Stupid question :P What's trail riding?

Sorry if this question is rather...dumb.
I'm swedish, we are dumb or maybe it's because it's a different language than my own.. xD

Anyway.. what exactly is trail riding? Is it just like.. riding outside the barn/stables on roads and paths and whatnot, or is it somethig else? Does it have to be a long ride or anything to be a trail ride? :)
Please tell me!

I looked at some posts in here but I'm not quite sure of it :3

How often does people here trail ride?

Oh its ok....different cultures, different wording :). Trail riding is usually where you go off on trails, it can be of all different terrain for any amount of time. In the mountains, down the street, on the beach, through a field, with or without other riders, just for fun, camping trip, any of those things. Sorry if that is a little confusing...hope I helped with your question :)

So.. just riding outside the arena, somewhere? :)

Another stupid question.. x) Is that unusual to do ''over there''? In some of the threads it sounds like it's not something everyone does several times a week?

(Over here, I don't know a single rider that doesn't do it, most do it at least once a week... and most of my friends only ever trail ride.. but I know a few competition riders that's a bit afraid and only ride out/trail ride with a friend on a bike next to them.)

Oh, and thanks for the reply!

Ya no problem :)

Most people do it around the US, it's pretty common actually. Land isn't always readily available for ppl to trail on here, so they have to trailer their horses somewhere else. A lot of people SHOW horses, trail ride, jump, event, and other stuff.

Where did you get your avatar from?? Your main pic? It's really pretty :)

Ah! I guess my impression was that few people did it, because those who does it often doesn't have much reason to write here...or I've just missed those threads.. x)

We're allowed to walk or ride pretty much wherever we want, as long as we don't destroy the land or so..:P Nice law, isn't it? ;)

Thank you! It's me riding Kirran, a mare I'm borrowing since my standardbred is with a trainer right now :)

I took some funny,home-made clothes and got some pictures;


http://www.elftown.com/stuff/DSC_0386.JPG


http://www.elftown.com/stuff/DSC_0389.JPG


http://www.elftown.com/stuff/DSC_0203.JPG

Yeah I look like I think I'm the best person ever. X)

http://www.elftown.com/stuff/DSC_0437.JPG?y=0&x=600

Wow that's really neat!!! I like that cloak thing :)

I guess that there usually not too many problems on the trail, at least nothing big to discuss, but every once in a while someone will post about it. Most people do work in the arena and stuff.

You guys are lucky that you have that law!

Fabulous photos Zab.
Trail riding in the US is pretty much anything outside of an arena or controlled area.
I think this area doesn't get as many post because most trail riders already know everything :roll: Just kidding
There is just plain old lets go ride through the fields rides, trail riding clubs, magazines and even competitive trail riding. A ride can last from an hour to a month or longer and cover thousands of miles. There are even clubs that do nothing but keep track of how many miles you ride. Striving for thousands, even millions of miles.
Many state and national parks in the US are open to horse and rider. More are opening up all the time.

I would say trail riding is probably the most popular form of riding here.

BTW - love those photos!

Cat
Thanks!
I understand why.. nothing is like a nice canter on a large field :P

Vidaloco
Yeah, sounds reasonable:P I guess most riding here is trailriding too.. but still most of the work is on the arena... I don't even have an arena..x)

Free_sprtd
Thank you^^
Yeah, we are:P I can't imagine a life without it..>_>;

I went on my first trail ride a few weeks ago, as you read, and even though I had a difficult horse, I had a great time! We went again last week, I on a different horse, and I had an even better time!

We have trails around here that go threw woods and open grasslands, I have even seen fields that have been groomed for horse trails. It's hard to say which is the most popular between the eventing, western gaming, jumping and trail riding etc.

I know that once I buy my first horse, I will be using him/her for mostly trail riding. I know that when I'm riding, either it be in an arena, or on the trail, my worries melt away for that time being, and I can think of nothing else but being on the horse, and feeling it move beneath me. It's safe to say that's why a lot of people ride, to get that feeling.