What bra?
I’ve seen overly endowed women riding in (gulp) tube tops on some trail rides.
Re: checking the girth-- make sure you know how to tighten a western cinch and how to redo the latigo knot, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MNBViagUabE or, if they use a tongue buckle, that you know how to set the tongue properly. Its simple enough once you know how but I’ve known western riders who have used the buckle only who fall apart at the seams when confronted with the latigo knot.
[QUOTE=jeano;5397603]
What bra? I’ve seen overly endowed women riding in (gulp) tube tops on some trail rides.[/QUOTE]
Ow! I’m a guy and that seems like it’d hurt. Evidently I ride in the wrong area of the country…as the old saying goes, “As long as you don’t scare the horses, it’s OK”.
[QUOTE=Trakehner;5397710]
Ow! I’m a guy and that seems like it’d hurt. Evidently I ride in the wrong area of the country…as the old saying goes, “As long as you don’t scare the horses, it’s OK”.[/QUOTE]
We’re in Georgia and I’d have to say that “some” of the ones I’ve seen WOULD scare the horses :eek:. There is at least one at every trail ride I’ve been to. Spaghetti straps, no bra, too tight jeans or shorts, cheap faux straw hat with feather hatband…etc.
I WORKED as a trail guide and wore breeches and a helmet every day.
It is so hot here that I couldn’t imagine wearing jeans all day in the summer! I wore my breeches and paddock boots, no half chaps, my black Charles Owen, and no one said a word (besides in envy when their jeans were soaked with sweat and swamp water). Of course, I was the well respected (:lol:) trail guide, so no one would be talking poo in front of me :D.
So wear whatever you’d be comfortable riding in! Have fun!!
Bra;s are only used depending on the size of your TaTa’s. If you are large you go w/o a bra. The rest of us do wear the bra’s of odd colors.
I picked up a pair of Boot Cut Fuzzy Logic pants. They were not cheap but they are the most comfortable pants I have ever ridden in. They will look hot with my tube top:lol:
It does not hurt due to the 12 pack of beer you drank.
I agree with the recommendations against over-emphasizing your riding experience. Best to let the staff pair you up with a horse. You’re there to enjoy the experience, after all - not train their “problem” horses for them. :winkgrin:
The barn where I boarded offered guided trail rides as well, and although I was just a boarder there, the BO and trail guide would sometimes ask if I minded riding along with one of the larger groups aboard my own horse, just to keep an extra set of eyes and ears on things.
It was not at all uncommon for guests to strut in wearing their idea of a “riding outfit.” When asked about their level of riding, they’d go on and on about their “experience.” My personal favorite was the skinny little drugstore cowboy trying to impress his date by talking about how many horses he’d “broken.” :rolleyes:
Needless to say, when it came time to actually get on and ride, their actions and behavior didn’t quite support their claims.:lol:
Have fun!!!
LONG report!
We’re back, and we had a blast!!
Here are a few pictures of our ride.
For clothes, I settled on a pair of Wrangler Q-Baby jeans (love them, super comfy!) with a polo and my helmet. It was SUPER cold in the mornings (I think it got down to 28 degrees!) so I wore some patagonia Capilene under my jeans, and under my polo.
Friday - Day 1
Came in around 11, and the room was already ready. Signed up for the afternoon ride, the Saturday morning breakfast ride, and all of the other rides!
Went out at around 1:30pm to the barn. After being interrogated by the head wrangler, I stuck with my guns about being able to ride fine at any gate but that I am mainly an arena rider. Finally he was like “seriously, how many days a week do you ride?” I answered “4, but I ride a babysitter horse and I’m a super amateur.” Ok, so I had already irritated the wrangler.
The horse I was assigned was fine, just my size, but the stirrups wouldn’t go short enough for me! That was fine because I knew it was going to be a short ride with the pouring rain (thank god for the borrowed oilskin duster!).
Friday night, husband gets killer sick with some random 30 hour stomach bug.
Saturday morning, Day 2 - “breakfast ride” - the wranglers are now “on to me,” since they saw me ride the day before. Wrangler that used to do jumpers on the east coast totally calls me out 
which was fine, because on the ride she was telling me that you could be the most advanced rider in the whole world and they don’t have horses there that are going to make people not have a good time - if they are that horse, the wrangler rides them.
Assigned a different horse who was a little head-tossy at first, but then was told that he wanted a little more contact on the reins and he would be fine. Shortened the rein, half halted, and voila! Perfect horse. Still basically riding without stirrups because they wouldn’t go any shorter.
Lots of trotting on that ride, the ground was still a little wet and slippery.
We rode up to the lake, where the facility had a hot, really yummy breakfast waiting for us, and then rode back.
Saturday afternoon - I request a saddle with short stirrups because I knew we were going to be loping some, and they had to switch my horse. Bonus points to them for having saddles specific to their horses! They gave me a “teenager/young adult” saddle size and it was SO much better!! Lots of loping through the fields and I had a blast. Yet a different horse this time which was the opposite of the other one, no contact allowed! But he was fine.
Sunday morning Day 3 - back from the dead, my husband gets to go on a ride. I told them he was fine cantering, just give him something not complicated. My new buddy wrangler writes “advanced minus (babysitter) next to his name. Perfect!”
