Trail obstacles...?

Question

I am entering a DIFFERENT type of trail trial in a couple of weeks.

This trail trial is going to be done on actual trails in the mountains. The object is to negotiate obstacles that would NATURALLY occur on trails.

The contest organizers won't give out details on the types of obstacles they will be blocking the trails with.

My question is...what kind of obstacles can ya'll think of that would occur NATURALLY on the trails. I'd like to have some ideas to work with my horse on...before I show up.

This is not a timed event. You are judged on how you and your horse negotiate these particular obstacles.

I'm thinking...

crossing water

downed trees across trail

turning around on narrow trail

dropping off into deeper water

climbing out of water onto bank

plastic bags hanging from trees?? Spook factor

Barking dogs maybe??

Piles of multi-colored 'garbage?'

Any other ideas to work on???

Answer 1

puddles, gates, fences, brush, maybe wildlife (whether intended to be there or not!), possibly gunshots, and a sasquatch or two to jump out at you! lol you got them all pretty much. oh yeah... maybe joggers or bikers.

Answer 2

Sounds like a lot of fun!

How about opening and closing a gate from horseback

Someone wearing a yellow slicker emerging from behind a bush (you,know, the pervy type that may be lurking on a trail . . )

Deep mud

Bikers wearing strange headgear (we have mountainbikers on our trails)

Can you hire someone in a bear suit??? I know of a couple people here who've encountered black bear!   Their horses freaked out.

Answer 3

Sounds like fun, let me think what we get to deal with -

picnic tables, piles of tyres that someone dumped, random clothing ( seriously -you see it hanging in trees etc,) discarded or lost dog toys - a flourescent frisbee in the undergrowth can be quite alarming), those bins that people are supposed to put dog poo in, kids on scramblers or minimotos, loose horses ( not funny - it happened once), steps, fallen trees.

Edit> workmen trimming trees and using heavy equipment - that's always good for a laugh and remember in the woods no one can hear you scream !

Answer 4

Goats, Llamas, sheep and pigs definitely scare a horse if they are not used to seeing, hearing and smelling them.  Yes, a pig...one grunt or squeal and, if your horse isn't used to them, is ready to cash in his chips.

Answer 5

leaves falling from a tree, or a fake bird flying by in front of your horse. A loud noise and a person walking, running, or riding a bike near your horse. I can't think of anything else that could occur that you would not already know about

Answer 6

I have never attended this type of trial, but I have read an article about one.  In that there were the natural obstacles you were talking about - crossing trees and bush, water cross.  There was also one where you had to sidepass over a log, another you had to back partway through some shallow water.  At one point you had to stop going up a hill and answer a question from the judge.  I believe you were evaluated on how quietly your horse stood there for a minute or two.

Someone has mentioned tents, and that was part of the trial I read about.  They had several tents set up, a campfire burning and snapping, people out lying on blankets by the tents, that sort of natural thing.  It seems to me you had to ride up to someone there and pick up something from them.  I gather campfires bothered some of the horses.

There was also someone not too far away with a running chain saw.

One other idea you haven't had mentioned yet was hauling wood to the campfire with your horse, so you should make sure your horse will pull a lope on a rope behind them.

I would want to be sure my horse hobbled just in case they ask that.  

The idea about animal skins might occur, although surely they won't ask for a bear skin (a smart horse would not go for that!)  I can imagine riding past a deer skin or such thing, though.

What about picking up someone and having them ride double with you?  Sounds like fun, I think if your horse is a steady Eddie, and broke, broke, broke it could be lots of fun.  Otherwise it will be quite a challenge!

Answer 7

how about ditches that need to be jumped.

slippery hills

rocky out crops

causeways

dumped cars

puddles

blind turns

narrow over grown trails

motor bikes

gates

wild animals

other riders

signs

low hanging branches

dumped electrical goods

steep descents

dead ends

fire

Answer 8

bicycles, joggers, gates, steep hills, big rocks (cuz those are real horse-eaters), other animals (llamas possibly--horses hate llamas, at least MINE do), 4-wheelers, cars.  Although a lot of those are just scary things, not necessarily negotiable obstacles.

So in addition to your ideas...

Bridges for sure

Mailboxes

Ooh, check out this teeter-totter obstacle...

http://www.floridastateparks.org/lakelou...

Answer 9

Hey BB!       Hows things.........Hope you are feeling better.  suspended bridge, is one thought. To traverse downhill into a straight 6ft leap into water. For sure a dismount situation. blind entry, tunnel  You have alot of good suggestions though.

Answer 10

Tree branches hitting him in the face (you too).

Buzzing of Big bees

mud

One I went on had incredibly steep inclines (like cliffs) with paths the width of the horse (trees on both sides)

Incredibly steep declines with water/ and rocks at the bottom, but not just a bank.....more like 30 foot cliffs, with tree roots and rocks as obstacles.

Birds with flapping wings

Ponds to cross (some have lakes that you have to swim the horse across)

I was caught off guard on one of these organized rides, and would never want to do some of that stuff again....I really felt lucky my horse (or me) wasn't seriously injured.  Once we were out there, there was no turning back.

I hope yours is fun and safe....most are!

ADD....once there were rubber tires stacked up and for some reason all of the horses freaked.

Answer 11

fake mummies...oh that's good...and psychos running through the woods. haha...ok...jk...I just don't know what to say cause everyone got everything

Answer 12

Probably a "fake" rattlesnake, or a hide of one strung up where your horse can smell it.

I'm with you on the "Bears", we've got 'em here and my 88 yr old neighbor totaled his car last year when he hit one on the highway, then earlier this week, a gal was out walking with her dogs and got mauled by one.

Speaking of hides...   They probably will string one up that you'll have to ride past as well as tents and campers...

Good luck!