That's what the drag riders are for. Unless you got off trail the drag ridders would always be behind you. If a competitor is moving alot slower then the rest, one drag rider would stay with them while the rest of the drag riders caught up to the rest of the group. Drag riders ride in a group so that if one needs to stop to render assistance there are still others to keep going with the competitors. If you got so far behind that you were disqualified, you COULD finish, or you could stop and be trailered back in. There would be nothing to be embarrassed about. It happens sometimes, a first time rider gets out there and for whatever reason decides to stop. I've been trailered back in before, when I thought my horse was getting too tired.
Becky
Well, yeah I would stop for my horse of course but me...no way, even if it took all day:') Later.