Trail riding is a time to enjoy your horse, nature and the company of friends. Of course, along with the fun, trail rides present a variety of challenges - from the lightning-quick appearance of bounding deer or a washed-out bridge, to a sudden ugly turn in the weather or your horse's refusal to walk past a scary rock.
These challenges give you a chance to gain experience, expand your problem-solving skills, and improve your horsemanship. They also provide unparalleled opportunities for developing a better understanding of your horse, his responses, and various ways to educate him and increase his confidence.
Having a safe, satisfying trail ride requires knowledge, preparation and presence of mind. No, you can't anticipate every situation you're likely to encounter or every reaction your horse may have to particular circumstances. But, as John Lyons shows, you can take sensible precautions, follow best safety practices, and reinforce basic training principles with your horse. That way when you do hit the trail, you have an excellent chance of having a great time and handling anything that comes up.
1. Pay more attention to your horse than to the other horses.
You can't control someone else's horse, but you can control yours. The more out of control another horse gets or the more upset another rider gets, the more important it is for you to concentrate on your own horse.
Suppose that the rider in front of you is trying to convince her horse to step over a big log lying across the trail. The horse is uneasy about the log and frightened at the prospect of straddling it, so he throws himself into reverse and quickly starts backing toward you.
Give your horse a job to do so that he stays focused on your signals rather than on the upset horse and rider. The most logical job is to avoid a collision, so ask your horse to step well out of the other horse's path and then keep his attention on you. Watch his ears closely; he'll signal where his attention is going.
If it looks like he's becoming distracted, give him another task. Ask him to walk around a bush or stop and then back up two steps. Your goal is to keep him (and yourself) from fixating on the excited horse and rider.
2. If you feel in danger, dismount.
Nothing says you have to go through with - or complete - a certain ride. If you're feeling over-faced or worried, or you don't like the way a situation is shaping up, it's may be best to temporarily dismount or it may be time to end the ride.
There's no dishonor in being afraid. In fact, fear is a good thing. It's a self-preservation instinct designed to keep you from getting into trouble. If a storm is approaching and you think it's unsafe - even if your friends insist you should keep going - listen to your instincts. If you start out on a neighbor's horse and discover that you don't have good control, be smart and forgo that particular trip.
