The riding-day planning sheet
The booking details and the questions I would settle before setting out.
The booking I kept
- Operator
- HorsePlay Niagara
- Updated date
- September 2, 2018
- Party
- Two adults, private ride
- Quoted total
- CA$237.30, including HST, in the 2018 confirmation
The booking was moved from September 1 to September 2. I would put the new date in both places immediately. Otherwise I have two versions of the afternoon, and a horse expecting me for only one of them.
Read the whole confirmation
The selected option says “1-1/2 Hour,” while the time block says 1:00–2:00 p.m. I would ask the operator to confirm the actual riding time rather than use the calendar block to plan the rest of the day.
The 2018 instructions asked us to arrive half an hour early. I’d leave that extra time in the plan again, and check the operator’s instructions before setting out.
Questions before leaving home
- What experience level is this particular ride suited to?
- How long is the ride, and how much time is needed before it starts?
- What clothing and footwear should we bring, and what equipment is supplied?
- Where do bags and phones go during the ride?
- Who should we contact about weather or a change of plans?
I’d save the answers in one note and follow the guide’s instructions on the day. The point of planning is to arrive ready to listen.
Something to bring home
For next time, I would keep three short notes: what surprised me, what I enjoyed once I stopped concentrating so hard, and what I would ask before doing it again.
“I was new at this” is a perfectly useful first line.