Long but serious...please share as my goal is to keep one rider from beining enjured this weekend...maybe you can too!
Unfortunately it has come to my attention that a lot of riders and or horses are not prepared to safely trail ride. This year I have ridden several times with some different folks who, although experienced horsemen, have had serious accidents. One horse went over a steep embankment (survived with minor injuries), rider bailed just in time but buddy sour horse tried to follow his buddy down. One rider’s horse tripped while galloping in uneven terrain, and two riders injured while trying to cross water, one is still in intensive care. Additionally, I’ve been around several other incidents that could have spelled disaster but luckily no one got hurt.
Although these are the ultimately the “riders/owners” fault, I asked myself are there any common denominators that are causing these problems. Remember that these are experienced horse people who have had these problems. On the other hand, my wife how has been riding for less than a year and her horse who was not an experienced trail horse, accompany me our weekly trail riding trips and she has never had a problem and she and her horse actually show off a little bit and she has become confident in her herself and her horse to travel across even the roughest terrain, and we have a lot in NM.
Common Denominator = horses were not prepared for trail riding in rugged or new terrain.
What caused this and how my wife and I got over/through/around these mistakes.
1st mistake = Owner/rider not educated/knowledgeable:
Horse owner does not have enough knowledge about what it takes to safely ride on new/ rugged trails.
My solution; I educated myself using a lot of info on this site like, http://www.horseforum.com/horse-training/how-we-train-fearless-trail-horse-99776/ . Knowledge for a horse comes from training… learning that he can to it and that it’s ok. *Note: most people on this forum are knowledgeable or trying to gain knowledge. It is the people who aren’t on this board that need this info before they ride out on the open prairie or mountains!
2nd mistake = Owner thinks he has knowledge or thinks any good horse can trail ride:
Owner doesn’t train horse specifically for trail riding and assumes since the horse is great in the areana, can ride around the local trails, cross the same log and creek a couple times a month his horse is ready.
My solution; the more I learned the more I sought to learn….try to learn by knowledge and other people’s experience.
3rd mistake = Owner has knowledge but not enough and/or lacks experience AND thinks any good horse can trail ride:
Owner and horse get in over their head….go from basics to advanced without incremental steps or owner has info but has not passed knowledge/experience on to horse. For example horse crosses blue tarp in arena and doesn’t flinch when green tarp is waved in front of him. Horse freaks out over blowing bag on trail and won’t cross narrow brook in meadow. What does it take to make a good trail horse…TRAILS and lots of them. Start slow and go longer and harder as you and your horse gain experience.
My solution; Boarded my horse at ARA (http://acaciaridingadventures.com/) where horse and rider were trained by experienced trainer who specialized in extreme trail riding. Used this info to train my wife’s horse.
4th mistake = Horse not in shape or ridden enough.
My solution: We ride horses at least 3 times a week on trails/by roads even though we have plenty of trails, and in town. Ride each horse at least once a week by himself. What does it take to get a horse in shape...miles and lots of them!
At some point you have to learn by your own experiences...start slow and keep challenging yourself and horse ever so slightly.
For safety’s sake, before you go on any extended/serious trail rides please ensure that you and your horse are ready!
What a horse must be able to do to safely trail ride (safe for himself, his rider, other horses and riders):
· Have a solid foundation in the basics, how to go forward calmly at the walk, trot and canter, how to stop, back up, turn on the forehand and the haunches; and leg yield
· Load unload in trailer with little encouragement
· Tie out to trailer and on trail
· Handle normal issues at trailhead, cars, other horses spooking, bikes, hikers, ect.
· Ride out / back safely with little encouragement (He must be able to safely ride back alone)
· Be able to ride in a mannerly way with unfamiliar horses even when they are acting up or nervous
· Cross normal obstacles with relative ease (water, bridges, inclines, logs, animals, bikes, 4 wheelers, hikers, ect)
· Ride on roads and in traffic if needed (sometimes the road is the quickest way home)
· Rider must know how horse reacts when/if spooked. At worst should spook in place…if he bolts leave him at home.
· Be in good shape for the distance covered.
What a true trail horse (fearless trail horse) should due to be safe in all situations (at least one horse in the group should be able to do all of these tasks at a high level).
· Obedience, does what he istold and horse listens to rider and ignores anything new or scary
· Load unload in any trailer
· Tie out quietly for extended periods of time both at the trailer and on trail
· Be in great shape and should be able to cover more ground than what is called for
· Remain calm when all hell breaks loose (Looks to rider to get him out safely)
· Cross all possible obstacles even if new (narrow bridges, confined spaces, fast or deep water, aggressive animals, unusual noises, load dirt bikes )
· Willingly ride out / back alone without his buds (He must be able to safely ride back alone)
· Ride with unfamiliar horses even when they are severely acting up or nervous
· Ride as trail lead or drag, go where other horses won’t
· Ride in towns, parades, on or along roads without spooking
· Know what he’s doing and should like it…He’s going on a trail ride and he should know what to expect.
Remember every ride is a training ride so if you see and obstacle on the trail or around the barn take advantage of it….you might need to cross it for real later.
