HORSE TRAIL RIDING TIPS. Horse trail riding for beginners!

Horse trail riding tips. Horse trail riding for beginners including safety, what to carry on the trail, trail riding etiquette, and more.

0:00 Intro
0:18 What to wear when horse trail riding
1:07 What to carry with you when horseback trail riding
4:19 Where to carry for phone for safety when horse trail riding
4:48 Why use a halter and bridle when horse trail riding
6:50 Features of a trail saddle for horse trail riding
7:47 Use of breast collar and flank cinch while horseback trail riding
8:29 Equilab riding app for safety if horseback trail riding alone
9:20 Know your horse's behavior in a horse trail riding group
10:15 Horseback trail riding etiquette
11:52 Know your horse's fitness level and your riding ability before going on a horseback trail ride

Horseback trail riding can be the most enjoyable time you spend with your horse. To have the best experience possible, you need to be prepared as well as your horse.

The first horse trail riding tip for beginners is what to wear for your horse trail ride. Sunglasses, hat, helmet, sunscreen, long pants (jeans protect legs the best), a jacket, and your phone. Wear layers in case of unexpected weather while you are on the trail.

The next trail riding tip is what to have on your horse. You may want to carry water, a first aid kit, a snake bite kit, a knife, a hoof pick, compass, snacks, vet wrap, or roll-on fly spray.

The use of saddlebags, a cantel, or horn bag allows you to carry necessities while horseback trail riding.

A horse trail riding safety tip is to carry your phone on you, not attached to your horse's saddle. In case you come off your horse, and he leaves, you want the phone with you, not the horse.

Another horse trail riding tip is to use a halter and bridle on your horse while trail riding. The halter comes in handy to tie your horse in the case of an emergency or for a break, as you should never tie your horse by the reins. Another good reason to have a halter and lead rope on your horse is if your horse needs to be ponied through an obstacle he might be scared of. A more experienced horse can often lead your horse through the scary part with the lead rope while you keep your hands on the reins.

Horse trail riding saddles are made with more padding in the seat, often rounded skirts, have longer and more saddle ties, and are lighter-weight saddles overall. There are usually multiple options for rigging the saddle and more attachment points for saddlebags and carrying things while on the trail ride.

Some horseback trail riders like to use a breast collar to help keep the saddle in place while going up and down hills, but the use of a breast collar is a personal choice. Also, using a rear or flank cinch is a personal choice as not all trail saddles have one.

It is always safest to ride with a trail riding buddy, but when you can't, there is an app for your phone called Equilab, which will track your ride using GPS, and your loved ones can watch you from home and know right where you are. Obviously, you can't be on a too remote trail ride, or the GPS signal won't work.

Another good horse trail riding tip for safety is to know how your horse will react in a group. If your horse's behavior isn't good in a group of horseback trail riders, your ride won't be as enjoyable. Some horses like to be in the lead; some are better at following. Some horses wear a red ribbon on their tail because they kick if another horse gets too close. Some horses get nervous or excited and jig the whole ride. The jig is kind of like a trot due to being held back by the reins constantly. It's not such a relaxing ride when your horse jigs the whole time.

It's always a good idea to desensitize your horse because trail riding can hold unpredictable sights and sounds. From hikers and mountain bikers to deer and other wildlife, the trail is scenic as well as unknown.

A good thing to know when horse trail riding is trail etiquette. All users of the trail should yield to horses. There will be barking dogs, mountain bikes, or even motorcycles that may come up from behind you on the trail. Hikers with noisy snack wrappers, plastic water bottles, and hiking sticks top the list of scary items for some horses.

Know your horse's fitness level to avoid a trail ride that is too strenuous. The horses get sore muscles just like we do. Work up to rides over two hours or with lots of hills.

Another important horse trail riding tip is to know your riding ability. If there is a part of the trail, you are not comfortable riding, dismount and walk your horse through it.

[ABalancedHorse]

Any other questions about beginning trail riding? Let me know and I can make additional videos. 😊

[simplyjescruz]

Going horseback riding in Estes Colorado today thank for sharing. ❤️

[Lovelypets_]

I recently started lessons for tye first time and am getting used to being around horses and next lesson i am having im getting on the horse so exited its westan ridding btw!!!

[marissanotfound]

Thank you, This was very helpful! I’m a beginner- 😅

[michaelruth]

Helpful video, Maybe do a video of actually out on the trail

[papaboove]

Great video! I know this is a strange question but do you pick up after your horse after they have used the restroom or just keep riding?

[backload]

How are you? I love you. Happy Easter sweetness. Hug the horses hard. :)

[abbeyawesome]

This past year i started working with a trainer that has been roping cattle his whole life and i dont know how im i got do luckly with the trainer barn and horse is shes a westren trail horse shes comfterable walking threw mud and water snd going over logs and rocks and shes barefoot so i always pick hoifs before and after riding

[Conny]

The saddle looks really nice who makes it?

[camphorfarm]

How much experience do you think you would need before you trail ride alone?