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JUST Trail Riding???

20K views 213 replies 52 participants last post by  Dustbunny 
#1 ·
I don't know about the rest of you but the word JUST irritates me to no end. We go into a restaurant and the hostess say, "Just the two of you?" What? Do we need more to get into the place?
And too often when asked what type of riding we do, we reply, "Oh, I just trail ride." Like it's an apology. Or someone will ask if we show or just trail ride. Like that takes no skill and we go along like a sack of potatoes perched atop 1000 pounds of pure energy.
Trail riding is a pretty complex activity to my way of thinking. Most of the people here seem incredibly knowledgeable with diverse backgrounds and the desire to improve their skills and to help others along the way.
One thing is for certain with horses...you never stop learning. I can't think of a better arena for education of horse and rider than a trail with all it's obstacles and challenges.
Prepare yourself...prepare you horse...and have a great ride.
 
#33 ·
hahahahaha Dawn that is funny. My riding buddy talked to someone the other day that she she evented....don't know what she really meant because she said sometimes she rode her horse ALMOST 5 miles. ahahahahaha......ok....not that 5 miles is anything to sneeze at but she nearly dropped her teeth when Lee Ann said she was training for a low level endurance ride of 25 miles.

By the way, Dawn, Lee Ann (she is who I tried the Airport Ranger ride with) finished her first ride of 25 miles coming in 40 out of 52. She LOVED it. I am trying to talk Honey Darling Precious into giving it a go. He loves to move out and I think that might be the only way I get a LQ trailer!
 
#34 ·
Painted Horse...thanks for the mosey down the trail! (post #30).
After sloshing around in the slop of NW Oregon, that dry trail looks pretty good. As usual with your camera work...spectacular.
 
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#35 ·
We were ponying extra horses and every once in a while mine would stop and pull on my lead. So I would have to shut off the camera. It would have been easier to film if I wasn't pulling an extra horse.

Not bad for barefoot horses! I pulled their shoes a couple of weeks ago. So we let them mosey to protect their bare feet.
 
#36 ·
I'll admit, I cannot "just" trail ride.

I have to be checking/doctoring cows, checking grass, fixing fence, changing water, riding to meet someone, schooling a horse to some end -- often all at the same time. Something.

But, to soothe the raised hackles, I will say that, as a rancher, I find I have more in common with trail riders than, say, someone who does all arena work. At least trail riders are on real ground. Meaing that your horses have to adjust/deal with bumps and humps and whatever presents itself.
 
#37 ·
I was talking with one of my friends about this yesterday. I've never done shows but I have ridden a lot of trails, and I can't say I've ever been on "just" a trail ride. But I know what you mean, like you have to defend that trail riding is still legitimate horseback riding. People think that if you don't show, you don't really know anything about horses.

I have a co-worker who's girlfriend is an equine vet, and she breeds horses, and she does eventing, and she knows everything. She has all the fancy stuff and the trainer and the expensive tack and blah blah blah. He feels that because her and I ride horses, that I obviously know all about eventing and shows and paying $6,000 to breed a horse...I've told him on NUMEROUS occasions that I ride for fun, galloping around the pasture, and seeing how lost I can get on difficult trails but still make it back in time for dinner. Somehow he doesn't comprehend any of it. When I told him I finally bought the horse of my dreams, he was like, "oh, so are you going to show her!? Are you going to do dressage or jumping?" I replied with, "I don't do shows, I trail ride, and my ultimate goal is to do competitive trails to push my relationship with my horse to the max, and have fun in the outdoors, because how cool would it be to camp with your horse and a bunch of other horsey people!?" Later he was like, "so have you found a trainer yet, because my girlfriend knows some really good trainers if you need one...what are you doing with your horse again?"

I almost strangled him. No, I don't spend $6,000 to breed my horse. No, I don't have a "trainer." No, I don't jump. No, I don't do dressage. No, I dont own thousand+ dollar saddles.

I trail ride. Yes, I have taken lessons and be taught how to ride a horse. Yes, my love for horses is real. Yes, I have skills, even if I can't do the fancy stuff. Yes, my skills are legitimate. Yes, I have fallen. Yes, I have made mistakes. And most importantly, yes, I learn something new every time I see/work with/ride my horse.
 
#38 ·
Lol. Just trail ride. Because deer, cows, hogs, mud, birds, water crossings, gunshots, deep sand, highly uneven terrain, skree slopes, loose dogs, bicyclists, hikers, atv/4wheelers, off-roaders, snakes, loose or lost horses, spooking horses, and drunk rednecks are things all arena horses can handle with ease, right? Along with opening gates, jumping logs, leg yielding around trees while I'm laying flat on his neck due to branches and riding alongside traffic in 100*F heat and 100% humidity to boot.