Happy Trails….and please be safe!
Unfortunately it has come to my attention that a lot of riders and or horses are not prepared to safely trail ride. This year I have ridden several times with some different folks who, although experienced horsemen, have had serious accidents. One horse went over a steep embankment (survived with minor injuries), rider bailed just in time but buddy sour horse tried to follow his buddy down. One rider’s horse tripped while galloping in uneven terrain, and two riders injured while trying to cross water, one is still in intensive care. Additionally, I’ve been around several other incidents that could have spelled disaster but luckily no one got hurt.
Although these are the ultimately the “riders/owners” fault, I asked myself are there any common denominators that are causing these problems. Remember that these are experienced horse people who have had these problems. On the other hand, my wife how has been riding for less than a year and her horse who was not an experienced trail horse, accompany me our weekly trail riding trips and she has never had a problem and she and her horse actually show off a little bit and she has become confident in her herself and her horse to travel across even the roughest terrain, and we have a lot in NM.
Common Denominator = horses were not prepared for trail riding in rugged or new terrain.
What caused this and how my wife and I got over/through/around these mistakes.
1st mistake = Owner/rider not educated/knowledgeable:
Horse owner does not have enough knowledge about what it takes to safely ride on new/ rugged trails.
My solution; I educated myself using a lot of info on this site like, http://www.horseforum.com/horse-training/how-we-train-fearless-trail-horse-99776/ . Knowledge for a horse comes from training… learning that he can to it and that it’s ok. *Note: most people on this forum are knowledgeable or trying to gain knowledge. It is the people who aren’t on this board that need this info before they ride out on the open prairie or mountains!
2nd mistake = Owner thinks he has knowledge or thinks any good horse can trail ride:
Owner doesn’t train horse specifically for trail riding and assumes since the horse is great in the areana, can ride around the local trails, cross the same log and creek a couple times a month his horse is ready.
My solution; the more I learned the more I sought to learn….try to learn by knowledge and other people’s experience.
3rd mistake = Owner has knowledge but not enough and/or lacks experience AND thinks any good horse can trail ride:
Owner and horse get in over their head….go from basics to advanced without incremental steps or owner has info but has not passed knowledge/experience on to horse. For example horse crosses blue tarp in arena and doesn’t flinch when green tarp is waved in front of him. Horse freaks out over blowing bag on trail and won’t cross narrow brook in meadow. What does it take to make a good trail horse…TRAILS and lots of them. Start slow and go longer and harder as you and your horse gain experience.
My solution; Boarded my horse at ARA (http://acaciaridingadventures.com/) where horse and rider were trained by experienced trainer who specialized in extreme trail riding. Used this info to train my wife’s horse.
4th mistake = Horse not in shape or ridden enough.
My solution: We ride horses at least 3 times a week on trails/by roads even though we have plenty of trails, and in town. Ride each horse at least once a week by himself. What does it take to get a horse in shape...miles and lots of them!
At some point you have to learn by your own experiences...start slow and keep challenging yourself and horse ever so slightly.
For safety’s sake, before you go on any extended/serious trail rides please ensure that you and your horse are ready!
What a horse must be able to do to safely trail ride (safe for himself, his rider, other horses and riders):
· Have a solid foundation in the basics, how to go forward calmly at the walk, trot and canter, how to stop, back up, turn on the forehand and the haunches; and leg yield
· Load unload in trailer with little encouragement
· Tie out to trailer and on trail
· Handle normal issues at trailhead, cars, other horses spooking, bikes, hikers, ect.
· Ride out / back safely with little encouragement (He must be able to safely ride back alone)
· Be able to ride in a mannerly way with unfamiliar horses even when they are acting up or nervous
· Cross normal obstacles with relative ease (water, bridges, inclines, logs, animals, bikes, 4 wheelers, hikers, ect)
· Ride on roads and in traffic if needed (sometimes the road is the quickest way home)
· Rider must know how horse reacts when/if spooked. At worst should spook in place…if he bolts leave him at home.
· Be in good shape for the distance covered.
What a true trail horse (fearless trail horse) should due to be safe in all situations (at least one horse in the group should be able to do all of these tasks at a high level).
· Obedience, does what he istold and horse listens to rider and ignores anything new or scary
· Load unload in any trailer
· Tie out quietly for extended periods of time both at the trailer and on trail
· Be in great shape and should be able to cover more ground than what is called for
· Remain calm when all hell breaks loose (Looks to rider to get him out safely)
· Cross all possible obstacles even if new (narrow bridges, confined spaces, fast or deep water, aggressive animals, unusual noises, load dirt bikes )
· Willingly ride out / back alone without his buds (He must be able to safely ride back alone)
· Ride with unfamiliar horses even when they are severely acting up or nervous
· Ride as trail lead or drag, go where other horses won’t
· Ride in towns, parades, on or along roads without spooking
· Know what he’s doing and should like it…He’s going on a trail ride and he should know what to expect.
Remember every ride is a training ride so if you see and obstacle on the trail or around the barn take advantage of it….you might need to cross it for real later.
Happy Trails….and please be safe!