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Trail Riding |
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Horseback trail riding information including choosing and buying horses, preparing to ride the trail, planning your trail ride, riding the trail, and competitive equestrian distance riding.
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Trail Riding |
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Horseback Trail Riding Choosing a Horse Choosing a Trail Horse Obviously, the first acquisition for trail riding is a horse. The horse can be rented for the ride or purchased. For purposes of this article, an assumption of purchase is made. However, much of this advice applies to choosing a horse to rent. Just as most humans are impressed with good-looking people, your first impression of a horse is looks. Well-proportioned, well-muscled, well-groomed, and well-nutritioned are attractive in all animals. However, sleek and shiny should not be the first order of the day. Rather, start by looking at a horse's confirmation or the structure and form of the animal's body. Conformation directly affects weight and how that weight is distributed on the animal's legs. A horse needs good legs. Bad conformation may result in stress on joints and future break-down. A horse that is not balanced and/or symmetrical in build, will have problems traveling. That may only translate into an uncomfortable ride but it could result in lameness. Next, we need a horse that is "sound" or free from defects that would hinder his performance. A blemish, such as an unsightly scar, does not affect the usefulness of the horse. "Unsound," however, describes a problem that does affect the usefulness of the animal. You will hear the term "serviceably sound" as you shop for a horse. This term describes a horse with some problem which should not make the animal unacceptable to the rider. The flaw does not make the animal "unsound" or useless. When deciding the problems a flaw, blemish, or conformational fault can take, consider two things:
For example heaves is a lung disease in horses that is definitely unsound and makes the horse virtually useless. To check for heaves, warm up the horse, then gallop for several minutes. Look for these symptoms:
If there is any doubt about the soundness of a horse's lungs, or any other condition, it will be wise to seek a veterinarian's opinion before purchasing the animal. Cadence is a rhythmic and balanced way of "going." The walk, trot, and lope are rhythmic gaits. Each has a distinctive beat and pattern. You don't want any variation of rhythm here. Variation indicates lack of coordination and/or efficiency and usually makes a horse uncomfortable to ride. Have someone else ride the horse while you watch. Look for unusual rhythms, such as bobbing of head, or foot movement that is more lateral than straight. Now look at the eyes. Both pupils should dilate at the same rate when exposed to light. Watch for a bluish tint in one or both eyes. Any horse that has experienced eye disease will retain a bluish tint in that eye. A cloudy eye should be checked by a veterinarian if you are purchasing the animal. A mature, broke horse is best unless you have the time and expertise to complete the horse's training. In fact, youth does not necessarily make a good trail horse. A trail horse should be mature enough to be "savvy," yet maintain a youthful attitude and be aware of his surroundings without being spooked by the unusual. That sometimes takes the maturity of a horse that is over five years old. A healthy horse, one that is getting a good diet and proper exercise, will have a "bright" look. This is true even of a horse caked with mud or left in the fields year-round. Other traits of a good trail horse include agility, hardiness, good wind capacity, stamina, compact or "collected," and not easily spooked or frightened. The horse needs to be sound and enthusiastic, with a good potential ability to perform, and a willingness or desire to please the handler. It is the rider and his/her ability and care that brings out the best in the horse. The rider also needs strong legs, quiet hands, a good seat, balanced riding skills, and concern for the animal. After you have chosen your trail horse, and before purchasing the animal, it is a good idea to have a pre-purchase exam by a veterinarian. Even if you haven't noticed any problems, it is still a good idea to have this check. The basic exam includes checking for normal levels of temperature, pulse, respiration, gut sounds, and way of going. Teeth are checked to see if they need to be floated, or filed more evenly, to allow the horse to get good benefit from its feed. A more expensive exam could include x-rays and extensive lab testing. A vet can give you a good idea of the horse's current state of health as well as pointing out a potential problem you might have missed. This is a good time to have a Coggins test and any necessary vaccinations. Other considerations for a trail horse could include its willingness to cross water as well as a willingness to load into a trailer. When you purchase a horse get:
Preparing the Rider You and your horse will make a team and complement each other. Since trail riding "t'ain't easy," the rider needs stamina, agility, and a certain sense of adventure. Stamina and agility can be acquired by a good exercise and stretching program. Aerobic exercise such as walking, jogging, and/or swimming build stamina. Agility comes from stretching and bending. A sense of adventure, which is probably inborn, is inherent for the trail rider and must be maintained by being "young at heart." Planning Your Ride The first rule of planning a trail ride is to do everything you possibly can before leaving home. Plan your camp, make your reservations, buy and mix your food, study maps, layout each day's ride, and read everything you can find about the area. The easiest, and often the best, trail riding involves making one camp and planning daily rides from that camp. Breaking and setting up camp consume energy that is more fun to spend riding. Food needs to be planned in advance for items that cook as quickly as possible. If feasible, use foods that can be mixed or cooked before leaving home. Save your time and energy for enjoying nature and your horse. Choose trail recipes that use dried ingredients like powdered milk. Mix these ingredients ahead of time, in the proper number of servings, and store them in a zip-lock plastic bag. On the trail, add water, then mix in the bag. Less equipment is needed at camp; it's easier to carry and prepare on the trail; no refrigeration is needed; it's easy to carry out at the end of your trip. Take some tortillas. They're a great way to roll up dinner and eat. In fact, fajitas got their start around the campfire while taking cattle to market "on the hoof" or while riding the range. Cooking is a matter of choice and safety. Here are your choices:
A campfire in the morning and before bed are part of the trail ride experience. Don't count on finding wood at the camp site. Many parks do not allow gathering of ground wood and even if they do, wood is often a scarce commodity in Texas. The best rule is to carry kindling, an adequate supply of firewood for small daily fires, and a fire container from home. Potable water is vital to the camper and trail rider. The best rule of thumb is to consider all streams contaminated for human drinking purposes. Most parks have a source of safe water available to campers. Whenever possible, use that water or bring water from home. The only really reliable purification process is boiling. Even that does not always produce water that is 100% pure. Regardless, at sea level boil for at least three minutes and add one minute for every two thousand feet above sea level for relative safety. Another method of purification is the "portable pump." Prices vary as do purification methods. Some require filter replacement after a certain amount of water has been purified; some do not. Spend some time checking these out before deciding which one to purchase. As we said, prices, purification methods, and ease-of-use vary. Other equipment needed for camping, such as cooking utensils, tent, sleeping bag, matches, biodegradable soap, and the like, remains the same as for family camping. Plan carefully to bring as little as possible. It all has to be hauled in and hauled out! Of course, you are going to need feed, water, and equipment for your horse, too. Don't forget your grooming supplies and insect repellent for both of you. Riding the Trail Ground fires and bonfires for trail rides and camping are out. Many state and national parks supply fire rings, even in primitive camps, but be prepared with a container just in case. A small "Indian" fire works best on the trail. Bank the fire at night so it will be easy to start in the morning. And before leaving the fire, make certain it is cold to the touch. Other rules of the trail include:
To sum it up: Be considerate. Use common sense. Leave no trace of man or beast. Competitive Distance Riding In the last fifteen years, competitive trail riding is an equine sport that has experienced an incredible growth in popularity. Distance riding requires a lot of stamina, hardiness, and conditioning on the part of both animal and rider. Horses are conditioned by a training schedule that includes steep hills, soft sand, and fast-moving water to develop the animal's muscles, tendons, hearts, and lungs to maximum capacity. Distance riding is based on distance, condition, and stress. Endurance riding adds speed to the competition. Primary judging is on the horse for soundness, condition, manners, and way of going. The riders compete for horsemanship awards based on the care and handling of their mounts. The main objective is to fairly determine the condition and soundness of the horse. Therefore, competitive trail riding works all the horses over an identical trail in the same length of time with the rider mounted at all times. The horses are observed several times a day, often at surprise points, where pulse and respiration rates of each horse are taken by vet assistants. A ride is not a race but timing and pacing are important. Endurance riding is similar to competitive trail riding except that speed is a critical factor in judging. Although many competitors simply ride the trail to complete it, speed is needed to win because time is a factor in determining awards. |
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