Trail Tips

[cursivenight]

Hey everyone, I know that trail riding isn't strictly western, but I thought maybe you guys would know some stuff.

I was wondering if you have any tips for the trail - whether its controlling your horse, things to watch out for, etc.

I'm going to be taking my Ringo for more trail rides since he did so well on his first off road/dirt track one last time. =D

[mhoney05]

i dont think you need to change the way you control.......maybe just looking ahead....make sure that your horse is capable of the stuff you make him do (steep hills) stuff like that..............watch out for wildlife. i dont know if you have trails next to the streets or more like wild life park. when we come up on a rattle snake or a mountain lion........we sream and throw stuff at the mountain lion (i know its cruel but they get out of the way) an calmly wait for either the snake to get out of the way.......if the snake is coiled and rattleing we either go the other way or we go majorly out of the way to get around them. snakes typically dont strike unless they are coiled. what type of wild life to you have there and what type of terrain? MAKE SURE TO WEAR A HELMET! i know some people dont but you never know what your gonna come up on. helmet is your choice though

[cursivenight]

Well it's praire like...The place I'm mostly going to trail ride him is in the country, through big open fields, mostly. And a bit through wetlands as well. If I take him anywhere, it might be to a park inside Calgary...so a bit forested and maybe a touch hilly. And possibly maybe to the mountains, but not till at least next year.

[mhoney05]

then he will probably do fine through most of it. just watch for anything that could hurt/affect him,watch out for animals, and just have fun.....to me part of the fun of going on trail is not knowing what you might see/find.......and gallopin SUPER fun! and the helmet is your choice but i would advise wearing one though again your choice.

[Alwaysridin09]

i would look for water, tall grass, and small tings like twigs that he can step on.
water and tall grass because horses often times dont like to stick their feet in things that they cant see through. if he does step n a twig and it snaps, that can upset him. since its mostly country side, u should be okay, just be cautios in the wetlands part. u guys will do just fine.
enjoy the trails! :D

[silverleprichuan]

-if your in a group make sure that everyone understands to slow down or stop if one of the horses is acting up.
-Remember to stay hydrated (both horse and rider)
-lots of fly spray
-practice halting and standing quietly throughout the ride to remind your horse that this is suposed to be fun but he still has to ben responsive
-have a lot of fun

[mhoney05]

i agree^ with what everyone says


and enjoy

[Max]

something I would watch out for is rabbits and rodents.I'm not sure if you have any around your area but it tends to make a horse jump.

Good luck ;)

[cursivenight]

Thx guys...

Yeah, the first time we went truly in the big fields and not on the dirt road was a couple weekends ago. A bird or SOMETHING flew out of nowhere underneath ringo and hit his belly. Well. He went straight up in the air, then sideways, then up again. Lol. We had been standing there waiting for the others...he dumped me in the grass cause i wasn't paying attention and was leant over a bit...the thing scared me as much as it did him lol....

Thanks again for the tips, I greatly appriciate them.

[luvs2ride1979]

A few tricks that have worked for me:

If your horse starts to act up, don't pull back with both reins and get tense. Turn him in a circle if you have room, at the trot if you can. Look up, breathe, and be calm. Ignore whatever it is he's fussing about and keep circling until he's relaxed and focused on you. Then give him a good pat/scratch and go on with the ride.

Don't every approach another horse at more than a walk. You can end up startling both horses.

Don't get too close to another horse's rear end, even if you "know" the horse is a good boy/girl.

Let the horse drink water whenever he wants to. If he starts pawing, jerk up the reins and send him forward. Pawing in water often leads to rolling in water! :eek:

If your horse takes off on you, don't pull back with both reins. Pull one rein around tight, so his nose is at your boot, and give him some nudges or kicks with the leg he's looking at, to move his rump around. Then send him in your tight circles at the trot.

Keep your eyes on his ears! If he's overlly attentive to something and you feel him start to jig or tense, shift in the saddle, ask him to sidepass a step or two, or do whatever you can to get his attention back on you.

Can you tell I've ridden a lot of spooky horses? lol

[luvs2ride1979]

Oh, also, wearing a couple of large bells will help ward off wildlife. I attach a couple to my breastcollar, and to my dogs' collars. We have LOTS of critters out here: armadillos (NOISY suckers in the grass!), bear, bobcats, cougars, deer, turkey, all kinds of birds, squirrels, bunnies, foxes, etc. My daughter and I like to count all the critters we hear running from our jingling horses as we come up the trail, lol.

I also agree with helmets. ALWAYS a good idea!! I NEVER get on my horse or any other horse without one...

[cursivenight]

Thanks very much for the advice, especially the spooking lol. Ringo was amazing the first time out, apparently, but I definately forgot to do the circling, so thanks for reminding me =)

Helmets are a big issue, but its just like riding a bike...with more risk. Sometimes I just want to ride without it, and I have, but only in my indoor ring. But of course, I never ride with a saddle and sometimes without a bridle when I do that....Not sure why haha.

