Most horses love going out on the trail. It's a nice break from the usual training regimen. However, stepping outside the box brings its own set of hazards and challenges. Deer, bear, quail, skunk, and other denizens of the trail are rare in the arena, so horses acclimated to a more controlled environment may spook and act unpredictably on the plains or in the forest. Even seasoned trail horses are occasionally surprised by wildlife, bicycles, kids with kites, barking dogs, and other chance encounters.
Does this mean you should avoid the trails? Of course not. But it does mean you should hit the trail prepared for any eventuality.
Cover Your Bases
No matter where you ride, it's always a good idea to wear a riding helmet. On the trail, the ground can be even harder than in a groomed arena. The addition of rocks and logs can make a fall even more dangerous-while slippery footing may increase your chances of hitting the ground. Trees, too, present perils to riders who blaze trails through the brush or happen not to notice the occasional low-hanging branch. A helmet protects your head from such encounters and shelters you from sun, wind, cold, and rain. While you may need a well-ventilated helmet for hot, summer riding, please don't give into the temptation of foregoing a well-fitting helmet all year-round.
Don't overlook the importance of wearing appropriate footwear, either. Riding shoes and boots are designed to provide good traction while walking, but with a tread and heel that won't allow your foot to get hung up in a stirrup should you fall. If you think it would be bad to get dragged in an arena, it's unthinkable what it would be like on the trail. So no sneakers!
Go Properly Equipped
- Dress in layers and carry a rain slicker so you can adjust to weather changes.
- Wear appropriate footwear with a safe tread and half-inch or greater heel.
- Select multi-use tools and tack to reduce weight.
- Carry keys and emergency gear on your person, not on the horse.
- Divide items into utilitarian "kits," such as first aid, tack repair, etc.
- Always take along water, regardless of season.
When trail riding, it's all about options. Since you don't know what you'll run into or what you'll need, you want to be as comprehensive as possible without loading your horse down like a moving van. The more items that can do double-duty, the more options you have with no additional weight. So think "multi-use" for the gear and tack you carry. For example, on my horse, I use a halter/bridle combination. The reins connect to the bit using scissor clips. I can unclip the reins from the bit, clip one end to the halter ring, and remove my horse's bit. Then I can hold the other end of the reins as a lead line while he grazes and I eat a sandwich.
What about getting lost? A horse is often thought of as "a living map." His outstanding memory affords him the ability to remember where he's been. He usually knows his way back to the barn even if you don't. But horses, too, can sometimes get confused. Trailering to a new location often means your horse is in a completely unfamiliar locale. This is when it pays to carry a map, a compass, and the ability to use both. A GPS is also a fine tool, and I carry one of those, too. But electronic devices sometimes break or fail, or their batteries run down, so I carry the map and compass as a low-tech, but reliable, backup.
Although a riding friend often teases me that I'm riding my living map, I've taken my own tumbles and realize I could well find myself separated from my horse in an unfamiliar environment. For that reason, I carry my cell phone, GPS, and map and compass on my person. (I don't think my horse will use any of them if I leave them in his cantle bag and we get separated.) My GPS is also a walkie-talkie and acts as a backup to my cell phone in case there's no signal or it gets damaged in a tumble. Remember, go for multi-use.