Yep. Count me in. I "just" trail ride. Lol! It's taken me a year of hard work to get here and darn proud of both myself and my horse for getting here. We "just" did a 6 mi ride in under an hour with many of the above mentioned trail obstacles, solo no less.

Whenever someone gives me the "just" trail riding thing, I ask them to join me on my next one. Then I give them a few details. So far none of those folks have taken me up on it. Doing anything with horses well is a challenge- don't ask me to arena jump or do WP, and I won't make you try to keep up with me on the trail, deal? I do enjoy a good meander along the trail while BSing with a good friend from time to time though- maybe that's what they're thinking of?
 
#41 · (Edited)
normally when people hear me saying that i "just" trail ride they they think of that one time they sat on the horse by the beach and were lead around on horses who could have walked it in their sleep. but when i trail ride its much more. like having to do something rather then just sit there. being run at by dogs. or cyclist in that case. or riding by the road and people not always happy at slowing down a little for a minute so you can cross the road. riding on very uneven terrain not always in the best weather either courtesy of western WA. did i forget to mention on top of a mountain? That is "just" trail riding.
 
#46 ·
I have said I "just" trail ride. I use to work cattle. To me, the word "just" means, I go out riding on the blm or wherever w/o a job...for no reason other than to "just" ride. When I first started "just" trail riding again, I have to admit ... it seemed purpose-less all of a sudden. Alas, the need for a "job" disappeared and I enjoy it as much as I ever did. I don't like going alone to places that are pretty tough to get to, though.

I don't have anything against people that only ever "just" puddle in an arena. Obviousely, many are very talented. But, I do have a problem w them if they believe their horse's ability is superior b/c it never leaves an arena, and neither did its granpappy. I mean, I just can't view a horse as "usefull" if it can't safely take you anywhere you want to go - outside of an arena.

And, I don't like rattlers and they are thick here....but large spiders above my head when mounted? Alligators? Heck, I'd run off with my horse! Bog is my worst fear. I'd even take huge ugly spiders over that. Believe it or not, there are boggy spots in arroyos - they aren't common (thank the heavens above), but they are super bad news.

I have to admit, though, I often wish there were a beaten down path out my back door that anyone could "just" trail ride on, like those you see in UK - w "horse crosswalks" over the little paved roads. That looks so enchanting! It doesn't necessarily look "challenging", but it does look enjoyable. I like to enjoy my horses, it doesn't matter if its "just" trail riding.
 
#47 ·
Isn't that the truth Missy? I enjoy my horses for the sheer joy that they are mine!

Y'all need to come riding with me sometimes. You will see that the alligators haven't ate any of us and the spiders are a training opportunity - LOL you have to know how to side pass pretty dang good at times to play spider polo!!!

Gaaaaaaa....my cousin and I were riding yesterday and thought the spiders were all gone for the year. We saw a huge one at saddle level in a big web but it was off to the side so I left the old girl alone. Normally I give them a job...I take down their web!!
 
#51 ·
Isn't that the truth Missy? I enjoy my horses for the sheer joy that they are mine!

Y'all need to come riding with me sometimes. You will see that the alligators haven't ate any of us and the spiders are a training opportunity - LOL you have to know how to side pass pretty dang good at times to play spider polo!!!

Gaaaaaaa....my cousin and I were riding yesterday and thought the spiders were all gone for the year. We saw a huge one at saddle level in a big web but it was off to the side so I left the old girl alone. Normally I give them a job...I take down their web!!
She sidepasses well...but I think I would just have to pass on alligators all together! :D

I am an eco-friendly rider, if I saw a huge web w a huge spider, I would just run.:lol:

Only a fellow trail rider would appreciate this...a trail riding buddy found a natural "arena" type formation...big bowl formed by hills in the mountains, w fine dirt in the "bottom" of the bowl...nothing else, no rocks, cactus, nada. If headed that way, we stop there and "train" for a few...sidepassing duels and all. :) The things that can amuse a trail rider!:wink:
 
#49 ·
I think its important to keep things balanced.
I love trail riding, but I didn't really start improving as a rider until I started working in the arena. I don't think I ever use my legs that much on a trail, and I'm not a flat ground kind of girl.
However, I think trail riding keeps you and your horse thinking. You never know what is going to happen or what you'll run across on the trail.
 
#54 ·
well ive read all the post.found them very enjoyable.all i can say is that in my neck of the woods.the just trails are what we drive our trucks down to get to town.. i actually posted some pictures just trail riding the last time i went to my hunting country. hope you enjoy them as much as i did taking them. if possible..lol..ride safe everyone
 
#55 ·
I'm a "just trail rider" when I ride. My daughter (10) is the actual rider in the family, her Dad and I are her chauffeurs and ground crew 90% of the time. She and her horse are primarily English flat riders (might start jumping this year), they show both Western and English, sort cows (and ducks), play day (barrels, poles, etc), and love to go out on the trail. Sometimes I grab one of the BO's horses and join her for a trail ride.

