Are you taking your horse on their first trail ride? Or just headed out with a new riding buddy? Trail rides can be tons of fun, but they can also cause some anxiety about the unknown of what your horse might do.
Here are some tips for having a successful and fun trail ride. Whether it’s your first or your hundredth!
1. Bring a calm, experienced buddy.
This means picking the best behaved horse to go with you. It doesn’t hurt to have a calm experienced rider along as well!
Taking an experienced and calm trail horse along will give your horse some calm and controlled energy to feed off of. If you go with a high strung horse, yours will likely have a very difficult time calming down.
2. Have Fun.
It may seem obvious, but go into your ride with a positive attitude and the belief that you are going to have a good time. Thinking positive about your ride will definitely help you have a better time!
Be willing to be patient and kind to your horse. I also think it is good to be able to “take a joke”, ie be willing to let things roll off your back if your horse acts up. Hopefully your horse won’t do anything at all, but be willing to let things go and get back to your ride if they do.
3. Relax.
This may be the most important part of your ride. Don’t forget to take a deep breath and be calm. Horses can sense your energy and if you are nervous, you will make your horse more relaxed and enjoyable to ride. If you find yourself tensing up, take a deep breath and count to 10. This will help you refocus your energy and stay calm.
4. Wear a helmet.
Protecting your head is always important, but it is especially important when you are going out on a trail ride.
Riders often believe because they are on an experienced horse, or nothing has ever happened before, that they don’t need to worry about wearing a helmet. Don’t make that mistake. Also, having your brain is more important than “looking cool” if you are worried about how silly you may look in a helmet. There are many people out there who wish they had worn a helmet to protect themselves, don’t make the same mistake.
A few great helmet options:
Good ventilation: Tipperary Sportage Riding Helmet
Western looking (brown suede): Troxel Sierra Riding Helmet
Expensive option/great for jumping and showing: Charles Owen Ayr8 Helmet
5. Bring a phone, just in case.
Bringing a phone along on your trail ride is a smart idea. In case something happens to you or your riding buddy, having a phone could get you out of a sticky situation.
A lot of riders also like to use a tracking app to keep track of how far they go and the route they’re on. Keeping track of your ride could also help someone find you or your horse if you happen to get separated on your ride!
Related Post: Best ways to carry a cell phone while riding
6. Wear the proper clothes and footwear.
Someone else may be able to go trail riding bareback and wearing a pair of shorts, but don’t go thinking you should do that the first time you take a horse out. Wearing the proper clothing will help you stay on your horse in case they decide to jump around.
Wear breeches or jeans as well as proper riding footwear. You don’t want to get a foot stuck in a stirrup or slide off your saddle because your pants have no grip!
Use an oh —- strap if you think your horse may go airborne. I think these have another name… oh right, a grab strap. Whatever you like to call it – use it if you are worried your horse may end up leaving the ground and try to take you with him. These are a great for a little added security.
There you have it! Fool proof ways to have a great trail ride. Are there any other things you do to prepare yourself for a trail ride?
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