middle of the ride.  And guess what?  Your horse may LOVE sweaty, salty sponge water, but maybe mine doesn't?

 

• Pushing my horse off the water trough when crowded when she's still drinking because your horse is thirsty.  They all are.  but since you stopped my horse from drinking, now she won't drink as much.  Please be polite and wait your turn. 

 

• Letting your horse say "hello" to mine by touching noses.  She's hear to drink, not flirt and you are distracting her, not to mention possibly spreading disease.  AND even though you think it's "KWOOT" when horses touch noses and squeal and strike (apparently, because why would you let 2 strange horses do that unless that is what you are looking for?) please dont because my horse has a job to do and I'm also interested in all of us (horse and human) getting to the end of this ride alive and in one piece, ready to ride another day. 

So for most of these offenses I have cute little phrases I have pre-formulated so that no one's feelings get hurt, but so we can both have a good ride.  Of course I'm also totally guilty about a snappish, witchy person too....but the frequency decreases when I have a throught out response to most of my pet peeves.  Here's some of mine....

• "I don't let my horse say hello.  Thanks!"
• "She's in season and being a bit difficult.  Do you mind giving us some space?"
• "Please no touchy noses!" (said in a high-pitch "cutie" voice to the other person's horse, therefore alerting them to the fact their horse is trying to blow it's snot up my horse's nose)
• "My the water is getting low!  Do you think the turtles will have any when they come by?"  (to the sponger and scooper from water trough that was expressly forbidden...)
• "Is this your first ride?"
• "I'm sorry but my eyes are very sensitive to light this early, do you mind turning your headlamp off while we talk?"

What are some of yours?