Do you remember your very first ride meeting at your very first endurance ride? I sure do. I remember listening to the ride manager and the head veterinarian at the ride meeting and thinking to myself, "I don't understand half of what they are saying." Heat indexes, inversion, P&Rs, and meeting criteria sounded like Greek to me.

Then there were the rules -- no sponging at this tank but you are allowed to sponge out of these buckets, your hold time starts after you meet a criteria of 64, we are using a gate into a hold at vet checks 2 and 4, three blue-colored ribbons indicate a turn but only if they are on your left. I had absolutely no clue how I would follow these rules, much less remember them.

At the end of the ride meeting the ride manager asked if anyone had any questions. I didn't even know where to begin asking questions so I didn't. I felt like I was the only one in this group of riders that had the "deer in the headlights" look and I certainly didn't want to call attention to my inexperience and ignorance. Looking back, I really would have appreciated a new rider briefing.

With the influx of new riders to the sport, some ride managers have arranged a "newbie" briefing which immediately follows the regular ride meeting. This is usually given by an experienced rider to welcome new riders to the sport.

This person takes the time to explain the nuts and bolts of how an endurance ride works and what to expect on the trail and at vet checks. Newbies are encouraged to ask questions about anything they don't understand. Most of all, they are encouraged to have fun riding while keeping their horses healthy and safe.

Rides offering new rider briefings report rave reviews and new riders really do appreciate a ride meeting geared towards beginners. Ride managers and experienced riders appreciate the fact that the general ride meeting and question-and-answer period following the ride meeting is kept to a minimum because the night before competition can be the busiest and most stressful time for ride management and riders alike.

Because of the success of newbie briefings, AERC has developed a new rider briefing outline that is now available to all AERC members and ride managers. AERC would like to see more rides offer this service for riders new to the sport but realized that adding another ride meeting is one more thing for a ride manager to do in preparation for their ride.

By developing an outline for the new rider briefing, AERC has done all the work. All of the details for the briefing are in an easy-to-follow outline form yet it is generalized enough to adapt to a specific region or a specific ride's conditions. The briefing is designed to take around 30 minutes, depending on the number of new riders. The experience level of the new riders and whether the new riders have mentors also affect the briefing length.

AERC is inviting experienced riders to volunteer giving the new rider briefing at their local endurance rides. Ride management has dozens of other things demanding their attention the night before a ride so this responsibility should fall to an experienced rider, not the ride manager. This is a wonderful way for endurance riders to give back to the sport and share their enthusiasm with new riders. This is also a way for experienced riders to welcome new riders to endurance riding.

The AERC new rider briefing is available on the AERC website: New Rider Briefings. If you are interested in participating in this program and would like to give a new rider briefing, please contact your region's mentor liaison or the AERC Education Committee.

Ride managers who are interested in having a new rider briefing for their ride can contact the mentor liaison for their region for a list of experienced riders available to give newbie briefings.