I was thinking of some more stuff about CTR that you might find interesting.
About Mounting, even a normal mount can be a big challenge. You get a sadistic judge who makes you do it first thing on Sat. morning:) Horses are antsy anyway, somehow they know this is just not a ride. Horses moving around all over the place, and you have to mount the horse, keep him still...yeah right:)
If you have to mount out on the trail somewhere, you need to always place the horse in the lowest area in the area your mounting in, or look for a rock or something to use as a mounting block. If there is something available, use it.
You also have to, when being judged, or at P&R's always keep hold of the reins or lead or lunge line with both hands.. So if you lunge with a whip, which is acceptable, you have to practice keeping hold of the lunge line in both hands plus work your whip.
About the whip, if you don't check in with one, you can't use one at the end. I always use one, just in case my horse seems tired at the end. I don't use it for check in, because I don't want my horse to be highly animated:) Tricks of the trade.
Also on trail you have to always have a pocket knife and a sponge. The knife is to cut the horse loose if a problem arises, make sure it is sharp, I have had a judge check that once. The sponge is for when you come to water you can sponge your horse if he's hot. A good way to do this, but needs pratice at home, is to get one of those yellow sponges for washing cars, tie a long string around the middle, wind the excess around the middle and tie to your saddle. Then when you come to water you can lower the sponge into the water with out gitting off. Hauling it back up can make a horse wide eyed:)
At the P&R stops they line you up side by side, most people hit them about the same time. Some people untack to help the horse cool, I just loosen the cinch a bit. You have to practice to get your horse to stand and rest for the allowed 10 minutes. That can be a challenge. The horses ahead of you are leaving, horses behind you coming in, so theres lots of coming and going. But the people the PR are suppose to be very quiet, keep the horses as still as possible. I stand at the side of my horse, and rub pat her neck. Belle learned to cock a back leg and almost go to sleep. Rusty was still looking around alot, at the few I took him too. The more relaxed you can get your horse, the better your PR will be. The judges may or may not be there watching how you handle your horse.
Becky
I'd do that naturally, Bay is so tall I can mount from the ground, but like to at least put him in a low spot or find a log ;~D I am glad that's allowed!
RE: lunge whip.... tricky! :~D
Then when you come to water you can lower the sponge into the water with out gitting off. Hauling it back up can make a horse wide eyed:)
That's great! But yeah - that's enough to freak out and Arab horse the first time when it's all drippy ;~D
You have to practice to get your horse to stand and rest for the allowed 10 minutes. That can be a challenge.
I think that's the kind of stuff Bay would do well at. He's always willing to just stand at rest stops. We have a popular lunch spot that is a wide spot in a busy trail by a waterfall. He looks and hears riders coming, but he doesn't care too much. That is probably also something he would have been through a lot in Endurance.
It all sounds great, keep the details coming!