I have no trails to ride on?

Question

I was wondering what could we do instead of arena riding? (Even though are 4-H trainer says we need to almost always ride in the arena and practice except for like once a month, which isn't very fun for us or the horses) unfortunately we have absolutely no trails to ride on at the stable except for the road which doesn't get too much traffic but when there is there is not very many places to pull off so we usually have to squeeze at the side of the road, then if we want a 6-7 mile ride down the road we could go to the beach but there are alot of 4-wheelers and people that kinda get in the way (sometimes the four-wheelers go about a foot in front of us as fast as they can ) and we cant always just trailer somewhere when we dont want to ride in the arena. We have tried to ride in the pastures but the barn manager got us in trouble even though she said we could. What could we do to get out of that arena?

Answer 1

you could travel to place which does have some trails, or go to another beach, or maybe a forest or mountian.

i sympathise that riding in the area in the whole time is very boring and the horses will appreciate the change

Answer 2

I won't be much help..but, if it were me, I'd be changing barns...I rode with a 4H group as a youth and we had miles of trails to ride on...we had some roads to contend with but nothing serious as far as a lot of traffic.  You need to ride and get some miles under your belt...it cannot all be just practice...you have to be able to apply what you've learned in areas other than a arena.  Your leader should recognize that fact.

Answer 3

Well you can practice showmanship.  Or hold mini shows with you and your friends.  We used to make up patterns to do.  (figure 8's, counter cantering)  This is in the arena but it is different then going in circles.  We would set poles on the ground an have to back and sidepass over and around them.  A lot of these things also hone your horses skills.

Answer 4

you could always trailer your horse somewhere. when i was a kid a bunch of us would haul our horses to a campground and pitch a tent for a few days. we use to get plenty of trail riding in.

Answer 5

I can't think of anything more boring than riding round and round in the arena, for both horses and people.  Perhaps you can move to another barn that offers trails?  If that is not possible, then I would just have to plan an outing at least once a month where we trailer somewhere and ride some real trails.  I'm sorry but riding in an arena, to me, is not riding.

Answer 6

i love trail riding and do it regularly

- you could try the roads( like we do) but only if the cars go wide and slow and your hors eis calm enough for it

- Beach is a good idea...yu could try going down in the water where the cars etc dont go as much

- Float somewhere

- You could ask people in the area if you can use there paddocks or even offer to pay a small fee

- To make your arena days more fun have competitons, races, if possible switch horses every now and again with your friends( this will also give you more experience)

Answer 7

I can't think of anything more boring than riding in an arena...I will try to help as much as I can...I have lived in the same area all of my life, on a gravel country road with not that much shoulder in some spots.  There are country lanes down farmers fields going back to a wooded area or in hay fields or what ever.  I have known these farmers all of my life and we have an understanding that I can ride down those lanes and into the wooded areas around the hay fields staying off of the crops etc.  You say that you can ride down a low traffic road, there must be some of these lanes.  I would suggest getting on your horse going down that road and stopping at all of the farms and asking their permission to ride through his wooded lots or around the fields, ( promising not to stay off the crops)  hooking up to old rail road beds, Power right of ways, creek banks etc etc...let them see you and your horse and show respect when asking.  Get to know these people, and always wave and say hi when you are near their place.  You will find as well that some of these farmers used to have their own riding horses when they were kids and would love to see a horse on the farm again.  Don't forget to mention that you are a member of the 4H pony club, that will  show them that you are a responsible young person good luck with it

Answer 8

Ask for permisson to ride on the edges of the pastures. Do not ride in them. The owner might be concerned that the horses may trample the crop. Don't have the barn manager ask, ask yourself and be polite. I can't imagine an owner turning you down then. After all, you are leaving free manure for them!