I have a Trail Riding question...

Question

My sister and I have rode horses all of our lives. We mostly just pleasure ride but have done jr. rodeo, cattle penning, and gymkana. We have a friend that trail rides and it sounds like a lot of fun. We are probably going to take our horses out to this recreational area that is designed for horses and leads to a lake. It sounds beautiful. Our friend loves it. Is there any good advice we should know about trail riding before we go? Any special tack or anything we should take along?Thanks!

Answer 1

all of the above plus one pressure bandage that you could use on yourself or the horse,   just in case you happen to stumble on one of nature's other little creatures  such as a snake  ( this happens to me all the time but then we get a lot of snakes)   i'm sure you won't need it  but just in case.   Leave all your worries behind and have a fantastic time.

Answer 2

It certainly wouldn't hurt to have your horse practice stepping over logs and working on desensitizing him before you go out on the trails.

I would take along a saddle bag with some water and maybe lunch or a snack.  Don't forget to pack some electrolytes for your horse, just in case.  And take along a first aid kit for both riders and horses...a small one works fine for most trail accidents.

There can be a lot of frightening things out on the trail and you need to know how your reacts to meeting up with other horses on the trail.  If your horse tends to kick, tie a ribbon in his tail so everyone knows to steer a wide path around him when passing.

If you will be crossing rocky creeks or will be traveling along rocky terrain, you may want to consider having drill-tec or borium added to the horseshoes to prevent your horse from slipping.

Trail riding is great fun!  It's the only kind of riding I do (except for a few area shows).  When taking a horse out on the trails for the first time, be very aware of your surroundings and be prepared for unexpected spooking.  If your experienced friends will be there, it may help your horse relax and not react as badly to surprises.

I hope you have fun!

Answer 3

Keep extra water with you, Phone one you (not the horse), hat, suncreen, bug spray, I don't know the area really well buy my area I have bells on my saddle for noise, lol but I've twice almost been T-Boned by deer!  Yeah not fun, but the bells help and also IF the horse takes off you'll hear them better, (just a few smalled bells, brass, got them at Joe Ann Fabrics), um lets see, I would bring and extra rein, things break, extra leather piece for a quick repair, tell others that arne't going were you'r goning and a aporx time you'll return, (I've gotten lost, not fun), Also bring your halter and lead with you, never know you or a friend might need to walk a horse back.  And most important of all have fun:)  Sounds like a wonderful place.

Edit O yeah your ID, or a card or paper in your pocket with contact info and who you are:)

Answer 4

I would make absolutely certain that you take a mobile phone along with you - and keep it on YOU not like a story I heard where someone took a phone and had it clipped to the saddle then got thrown and the horse bolted.

Answer 5

here a some things i take when i go trail riding

- Spare water and sandwich

-Mobile (definetly)

-Hoofpick incase of stones

- I ride with a halter on and a leadrope attached to the saddle :)

Thats usually what i take when trail riding :)

also if it is hot round ur area perhaps take ur bathers and waterproof boots :)

Have Fun

Answer 6

Just don't let them get spooked or they will take off.

Answer 7

If this is an all day kind of thing here are some things you should take.

*get some sort of pack- one that you can wear.  You can get one for the horse, but I wouldn't recomend putting really must have items in it.

*CELL PHONE-bring one, so if something happens, you can talk to the other trial riders or call for emergencies.

*water-you do not want to get dehydrated on a trail.  You won't be close to a water fountain, sink, or store, so bring water bottles.  (I guess you could put ice in it, it's up to you)

*Flashlight-even if you are going in the daytime, you never know when you might need to see more clearly

*first aid kits for you and your horse-just incase you or your horse gets a booboo...or break a leg...

*Snacks-just like granola bars or something.  Plus both you and your horse can eat them!

*Sun screen-kind of self explainatory, so you don't get burned from the sun.

*bug spray for you and the horse-so you don't get annoyed.  Horses sometimes get upset when insects are eating them alive.

*halter and lead-if your or your horse get hurt, you might not be able to ride back.  Maybe you or a friend is having problems and it is just safer to lead them back.

*wind up radio-optional.  I have a sweet radio that uses no batteries or anything.  You just wind it up and you can get stations from all over the worl.  It's a phone charger, flashlight, siren, it is a must have...but maybe that's just me...

Can't think od anything else to bring.  Remember to be on your gaurd, horses tend to spook at things we don't see.  Sometimes deer will jump out infrount of you and your horse heads for the hills.  My pony got me off not to long ago when a wild turky can darting out of the bushes.  He just turned real fast and I popped off (in my dressage boots, GRRR!), he went gallopping back to the barn.  I was trying to run back it was more like "ow ow ow, Spanish tops, ow ow ow, the back of my knees" lol.  S always be prepared and expect the unexpected.  Hope you have fun.

Answer 8

maybe a phone and if ur horses hav barefeet then som boots but other than tht....just hav fun! lolz =]]

Answer 9

Hello,

My input:

We trail ride out in the adjoining BLM, Forestry and Wilderness!  And we ride for a good 4-6 hours at a time.

We always bring saddle bags with:

Duct Tape

Epi-Pen

Water Bottles

Jackets

Granola Bars

The Duct Tape, or and easy boot, can help you out if a horse throws a shoe on the trail....

Epi-pen is for anyone allergic to a bite, etc...

Water Bottles for us to drink

Jackets, here in the mountains weather can change fast

Granola Bars something to eat if we get hungry

Gun and ammo

I WOULD also recommend you take that mobile phone, we have NO phone coverage here, so we don't pack one.

Hoof Pick, we have one that stays on the saddle in a carrier....

YOU should make certain your horses are use to all sorts of things:

deer running from bushes.  Birds flying out, etc...

Stepping over logs, walking through bushes...

CROSSING water, going up and down ditches....

THERE is a lot to it, and lots of arena only horses do fine.  BUT< you are out side, and anything can spook a horse, so work with all sorts of things to make certain they are not spooky!

Answer 10

You should get yourself a little backpack each, one of the ones designed for walkers that strap around your waist as well as having the shoulder straps (this stops it flapping when you trot/canter). In that bag you should have:

A mobile phone (FULLY CHARGED!!! with your vet's number in, and your mum/emergency contact etc.)

A medical card (If you don't have a special one just write your name, date of birth, address, a contact number (your mum etc.) and any allergies (penecillen etc.)

A hoof pick

Water (for you, the horse will drink lake water if it wants)

a snack bar (or chocolate bar, something high energy)

a torch (you can get great LED torches for about £6 and they're small and bright)

A waterproof coat (those PacMacs are good - they fold up tiny)

a headcollar and lead rope

a map of the area

I know this list may sound a bit excessive, but you really need to be prepared. As a previous poster said, don't strap this stuff to your saddle because if you are thrown from the horse then you're stuck! I don't mean to scare you, but anything could happen! You could get lost or stranded, have a fall, anything! Please don't let this put you off, trail riding is great but you must must must must MUST be prepared!!

Have fun!!!!

ADD: Make sure someone knows where you are going and what time you expect to be back!

ADD: I forgot one of the most important things - first aid equipment for you and horsie!