By: Matthew M. Brendal
Trail riding has always been popular among horse owners. There are private and public horse trails in every state. Trail riding is a wonderful activity for you and your horse to enjoy.
With all of that said, sometimes we don’t live a perfect world. I wouldn’t ever fall into the train of the thought that just because I think it, my horse does too. On any riding trail you don’t own or totally control things that can happen. Those things can be anything from people or animals purposely causing problems to people or animals innocently causing problems for you and your horse. Either way you should be ready for them before you place you and your horse in a situation that could cause an injury to you or your horse.
The old saying about green on green makes black and blue can apply here. A green horse or a green rider can easily get hurt on a trail ride. A bit of preparation can go a long way to make the trail ride enjoyable.
Don’t make a long trail the first ride for your horse. Yes can go many many miles but it is better to build to the long distance ride. Also if you don't ride much you also need to build up your endurance.
By doing pre-tests or pre-trainings you may help you and your horse become much more prepared. Training is the conditioning, mental or physical, that will most likely be the predictable outcome of a given situation. By training your horse in a “controlled” environment the likelihood of the conditioned response increases. Remember it’s not always the horse that needs training. Humans need training too. Which brings me to a tip that applies to any situation. If you need help then you should ask or learn the best way to handle the problem. Horses and riding horses can become very dangerous very fast.
If you think you are over your head and you think you are about to sink in the deep end of the pool, don’t just sit there do something. Horses have a mind of their own and sometimes horses go beyond our skill level. But don't have your trail ride ruined and go unprepared.
Whether you go on great big trail rides with hundreds of horse or you go by yourself. Know the situation and prepare for it. Also when you ride with others be cautious until they have proved safe. I have been on lots of trail rides where situations escalated on a horse and rider that were minding their own business not causing any problems.
Also be prepared for any excursion into the wilderness. Food, water, first aid kit, GPS and a weather appropriate clothing. Also have some idea on how to give first aid to your horse. The take home message is be safe by being prepared.
