During competition, I could understand that... there's lots of other riders who'll be coming through, there's checkpoints now and then, and there are sweep riders. But I want to carry a few things when we go out on rides because it's not all that easy to get back out and get a trailer in. We'll have our GPS this year, but GPS, like cell phone coverage out there, is not 100%. I'm wanting a little first aid to help us get back to the trailer if a horse gets a cut or a sprain, or something like when Bay fell on his knees... he walked out just fine, but I knew we had to hurry because those knees were gonna swell like melons by evening.
And you are right - They do that around here too, not just competition. Dumb to my way of thinking but I'd have made a good boy scout :) Be prepared.