Solo trail rides

[SugarCubes]

I have a gelding whose main job is a hunter, but I love to hack out with him as well. A couple of years ago, we boarded at a place with hundreds of acres of trails. We hacked out nearly every day, either as a cool down after a lesson or just long hacks. He was SUPER on those trails, would go out alone or in a group, and was very trustworthy.

Since I moved him, we don’t get out as often but still try to hack out when we get the chance. Last weekend we hacked out with a friend to a nearby park where both horses have been several times in the past. It was the first time they’ve been trail ridden since last summer/fall, however. My horse wasn’t as relaxed as he usually is, he was jigging and a little tense, but he hadn’t been on a trail ride in so long, I figured this would improve with repetition.

Yesterday, I took him to the same park by himself to see how he would do. He was worse than when he was with his buddy - which I obviously expected - and tried to jig the whole ride. I just sat chilly and asked him to stop and back when he would jig, or leg yield (kind of hard, these are narrow trails), or shoulder in, but he got more and more worked up, so we turned back after about 10 minutes. I wanted to keep it short and sweet and make it a good experience.

I guess I’m wondering if this is something I just need to continue to do with him until he gets better being alone? Or should I take him on those same trails with a buddy several more times until he is totally confident? I miss the solid trail horse I had a couple of years ago, and I’m not sure if it’s the new trails or the lack of trail riding we’ve done recently that has affected his confidence!

[irish_horse]

I think you’ve probably figured it out: both new trails and lack of trail riding, he’s just antsy and unsure about the whole thing. There are monsters out there you know! Can you take him and just go on a hike? I know I started my horse like this, and I could just walk along, not worrying about myself, and let my horse see me as the leader. Sometimes a scary thing would stop him in his tracks, but I’d just move him along, nothing to see here. Maybe that would expose your horse to the trails again, in a less stressful way for both of you. Try that a few times, then do a tack walk, and get on part-way through. Continue till you’re riding the whole time! I prefer to go it alone, later adding in a buddy when horse is pretty solid out there. Good luck!

[Pocket_Pony]

I may get flack for this, but for the first trail ride of the season, my TB would always be on the hotter side. Instead of trying to make him walk, I’d let him run it out. I’d go to trails that I knew - the twists and turns, the footing, the traffic patterns - and let him go. He liked to be out there, he was very trustworthy, he just needed to get a good gallop out of his system (as our arena was too small for a gallop), so I let him do it. After that, he was easy-peasy and we could go bareback and poke around for the rest of the season if I wanted to. He just needed that first run to be happy - holding him back only made it worse.

[cloudy18]

If he’s safe to lead, I would try that. I did that with my new mare last year. She’s actually better alone than with others, at times. My instructor/trainer told me she trots her newbies a lot on those first rides, to keep them busy. So give them both a try, or maybe do a little of both.

Sometimes I wonder if you aren’t better at going solo at first, so they look to you for leadership instead of the other horse. It seems like they might get more anxious going out alone if they have gotten used to an equine buddy. But people do it both ways, so???

[SugarCubes]

Thanks for the suggestions! I may try both ideas…at our old barn we always had a stretch or two where I would let him gallop, but this park is too windy and narrow for that, so he has to walk. I wonder if part of the jigging is him wanting to GO!

I like the suggestion of leading him too, especially if I can walk him a ways and then ride him back to the trailer. He is an absolute treat monster so I think bribery would also go a long way

[cutter99]

My trail horse and I are starting our 13th year together this spring, and for us, every spring starts out the same- he acts like a butt head the first week or so and then settles down. This year has been a little better, but it should be as he is now 18 years old!

Funny thing is when we ride with others, everyone absolutely adores my horse because he is so dead quiet and consistent. The people I ride with all say their horses are quieter when they ride with us. They laugh at me when I tell them they should see him at home the first few weeks of the year!

[katyb]

I think you just have to ride, ride, ride. I wouldn’t cut it so short again - he’s likely to figure out that being a jerk means minimal work. All of mine ride out fine alone, but I ride a lot, so it’s just their norm.

[Lisa_Preston]

Yeps, get out more, solo. In hand, in saddle, just miles and hours. Far better for him to seek his confidence fro your leadership rather than another horse. a friend’s horse used to shrill cry every 15 seconds when she rode. She just kept at it, solo. With experience, he earned confidence.

[SugarCubes]

Cutter :lol: What a stinker, although that does make me feel better that even an old pro like your horse is still a bit sassy each spring! Hopefully I’m dealing with the same type of thing!

KatyB GREAT point! Not to make excuses, but I was a little worried being by myself (there was no one else even parked at the trailhead!) and there was a storm blowing in so I didn’t want to push my luck! But, you’re absolutely right, I’ll make him keep going next time

Lisa Will do! I agree, I don’t want him relying on another horse for confidence either. I’ve evented this horse in the past as well, so I KNOW he can handle being out alone, but you’re right, I need to just keep at it. Thank you!!