BUt helmets also save lives - if you get kicked, thrown, whatever. You still may be hurt, but you have a much less chance. And it is true, cowboys and other horse idols have gone without them for a long time, so it is possible to not wear them. But also remember there has been many deaths alongside that. I've never not worn a helmet when riding outside, out of a ring, or anywhere but my indoor arena (that has -REALLY- deep footing - no joke).

And for nothing hurting you in the woods, I don't agree with that. First of all, not everyone is seasoned trail riders, or they have green horses, whatever. Also they may be on a new trail. Accidents happen, we cannot control wildlife, nor the weather or other things. Things can happen in the woods - if your horse gets spooked, and even runs a meter, you could be scraped off by a branch.

[mhoney05]

i like helmets becuase i took a really bad fall and landed head first and it hurt really really bad and since im not a fantastic rider its safer if i use one........plus im forced to during lessons and stuff

[luvs2ride1979]

All ya'll sound like you've never ever been in the woods in your life time.Nothing can hurt yor horse on a wood trail unless you just dont know wht your doing.
And thats the truth.


That is so far from the truth it's almost laughable! No, nothing is going to hurt you or the horse, but there is a lot that can startle or scare a horse that isn't a dead broke beeen-there-done-that trail horse. Heck, just a squirrel jumping up a tree is enough to send most show horses into a blind panic, lol. My horses are great on the trail now, but it took a LONG time to get them there. I don't have time to trail ride more than once or twice a month, due to work and other responsibilities (and weather usually gets in the way too), so trail training is quite prolonged...


i understand english have to use helmets for show, but anytime else, i think is silly. Now its just my opinion, is all.


Wow, how sad. Living in Arkansas, I see very few helmets unfortunately. I grew up in San Diego, CA, riding both English and Western. ALL of the barns I boarded or trained at required helmets for all riders under 18, no matter what saddle you were riding on. It saved my skull MANY times! (knock on wood) I have NEVER had a concussion from a fall. People around here claim the same, but I have seen the adults and kids right after a fall, and they definitely had at least a mild concussion. Even a mild concussion can do longer term or even permanent damage to your brain. Enough of those piled up, and when you turn 70, you have a person with an unexplained diagnosis of palsy or dimensia. No thank you!

I use my brain for a living and I want to protect it. Even my macho husband won't get on any horse without his helmet. He also uses his brain for a living.

When you fall, are you likely to hit your head and become concussed? No, not likely. But there is still a chance, and even a 5% chance is enough for me. I have heard of more than a few deaths or MAJOR injuries that could have been prevented or lessened had the rider worn a simple $35 helmet.

It pains me everytime I see a kid or teen run barrels, gallop in a field, or jump without a helmet. I have to wonder why a parent would allow it. Doesn't your child's health and well being hold more than a $35 value? Isn't it worth a few arguments (if your child is resistant to helmet wearing) to help insure your child's safety? And isn't it worth another $35 to set a good example for your child by wearing a helmet yourself everytime you ride?

[mhoney05]

we dont depend on helmets. we may not like them but we wear them because it keeps you from getting hurt. we understand YOU HATE HELMETS! so sue us because we like them some what. you got your point across. you hate helmets ! we get it. we like helmets for safety.

[jilllovesgus]

we dont depend on helmets. we may not like them but we wear them because it keeps you from getting hurt. we understand YOU HATE HELMETS! so sue us because we like them some what. you got your point across. you hate helmets ! we get it. we like helmets for safety.

Here here!

*is super pro-helemet*
Saved my ass many times.
You're really silly. :P

[mhoney05]

exactly^ they saved me plenty. if i didnt wear one i'd probably be a human vegetable. (im not a super great rider)

[luvs2ride1979]

o dear lord. the worldhas survived with helmets for the longest time. we DIDNT need helmets when there was no such thing, but now there is, everybody is freaking out cause they depend on things too much.

Yes, but we're not raised on horses anymore, at least not many of us. So we don't grow up with the instinct on how to hand a horse and near perfect balance and timing that comes with learning to ride very young, and riding a LOT very young.

And now we have this new invention to increase safety, so why not use it?? We don't "depend" on helmets, we use them to protect our health and well being, just like seat belts in cars and helmets on bikes and motorcycles. It's just silly NOT to take advantage of the safety of a $35 helmet.

[mhoney05]

watever......just pay attention on trail....have fun.........

[RODEOBABE4]

yeahh.

just pay attention and have fun..

oh, every horseman knows, or should kno, this. if your nervous, dont let it show. a horse can always sense it and he/she will do something.

its happened to me before.

by the way, kt, i added you.

