Horsemanship 101 - Preparing for your Equestrian Vacation - Part Four

Trail etiquette and safety tips for your equestrian vacation

by Carol Moore

Here a few friendly reminders, tips and trail etiquette faux pas you should know. Being aware and conscientious of these will help you to have a safer and more enjoyable ride. Happy Trails!

1. Don’t let your horse walk on top of the next rider - Allow at least a half of horse length (about four feet) between horses. If you are loping, allow a full horse length between horses.

Trail riding at White Stallion Ranch

Keeping distance between your horse and the horse in front of you will make the horses feel more comfortable. Photo by Laura Holden.

2. Do not attempt to remove articles of clothing - If you must, first let your guide know and allowing him/her to stop the ride. Horses may be spooked by seeing a jacket moving around in their peripheral vision.

3. Don’t pass another rider without permission - If you do receive permission, be sure to allow room between horses so no one is accidentally kicked. Avoid passing at any speed faster than a walk. Passing at a lope might inspire a horse race and create a dangerous situation for all.

4. Wait for all riders to be mounted up and ready before moving your horse off - This is especially important while the guide is opening and closing gates. If a horse thinks he is being left behind he will become anxious and difficult to mount. While you are waiting, keep your horse from pestering other horses.

5. Don’t hold your horse back and then run up to the ride - You can jeopardize a less experienced rider’s safety and diminish their enjoyment of the ride.

6. Have fun! 

children trail riding at white stallion ranch

Photo by Billy Jones

Here are a few extra tips to help make your ride more enjoyable:

- Long pants and a closed shoe (preferably a cowboy boot) are required at most, if not all, ranches.

- Little known fact: panty hose or bicycling shorts under your jeans can prevent chafing.

- A must is a stampede string on your cowboy hat (shown below). This will prevent it from blowing off and frightening your horse or a horse near you.

- A water bottle in a carrying case small enough to hang on your saddle.

- A long sleeve shirt will help protect your arms in the event you

- Sun glasses with a strap to keep them on

- Sun screen and lip balm

A stampede strap is important on the trail

 

Start at the beginning of our Horsemanship series with Part One!

Read Horsemanship 101 - Preparing for your Equestrian Vacation - Part One: On top of Ole Smokey...Now What?

 

About the author:

Carol Moore

Carol Moore has been involved in the guest ranch business since 1975 and has aided many beginners with their very first horse back riding experience. Carol is currently employed at the White Stallion Ranch in Tucson, AZ. She recognized the need for an instructional riding video specifically for the vacation rider and authored the riding video “Which End Does The Hay Go In?” in 1996. This video is used extensively by many ranches as part of their horse orientation program and by lots of prospective guests prior to their ranch visit. For more information, you can e-mail Carol at hoofbeat@theriver.com or visit her web site at www.hoofbeat.com.
 

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