Hand walking on the trail.

It's so beautiful out today and I really want to do something with my horse but my back is killing me (i don't get to see my chiro until the 10th) so the plan was to walk my horse on the trails today near his new house.

Obviously with the weather being so nice I anticipate seeing other riders/horses, so i'm assuming i'll just keep him off to the side and let others pass us. I want to take him out for the learning experience but also to help build his confidence.

Is there anything else I need to consider when taking him out like this? Also, when riding on the trails does it bother any of you if people are just taking their horse for a walk?

I think i've only ever seen anyone walking their horse on the trail here once, and that's because I think she'd fallen off and was walking him back to the trailer.

I think it would be a good experience for him. I wouldn't care if I saw a horse being walked. I would assume it was a training session & give them lots of room & pass slowly. Have fun.

I wouldnt worry about other people, you have as much right to be out on the trail doing your thing as they do theirs. I am not to proud to get off and walk on occasion in rough terrain, or near traffic, or sometimes just to calm the horse down. My current horse would get real nervous alone, and want to do the spin around and go back thing, Getting off an walking him seemed to click something in him that I was around and I was the herd leader and it was ok. I live near a large national park battlefield with great trails. Lots of people pony new horses.

Go for it. You can work on lots of manners for leading.

If he gets ancy, lunge him in circle around you.
Ask him to disengage both front and rear ends
Side pass away from or towards you.

I often ask my horses to side pass over to me when I want to mount. Find a good rock or log and have the horse move close to me, so it's easier to get up.

Go and have fun

Thanks everyone, yeah I assumed that if people see me they'll think it's a training session which it really will be. He needs it too. I have a few exercises I was going to do with him once we get a bit further onto the trail and luckily he always feels so much calmer and I guess to him safer when he knows i'm right there on the ground with him.

This is going to be fun!

The only consern I have is the trail opien to ATVs. If no have a good time.

Who cares? If it's a trail you ride, the horses need to learn to cope with them. You might as well be teaching and desensitizing them while safe on the ground.

I was thinking of her safty. She said her back hurt and she may not want to deal with that.

Oh you may want to get some IPOD earbuds,, you don't need the actual Ipod, Guarantee every single person that passes you will ask if you are ok, and tell you what you are doing wrong. Ear buds smile and nod works wonders.

I say go for it!!! Since my horse is just now 18months....this is something we have been doing lately. We both get sick of the ring work day in and day out, and I like to switch it up. Go out and have a good time! Its great exercise for both of you, and for me anyways, serves a very important role in training, and eventually riding!!