[silverleprichuan]

And another thing, why is evry body all so for helmets.(?!?!?!?!)
Generations, and generations of horsemen, cowboys, and cowgirls, has "survived" (or whtever) with our putting on a peice of foam and plastic b4 you ride. i dont mean to make anyone mad...but GOLLY!!!!!!!!!!!
i understand english have to use helmets for show, but anytime else, i think is silly. Now its just my opinion, is all.
And everybody else post yor opinions too.


well when you end up a vegetable with over a 100k in hospital bills you can tell us if you still think wearing a helmet is "silly"

For our 75 study patients, the mortality rate was 6.7%, and all deaths were due to head injury, consistent with all other reports

It appears from our data and the published worldwide experience that prevention of death due to horse-related injury is synonymous with prevention of fatal head injury.

A 1996 report from England showed a marked fall in the number of hospital admissions for horse-related injuries compared with the 1970s. The authors speculated that this change may have been due to the increased use of riding helmets in their region

(http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/432438_4)

Among the 106 survivors of riding-associated TBIs, 84 (79%) had one or more indicators of brain injury severity: 67 (63%) had loss of consciousness, 49 (46%) had post-traumatic amnesia, and 14 (13%) had persistent neurologic sequelae on discharge from the hospital (e.g., seizures or cognitive, hearing, vision, speech, and/or motor impairment).

(http://consumerlawpage.com/article/helmet.shtml)

FACT:
Brain injury is the most common cause of death and serious injury to riders and it occurs more often among young riders

FACT:
Girls are injured more often than boys

FACT:
Many children are injured during non-riding activities, such as leading, grooming and feeding. Being kicked by a horse can cause serious injury

FACT:
Most serious injuries are caused by being separated from the horse while riding or by falling with the horse

*http://biau.org/facts/facts_prevention.html#horseback)

Fifty-four percent of riding injuries occurred when riders were mounted performing non-jumping activities, and 21.1% of riders reported head injuries as a result of riding accidents. In fact, 31.1% of all riding injuries reported are to the head and face

The human skull can be shattered at 7-10 kilometers per hour, which means that a fall from a trotting horse can shatter the skull

But brain trauma has a cumulative effect, and the results of brain injuries range from shortened attention spans to vegetative states and death, depending on the severity of each individual injury and the number and timing of previous injuries

Since The United States Pony Club made helmet use mandatory in 1983, their head injury rate has fallen 29%

Although there has been an increase in the number of people riding in the last 20 years and an increase in most types of injuries due to riding, Chitnavis, Gibbons, Hirigoyen, Parry, & Simpson (1996) found a significant decrease in the number of skull fractures

(http://www.joe.org/joe/2004december/tt4.shtml)

there is never an excuse not to wear a helmet EVERY time you ride

[alliekk]

actually, I totally agree with the helmet thing. I don't think SILVER is taking it too seriously. Most horse people don't know the facts and statistics about helmets and prevention of injuries. I personally don't wear helmets, but I know I should. I've taken far too many falls to prove it. I'm allergic to my own sweat and the material padding irritates it. Lame excuse, I know, but I always have a helmet handy if I feel my horse is having an off day or I haven't ridden in a while.

I'm actually glad SILVER posted those statistics, I never knew the percentages and such. thanks...

[caitie94]

hey guys, soory about everyhting.i think things just got out of hand. again sorry
i didint mean to start a ww3

[cursivenight]

GO SILVER!!!!!

Catie, I don't see why you keep bringing this up for entertainment purposes...

Also, this was a trail riding tip topic..not a horse helmet one! lol.

Edited to add:

It's okay catie but this si like the htird time its come up, so maybe we should all just drop it.

[cursivenight]

Catie, I meant in this topic, in the miscellanious topic, etc. The subject of helmets, not your apologizing.

I did not mean apologizing, I said thanks for that.

[silverleprichuan]

actually, I totally agree with the helmet thing. I don't think SILVER is taking it too seriously. Most horse people don't know the facts and statistics about helmets and prevention of injuries. I personally don't wear helmets, but I know I should. I've taken far too many falls to prove it. I'm allergic to my own sweat and the material padding irritates it. Lame excuse, I know, but I always have a helmet handy if I feel my horse is having an off day or I haven't ridden in a while.

I'm actually glad SILVER posted those statistics, I never knew the percentages and such. thanks...


yikes allergic to your own sweat, you poor thing. okay this is going to sound way weird but it's a tip i got from a wonderful trainer years ago. A panty liner (the super thin type) are meant to absorb liquid... duh, so thus they absorb sweat really well. In the summer most of my barn will put one on the inside of the front of their helmet. When applied correctly you can't see it once the helmet is on and afterwards you can remove it and dispose of it.

I thought it was silly at first but once I started thinking about all the sweat and dirt that must build up over a year or two, I got really grossed out and started using them.

in your case maybe you could create a "ring" with them to help wick the sweat away before it can absorb. Might not be practical for everyday but it could be handy if you are riding a new horse or your horse seems really "up".


To the OP you might want to look into a saddle bag or a small bag that can clip onto a d-ring. In this heat you really should be carrying at least one bottle of water with you, and streams are not usually safe to drink out of.