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NOT trail riding? EVER?!

17K views 152 replies 59 participants last post by  SA Trail Rider 
#1 ·
I guess it shows my inexperience when I learned that some people just don't ride on trails! I couldn't wrap my brain around this. Wasn't that the ultimate goal? A relaxing trip out in the woods, just you and your horse? Don't the horses need the mental break from training in the arena? Doesn't it help them to become more confident and trust their rider? Am I alone in this shock?!

Thoughts?!
 
#143 ·
Sometimes you do have to trust your horse. Dixie came from the mountains and early in our history, she proved I could trust her in "iffy spots". Once when a friend and I were riding on a poorly marked trail and looking for the right path, I had gone on the grassy strip down a steep bank from the road while the friend was up on the road each trying to find where we were supposed to go. I realized the field went nowhere and was going to back track and canter up the road to catch my friend. I started Dixie turning left and next thing I know, up the steep bank she goes.

Another time I had taken a wrong turn on another poorly marked trail and wound up at the top of a steep downhill slope. I got off thinking I'd walk her down, but the shale was so slippery my feet went out from under me and the only thing that kept me from falling was the reins and Dixie planting her feet and "catching me". I remounted, said "get us out of this mess" and down the hill she went doing some winding to offset the slope.

Since then, I know if the path looks "iffy", let her decide.
 
#145 ·
so i've been sitting here reading through all the posts and there have been a lot of good thoughts, and some lovely pictures :)

With my horse i try to give him a cover all education. He goes on trail, he does arena work, he lunges, drives, jumps and does a bit of basic dressage. I find with Phoenix that if we don't mix it up and keep his routine varied he tends to get more spazzy and harder to deal with. He enjoys doing lots of different things.

Like last year we did mostly trail during the spring, summer and fall. He started out a bit shaky because he didn't have a tonne of trail experience and the more we went out the better he got, the more relaxed and confident he became. However, towards the end of october he went downhill trail wise, i think he got burned out going out on the same trails, he got bored and started to act up and act out. He got spooky and would pitch a fit about anything and everything. So this year i decided to keep his routine varied and so far he's been awesome on trail, i even got him out by himself although we didn't go far before he had a slight panic and we turned around and headed home.

There are people where i board who never ride int eh arena, they actually look down on me for doing arena work, claiming it's boring and a waste of time. That's up to them to think that i suppose but i enjoy it and my horse enjoys it so i'm glad we have an arena where i am.
 
#146 ·
Interesting read everyone, I love it.
Kinda like Power Boater VS. Sail Boater.:lol:
Everyone defending their niche in this horse world of ours.
Although this is the trail riding topic?
I couldn't wrap my brain around it either.

I only ride the trail, everything happens on the trail.
I'll leave the rest of my comments to myself as to avoid offending some.

"Painted Horse" I love the terrain and wish I were there.:D
 
#147 ·
I do most of my riding in the arena during the winter, but I usually trail ride once or twice a week the rest of the year. Honestly I would rather ride outside most of the time, but we don't have that many trails near my barn. To everyone who lives on ranches out in the mountains - consider yourself blessed! I would love to have that much room to ride on. Who knows I might just come out there to ride with you ;)
 
#148 ·
Power boat vs. Sail boat? What's the ccomparison? Lol. Give me a power boat any day over all the hard work that goes into sailing! Lol! There's nothing relaxing or easy about sailing until you put down your anchor and jump in the water. :)

I've done plenty of trails in my time riding. I've also done arena and show riding. My favorite was probably trail riding for a couple of hours on Kauai. I live in Ohio. Ohio is pathetically flat and boring. The only trails in this area are woods. Flat, uneventful woods. My question is, why would anyone think that wasn't boring? I sure do and I've been on those trails many times.

Isn't the true ultimate goal to have fun with your horse?

I don't have to be on a trail to do that. If I like sports, does that mean that my ultimate goal is to play one particular sport? If I like books, do I have to enjoy one particular genre? No. So why should all riders enjoy one particular discipline?
Posted via Mobile Device
 
#149 ·
I could not imagine not going on trails. I have to admit tho, unfortunately in our area, we dont have any type of really good places for trails. There are no trees or forests of any kind to and trail through. When I lived in Europe, we had the most amazing trails and I have to admit I really miss them.
 
#150 ·
Eh, to each their own. Some horses aren't comfortable on trails and don't have an owner/rider who is knowledgeable or interested in changing that. Some riders are not comfortable on trails because they feel anxious about everything that could happen.

Some riders and horses get bored quickly with drilling stuff in an arena (me).

Personally, I couldn't imagine not riding out where I can see the country unrolling in front of me (see my signature LOL).

I enjoy this




A heck of a lot more than I enjoy this (this is the closest I can come to "arena" work LOL)
 
#153 ·
So I read most of all the posts(It got a little repetitive. Sorry.) and there are things I agree and disagree with/on. I'd like to share my views. If that is alright with you all.

First of all, I am not limited. I ride or have ridden most disciplines in most types of riding and on most horses. True to my user name ( ;) ) I love trail riding. However, I also ride and train horses for show and know the importance of an arena.

Of course, your initial training will take place in an arena for the safety and less distraction factor but even when I am with a youngster, I will take them out and literally walk next to them on a trail. Why? Exposure training of course. Often, you will find that a horse that has been exposed to the various "scary" things that appear on the trail, will be more confident in the show ring.

Ok, I know, I know. I sound stupid right? I took the pony I was working with over the past 1 and a half years to his first outside show about 2-3 months after he came to me. In that time there was all the lunging and riding in the ring to check out the quirks and vices but soon after that we were hitting the trail. He had been under saddle for a month before we got him( He was 13 years at the time of backing and had never been exposed to anything. No arenas or trails, etc...) and it was clear that he was rushed but the trail riding helped him to calm down and listen to a rider. The show ring at the outside show was in a grass arena(although warm-up was sand) and there was tinsel all over all the jumps. Now, if we hadn't been exposed to trail riding... he would have done something funky when he saw the tinsel.


I think it must be in balance. All horses and humans are different, I agree, but horses also love to go outside, smell the fresh air and gallop around and that is with or without a rider. Remember, horses feel you too. So if YOU don't like going out on trails or if YOU do not like going into an arena, you are already putting your horses off it. (Please, the capitals are not an attack on anyone. It is just simply to put a message across.)

~SATR
 

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