The horse I was assigned was named Thor, and they told me “he is a bit of a goer.” Ok…then the wrangler tells me “he is fine walk trot, but he is going to want to run up my horse’s butt at the lope, so make sure you shorten the reins and keep him back. He needs to learn some manners” Ok…
So we start loping and he does want to tailgate in the worst way, but I just did some big half halts to keep him back, and he immediately becomes super fun perky but obedient trail horse!! So good. Another wrangler offers him to me for $1 as a joke, and I swear if I had a place to put him he would have come home with me!!!
Husband did great, I finally got him to let go of the horn with one hand (he does it unconsciously, he has long legs and good balance and doesn’t need it) so that was good.
All in all, I had 4 great trail rides and will go back when I can!!
I did get a little lecture from the “head wrangler,” saying that I should always be honest about my riding ability. I said that I had done that at a few other places (Yosemite!!) and been given mounts that were a real pain, but he said that I should still be honest, and then he started talking about people overestimating and then getting themselves in too deep. I was trying to explain that I was DOWNGRADING my experience, not upgrading, but he didn’t quite get it.
I’m glad I wore my helmet. I don’t think I needed it, at all, and depending on the time of day and who was on the ride, at times I was the only one wearing one. BUT it kept my head warm, and I think I was more comfortable loping through the hills with it because if my horse tripped and I ate dirt I knew I wouldn’t be leaving any brains for anyone to clean up 
Thank you everyone for your great tips!! I think I want a ranch horse. Dang it, now I need a place to keep it…
[QUOTE=jeano;5397603]
What bra?
I’ve seen overly endowed women riding in (gulp) tube tops on some trail rides.
Re: checking the girth-- make sure you know how to tighten a western cinch and how to redo the latigo knot, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MNBViagUabE or, if they use a tongue buckle, that you know how to set the tongue properly. Its simple enough once you know how but I’ve known western riders who have used the buckle only who fall apart at the seams when confronted with the latigo knot.[/QUOTE]
This was super helpful! They used both, depending on the saddle and horse. They were also very good about doing a “girth check” after us walking around for a minute while everyone got mounted before we really left the barn area, but I was well armed!
Thanks, I was wondering how it turned out. When I tell the truth, they either don’t believe me or give me some rank youngster. Sometimes not much fun.
Sorry about hubby’s bug, what a pain.
Do you mind telling me where you went? My husband and I have been thinking about doing something like this for a vacation.
Glad all things went well.
This is good advice. I am still working on how to look like a newbie myself. I have, for example, been sized up and given ‘Psycho’ to ride in Ireland, and ‘Wicked Wanda’ in Rocky Mt Nat’l Park in Colorado.
My ‘western’ helmet is a Troxel with a construction hat brim on it rolled as a cowboy hat. Widely admired. In fact quite a number of bicycle riders passing by have wanted it. Don’t have pics of mine but similar treatment at the bottom of this page:
[QUOTE=Beverley;5459371]
My ‘western’ helmet is a Troxel with a construction hat brim on it rolled as a cowboy hat. Widely admired. In fact quite a number of bicycle riders passing by have wanted it. Don’t have pics of mine but similar treatment at the bottom of this page:
https://saddleuptack.com/xcart/product.php?productid=86[/QUOTE]
That is cool! Those foamy things they sell look horrible, these look great! Thanks for the website address.
Showing up with your own helmet with add on brim and probably paddock boots are likely the give away that you do more than ride on vacation or haven’t really ridden since pony rides at the local fair as kid.
I was a trail guide years ago. Even as an 18 year old I quickly figured out from body language who really knew how to ride and who didn’t- no matter what they claimed. Real riders interact with the horse on the ground way differently than wannabes.
I had one guy claiming loads of experience, blah, blah, blah. I went to get him up on the percheron Mr. T. I told him left foot in the saddle and he went to put his right foot in. Since he was so busy preening for his buddies I let him get on the horse backwards. His posse about fell over laughing so hard. He couldn’t ride once he got on frontwards. Mr. T looked big & impressive but he wasn’t going faster than he needed to.
Mr. T was a big black percheron with a mohawk. Okay this was the mid 80’s.
I would love to have a Perch with a mohawk named Mr. T.
In fact, since I volunteer at a draft rescue, if we ever get an Amish Perch in like that (they typically roach manes), I’m totally suggesting that name!
And you’re right about body language, too. I’ve seen it in a lot of potential adopters. “Oh,” they say, “I have lots of horse experience,” but the tentative way they’re treating the horse tends to belie that statement. (and I’ll never forget the lady who claimed to have tons and tons of horse experience and could totally manage a green horse, etc…but she couldn’t figure out the right way to put a halter on.)
[QUOTE=VCT;5455410]
Do you mind telling me where you went? My husband and I have been thinking about doing something like this for a vacation.[/QUOTE]
I’m curious, too. I’ve heard of too many places where the trail ride doesn’t go faster than a walk and/or the horse care isn’t… optimal.
[QUOTE=KayBee;5460917]
I’m curious, too. I’ve heard of too many places where the trail ride doesn’t go faster than a walk and/or the horse care isn’t… optimal.[/QUOTE]
Sure! It was Alisal Guest Ranch in Solvang. Loved it! If you go in the winter, the room rates are still crazy, but breakfast, dinner, all rides, and golf are included. They weren’t joking when they said I could ride until my legs fell off - I think I did 5 hours Saturday, and if we had been there longer I would have continued to do the 2-2 hour rides per day!
In summer I think the rides are $55 or so a pop.
By submitting your email, you agree to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. You may also receive promotional emails from The Chronicle of the Horse. You can opt out at any time.
For Customers
Company
Terms of Use