Let me tell you, she is the most sore after a couple of hours trail riding. :). It really challenges her and her horse because you DO have to work harder and longer with more obstacles than you find in the sand arena. We love it as a change of pace for her QH. I'm hoping in time to move away from arena showing and look into trail challenges as our next big "event".
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#56 ·
LOL the one I saw yesterday could have raked in big cash if they were paying for big spiders. She wasn't Indiana Jones big but she was a good sized old girl.

Dang...y'all are bound to see all kinds of critters on y'alls rides that make Tyrrell Park seem tame. There have been threads where everyone talks about seeing wolfs, deer, elk, moose, mountain lions and exotics and bears. Come on, a few alligators, spiders and hogs don't compare to that!!
 
#57 ·
There have been threads where everyone talks about seeing wolfs, deer, elk, moose, mountain lions and exotics and bears. Come on, a few alligators, spiders and hogs don't compare to that!!
But wolves, bears & mountain lions are warm & fuzzy, and usually take off when they see you, before you can even get the camera out. Alligators got scales, and lurk in the muddy water.

Got no problem with spiders, though.
 
#59 ·
I understand .. just because i don't compete people seem to think you aren't that * into horse riding, or you dont ride as much, or are less of a rider. Which is wrong as i ride 3-4 times a week and im very much involved in my Sport !
 
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#63 ·
SueNH I have heard those moose are pretty dang cranky....and will attack. I think it is because they almost have a horse like body, got shorted on the neck department, stuck with an ugly head and shovels for antlers. It has caused them to be pissy.....while I would LOVE LOVE LOVE to see a moose on the trail, I will take spider in the web over cranky ****** off moose on the trail.

Dang, I would love to ride up north in New Hampshire. It is SO pretty up there!!!
 
#64 ·
Bull moose in rut are dangerous. I've had more than a few friends treed by them. One even had his log skidder tipped over. He took refuge in the cage of a giant tractor only to have the moose roll it right over. Cow moose not so much. I've actually pushed them out of the road at times. Not advisable...I was a small town cop and there was this one young cow moose who liked to get on a bridge over a brook and just watch the water flow. Traffic would back up and tourists would get dangerously close. Sirens, air horn, flapping arms didn't work. I would literally have to get out and smack her butt just like an errant cow or pony. Believe me the cruiser was positioned for a quick dive to cover! Happened several times before she must have decided that a quieter river watching spot was needed.

Many years ago, just before dawn in the summer I was out on my front porch drinking coffee and listening to the frogs. Heard a snort on the side of the house in my flower bed. I could just see a big silhouette in the dark. Giant humpbacked and slow moving, me not fully awake, assumed it was the ancient Belgian that lived down the road. Wandered over and started to throw a lead over the neck, heard another snort and realized it wasn't a horse sound. She was happily munching my daylilies and just kind of looked at me like I was nuts. I think I ran backwards to the porch! I now always bring a flashlight when I hear horse noises in the dark. One other time I woke up to clomp, clomp, clomp outside my bedroom. Went outside yelling at my gelding to get his sorry butt back to his pen. Heard King give his mealtime call down by the barn in the opposite direction. Shined the flashlight by the shed to see the cow moose heading back into the brush.

In early spring most years I get a cow moose that hangs with the horses for a few days and then moves on. All I can think is she gets a little lonely, hangs out for a few days and then goes back to the woods. Plays havoc with my fence. Moose go where moose want to go.

While I'm not much for galloping at this point in my life an angry bull moose would find this plump 50+ year old body moving down the trail at the highest rate of speed available. Their body language when irked is very similar to an agitated bovine. So far I haven't had the pleasure to see a bull moose on the trail. I'm fine with that.

Did you know moose are gaited? They pace down the snowmobile trails here all the time. I think they could put a racing Standardbred to shame.
 
#65 ·
Bull moose in rut are dangerous. I've had more than a few friends treed by them. One even had his log skidder tipped over. He took refuge in the cage of a giant tractor only to have the moose roll it right over.
OMG that is what I am talkin' about! Spiders - ppphhhhhhffffffftttttt unless it is a brown recluse we are pretty good to go around here. Alligators - they aren't coming after us - well, maybe if we bothered them and I am not Crocodile Dundee. The hogs are generally not running at us either - now I wouldn't want to be caught on the ground with them where I couldn't get away though!

But cranky big @$$ moose? That is gaited too boot running at me? Gaaaaaaaa I would love to see them though!
 
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