[Horselover52157]

I’m not sure where you’re located but could there be bears or cougars that he could be smelling? I’ve heard of horses acting nervous when they could smell those.

[Palm_Beach]

He’s not really respecting and trusting you to the point he will relax and mosey on down the trail. Groundwork, desensitizing and scary obstacle training will really help. Can you ride off the farm a bit solo? Start with short rides, and you also need to keep his mind occupied and on you, don’t just passenger along. He sounds like he has a good brain, just needs some training.

[SharonA]

Leg yields, circling, etc. always infuriated my horse when on the trail, and made her worse. She wanted to be allowed to move on down the trail and see the world. The only thing that stopped her from jigging was my learning (through a good trainer) a safe, smooth, appropriate, constructive one-rein stop. Every time she jigged, I smoothly but firmly parked her nose on her hip. Left side, right side, alternating with each episode of jigging, down the trail. Once she learned that jigging equaled one-rein stop, there was no more jigging. I as recall, she gave me the requisite pissy sigh and “ear glare” to express her opinion, and then we continued to have a lovely ride with us both enjoying ourselves. She is allowed to walk right out (and we would trot and canter too, as the trail permitted). We used to have to play this game every few months/at a new place, but, it got so I just had to flex the bit on one side or another, and she would stop jigging and pretend that she never had been jigging, nope, noble trail warrior doesn’t need to be given orders, thanks. I’m not sure the jigging went away because she wanted to avoid the insulting one-rein stop, or because I was so confident that I knew how to stop the jigging, my horse was more trusting/respectful.

[katyb]

Just a reminder - cell phone ON your body, someone who knows your route and timeframe, and helmet on your head.

I absolutely love riding alone, but I’m terrified of winding up hurt and alone. I haven’t come off a horse since 1983 (knocking wood), but I still have a friend on call, and text updates every so often.

[cutter99]

Great reminder katyb. I have actually been experimenting with the Road ID app this week. While it doesn’t do everything I’d like an app to do, it is really cool because it lets my husband know when I start and stop a ride. Plus, he can see exactly where I am complete with GPS coordinates as long as I have cell phone service.

Next week I am going to experiment with what happens when you go still for 5 minutes. Waiting until then because my husband will actually be here and can see me while I stop!

Today I did serpentines through a 13 acre field just to see how accurate it was- and it was pretty accurate!

[Bogie]

My seasoned field hunter is always a butt head the first few long rides in the spring. Last week he got spooked by a Great Dane (it was scary) and I ended up dismounting (while it was still voluntary) and hand walking him home. I started him on the trails that way when he first came off the track and it still helps him settle. I know that he’ll come 'round but I think that a bit of hand walking doesn’t hurt.

[SugarCubes]

[QUOTE=cutter99;8569352]
Great reminder katyb. I have actually been experimenting with the Road ID app this week. While it doesn’t do everything I’d like an app to do, it is really cool because it lets my husband know when I start and stop a ride. Plus, he can see exactly where I am complete with GPS coordinates as long as I have cell phone service.

Next week I am going to experiment with what happens when you go still for 5 minutes. Waiting until then because my husband will actually be here and can see me while I stop!

Today I did serpentines through a 13 acre field just to see how accurate it was- and it was pretty accurate![/QUOTE]

I actually downloaded this before I headed out as well, although it will result in a worried, unhappy husband if you forget to hit the END RIDE button once you are back…whoops :lol:! It did appear to be pretty accurate though.

As for the cell phone on the body, I found an old cosmetic bag with a clip that I was able to squeeze my phone in and clip to my vest, but does anyone have recommendations for good cell phone holders? I’ve heard horror stories of people breaking hips or sternums from sticking a phone in their bra or pocket and then coming off and landing on their phones.

[katyb]

Yeah - I ride with mine in my back pocket or zipped in a jacket pocket. NOT the greatest, and I ride bareback most days, so it’s a pain when it pops out and I can’t remount! I was thinking I need one of those arm or legs cases. I take mine out for photos a lot, so I need easy access.

I’ve ridden EVERY day this year, thus far. It’s my New Year’s happiness project…

https://www.facebook.com/katy.r.bradford/media_set?set=a.10207280516764946.1073741902.1645536526&type=3&uploaded=4

[cutter99]

I just went to an iPhone 6, which is ginormous compared to a 4, and use this arm holster.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00B7OJ69E?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00

For me, the arm holsters have worked the best over all the years I have been carrying my cell phone.

[Pocket_Pony]

In the winter I carry my phone in a vest pocket - I am always wearing my vest!

In the summer I actually wear a fishing vest when I trail ride. I probably look pretty silly, but I keep a phone in one pocket, cookies in another, a whistle in another, hoof pick, I can put my sunglasses in there, keys, chapstick, you name it!

[cutter99]

Pocket Pony- What kind of fishing vest do you recommend? I have actually thought of going to that as I also carry Epi-Pens and really should have them on my person as opposed to the horse.