Reprinted from Endurance News, June 2007 Ride Managers’ Column, monthly publication of the American Endurance Ride Conference, www.aerc.org, 866-271-2372
“Well, there’s not too much blood . . .”
“And then the herd galloped onto the interstate . . .”
“But when they crossed the state line, they were fairly sure they were off trail.”
“Um, aren’t the horses supposed to be coming to the in-timer from the other direction?”
Your name, whatever it should happen to be. (Some ride managers have confessed to me that they have considered actually changing their given name. Drastic, perhaps, but after managing a two-day ride I recall lying awake in bed hearing my voice being called with varying urgency: “Patti.” “Patti?” “Patti!”
“The portajohn is out of toilet paper (or overflowing)!”
“I know you’re in the middle of calculating BC/treating a horse/handling a crisis but can I get my completion award now?”
“The bees didn’t sting the first four or five riders . . .”
“Was that tree across the trail yesterday?”
“I thought you were going to bring the food/hay/stethoscopes (fill in the blank).”
“There is an escaped fugitive, and we think he’s out somewhere on Loop 3.”
“We’re out of water/the pump broke/the water truck broke down.”
“We think we saw a mountain lion.”
“Where is the nearest vet clinic?”
“I know it’s five minutes before the start, but can I switch horses?”
“I know it’s five minutes before the start, but can I get information about criteria, holds and trail?”
“Oops, we let the first rider out of the hold ten minutes early.”
“All the trail markers have been pulled!”
“Remember that little creek? We had to swim it.”
“I know I’m supposed to be vetting your ride, but I’ve had a family emergency/vehicle breakdown/bout of explosive diarrhea and can’t make the ride.”
Oh, the joys of being an RM!
I’ve been asked to chair AERC’s Ride Managers Committee, and look forward to working with members of the committee to try to provide guidance, support, and a conduit to the entire organization for one of our greatest resources — the AERC ride manager.
If you’re a ride manager, or thinking of becoming one, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with the committee representative for your region, or any of us on the committee. We’ll help you get hooked up with the resources that can help you out, possibly a mentor, and the AERC Ride Managers’ group e-mail list.
There is no greater joy than a happy rider trotting by on ride day saying, “What a great ride!” Makes you almost forget (almost) all of the things you don’t want to hear.