REMEMBER: You can walk your horse. It is better to get off your horse and walk it fifty feet,than endanger you or your horse and walk home.
1. Generally the ride goes the speed of the slowest rider(s) - unless the group is divided into two or more sections.
2. Commonly the quicker riders/horses are to the front of the group.
3. The difficulty of the ride is determined by the least able horse/rider - unless alternate detours are implemented.
4. Many riders unfamiliar with trail riding will over estimate or exaggerate their capabilities, (as well as seasoned riders at times.)
5. Many horses/riders with great abilities in other disciplines may be problematic
on trail rides. Example: you may have a great trail horse but that doesn’t
mean that he can race barrels or handle crowds or stadium lights. In the same
respect a performance horse (show/rodeo/etc.) may well encounter objects or
situations that they have never had to address before.
6. A “buddy” system may be of great value to a trail green horse,
such as another horse they know or seem to like/trust who is more adept at trails.
Many times having another horse pass an object or obstacle will allow a horse
to maneuver it with more confidence.
7. A horse that wants to charge or push forward can many times be held to speed
by putting it behind another horse and not letting it pass. (This depends on
your horse, and the other horse, whether either bites, kicks, etc. Ask the rider
ahead to make sure their horse is safe enough and they are willing to let you
following them.)
8.Get an idea of the other horses, the ones that are calm, the biters, kickers,
studs, mares (and if they are in season), experienced or not..etc. At the same
time check out the other riders, the novices, old hands - nervous or calm, etc.
Talk to the other riders but use your impressions as well (people can exaggerate,
or overestimate.)
9. Find out in advance what procedures are required for passing (on the left
or right for example), stopping, etc.
10.If the pace of the group is a little too slow you may be able to offset
it by riding in a circle beside the group and bringing your horse back into
the group periodically. Or depending on terrain, riding him to the side and
around and between brushes to expend some energy. Also on near runoffs or in
advance of a runoff this latter technique may help.
11. In most cases if a horse near you starts to act up or buck or display other
unruly behavior, your best bet is to stop or get your horse away from them.
Many times someone trying to reach out and grab another persons horse just compounds
the issue. Exceptions may be parents or owners of the other horse (someone the
horse knows and responds to), or people that have experience with these situations.
12. Never leave the group for a short cut alone...or let anyone else do so...If
they want to leave because they are fatigued, spooked, or just had a set to
with the horse (bucking, etc.), they will be nervous and/or scared and at less
than their full capabilities. This will not be a good time for them to handle
any further incidences. If there are further problems or issues with the horse,
they would be alone, and this is not good. There may be exceptions to this but
that is up to the discretion of the trail boss and or group. It is not a good
feeling to get back and find out that someone who should have been there before
you hasn’t shown up yet.
13.It is a good idea (and with some groups mandatory) to have a halter under
the head stall, and if not possible, than a good idea is to have one with you.
A good lead rope is also a necessity. Many trail rides may have a stop over
with a tie up, or some incident may require you to tie up your horse, and while
in familiar areas such as arenas and such your horse may be fine, but he may
get spooked while tied up somewhere along a trail (by small animals, windy trees,
etc.). Some horses may be trained for neck tie, hobbles or other means but use
your best judgment.
14. Most riders experienced with trails will have habits that differ from those
in other disciplines. They, as a rule, will not run up or down hills, or even
jump their horses if they can avoid it. Many have learned from experience that
while fun, these are not safe trail practices. Even though it may be a short
trail ride the idea is to leave and return safe. It you treat the ride as though
you were a hundred miles away from support instead of a couple of miles, you
may have a different viewpoint. A sprained ankle, broken leg, etc., takes on
a whole new dimension for you and your horse, if you have to add in extra waiting
or traveling time.
15. On steeper hills or less secure hills, (small gravel, slippery rock, etc.),
it is usually a good idea to increase the space between horses or even to wait
until the previous horse has navigated the hill. This can also be true in tighter
areas, ditch crossings, or other situations.
16.Take what you may need with you and don’t depend on someone else to
have it. Know, don’t guess, if your horse can carry a saddlebag, rope,
or whatever else you may not use with them often. At the same time especially
on longer rides don’t overburden your horse, it is hard to ride a great
distance if you or the horse are hampered and are not used to it. Generally
a trail ride is not the place to try a new piece of tack or equipment.
17.Remember to be aware and watch out for your horse. If they are used to short
periods of heavy/fast activities, they may find a prolonged activity more tiring.
Also if they are used to a higher than walking gait consistently and you are
on a walking trail ride they may fatigue sooner than you expect. If they are
used to flat land or arena work and you encounter hills or climbing in and out
of washes, ditches, etc., they may tire quickly. Of course more speed than they
are used to may have the same effect.
18. If the group keeps an eye out for themselves and other riders you may be
able to catch things before they become a problem. Notify those behind you of
broken glass, holes, wire, or other potential hazards.
19.Picking the type of trail ride and the type of trail boss can also have a
big influence on how enjoyable the ride will be. Some rides may be geared to
a faster pace or require more exertion than you will enjoy. The opposite could
also be true. While you consider the condition of the horse you must also consider
the condition you are in. You and your horse can have a easier shorter ride
than you are used to and still enjoy it, but, if you or your horse over extend
by any great amount it will take the fun out of it. Preconditioning rides are
a good practice and give you a better idea of you and your horse’s abilities.
If there are none available then starting out with shorter easier rides more
often and gradually adding distance or difficulty has great benefits. The more
you and your horse become a team instead of just horse and rider, the better
able you are to deal with anything you may encounter.
20.Trail riding is usually a great way for rider and horse to bond and trust
each other. Trail riding may also have the advantage of giving your horse exercise
that may be lacking in other areas. It may also give them a mental “boost”,
as many of them find trails both challenging and relaxing. You may notice increased
stamina and endurance in some horses.
21.Overall, trail riding is sometimes the closest that some horses come to a
more natural environment that they have evolved from. Roaming free for periods
in large pastures and such may be much closer to their ancestry, but many penned
horses that are worked and ridden in enclosed areas may find it a happy medium.
22.Not all horses take trail riding well, as other horses may not take other
disciplines well. There are many horses that do find problems with wider, open
areas or confronting “nature” more closely. This may be an individual
trait that they have, because of family lines, training, habit, psychology,
or other reasons.
23. Some horses can have issues such as not liking proximity to other horses,
being barn sour or even agoraphobic to name a few. While trail horses may also
develop issues such as being buddy sour, herd sour, or wanting specific positions
in the group (only the lead or the middle etc.).
24.All in all, it depends on what you and your horse wants and where you both
will compromise. Trail riding is not the all to end all or even the best discipline
for every horse, but, it may be for some and can have some benefits for some
others.
ENJOY WHATEVER TYPE OF RIDING YOU DO!!
Trail Riding
Written by
Gordon Wiks
11/24/07