Maybe. OTOH, maybe not! I just read the newest Trail Safety thread, wherein a lady was pulled off her bicycle and killed. Perhaps I’ll be more diligent in finding somebody to ride with.
Hi all…I’m new to this forum. Glad to see a whole section devoted to the joys of trail riding!!!
I can never seem to find anyone who wants to go riding for as long as I like to go out. As a result, I usually go myself. I’m thinking of getting a dog who can go the distance with me so I’m not ALL alone. the dogs that I have can’t go the distance…too big and too thick!
I wish I could find someone reliable who would go every weekend for a walk, trot, canter, ride for about 3 or 4 hours.
Anyone live in SoCal??? 
Welcome to COTH BklynCwgrl! Enjoy the trail riding forum!! Lots of good info here.
Yes, welcome! Enjoy! P’haps you could start small and train up a companion or two? Three-four hours could be pretty daunting for many people.
In fact, the horse I have now isn’t ready for that kind of distance either. She’s a 3 year old paint/tb. I’d love to post a picture, but have no idea how. I actually started her out alone before I took her with anyone else. I thought that would be the way to ensure that she will go alone. She has no problems going alone. I was afraid at first. I never had such a young horse. But aside from some typical 3 year old antics, she’s a really excellent trail horse. My husband is doing training level/1st level dressage with her also. Anyway…by fall, she’ll be able to go distance, if I can!
Does anybody else think that 3 is pretty young for a long trail ride? If she were mine, I might wait a year or so.
Brklyncwgl,
I used to have a dog going with me all the time! She was part Standard Poodle and whatever else - she never got tired even after two or three hours of riding with me. Perhaps, like the horses, lighter weight dogs might do better at trail riding with you?
I ride alone and love it. My horse and I do get nervous and I also started singing - made up our “trail song”. Singing over and over “we are very, very brave” “the birds are a’singing” “the leaves are a’falling” and so on.
We are not brave by any means - but somehow thinking it/singing it helps.
I have not been able to ride out for some months due to work on the creek by flood control - and will make our maiden voyage to the “new look” probably next month. I know my horse will wonder what has happened to our trails - the ones he had grown used to - the first part - all the trees knocked down, etc. I am trying to prepare for this - thinking clicker training and/or Tteam stuff by LTJ. Sometimes my horse gets bug-eyed (hard eyes?) and I want him to soften, relax and listen to me - or focus away from whatever has him buzzed. I can pretty much get his attention with a carrot - so always carry some with me - and want to work on clicker training so he will be thinking “what do I need to do to get that carrot” ie calm down, focus on me, etc. Do others use CT on the trail?
Depends on how much in hand trail work was done (to condition the horse mentally for the trail, as well as physically), and how much the rider weighs. Also depends on the pace of the ride.
If the horse hasn’t had much experience on the trail, I would wait another year. If she has had experience, than it would come down to the weight of the rider and the pace of the ride. A QH/TB would be a good sized horse. She could handle it.
I pretty much agree with Alysheba. However, I also add in to take account of the terrain. I lived for 5 years in the Twin Cities (on loan from CA) and found trail riding to be a whole lot different there. For one, you lack significant elevation changes in MN. I can remember riding at Lake Elmo on the east side and it was completely flat. A walking ride for 2 hours put little stress on the horses. Now out here in the SF Bay Area I’m going up and down hills continuously. Just finished a two hour walking ride on my 4 year old and he handled it well but I probably wouldn’t have tried it a year ago.
Every case is different and a lot depends on the horse, the speed and the terrain. Personal opinion is to err on the side of caution. On the other hand can’t AERC horses start competing limited distance (25 miles) at the age of four?
By the way BrklnCwgrl, my guy is also a Paint/TB cross. Would love to see a picture of your guy. I love the cross! Of course, my guy is 16.2 hands which hardly makes him “mounting-friendly.” No NATRC for him since I need the top of a picnic table to get on.
Alysheba, I hear it is a little toasty today in the Twin Cities. We had our 109 degree temps last week. However, I do miss the 4 pm thunderstorms.
Perfect timing, I just took my mare on her first solo trail ride today and she did pretty well. She was a little more attentive and her walk a bit quicker than normal, but I really enjoyed having her all to myself. Once she’s more confident on her own, I’ll be able to work on the things that I can’t work on while in a group. For the most part, I’m for the “just get out and go” group.
I also agree with Alysheba on the age of the horse and conditioning. I took my 3 year old mustang on a pretty long ride that was almost continual climbing the first half. Of course there were lots of rest breaks along the way but she did just fine and took a long nap in the shade when we got to the destination. Yes, she was tired when we got back but then, so were the older horses as well. She had a bath at the river and a good long rest and was ready to go the next day. Mustangs are tough and very strong, they have to be to survive in the wild but any horse with appropriate conditioning would be able to handle a 3+ hour ride.
Hi all. I don’t know how to post pictures on this forum. If someone can tell me how to do it, I will be glad to post pics of my little girl.
She is about 15 hands…built like a thoroughbred…fortunately with the mind of the QH side! She’s been under saddle since she’s been 2 1/2. Not overworking…just training. I won’t tell you what I weigh :winkgrin: but I will say I’m not fat! LOL I’m not too big for her by any means.
As I said, my husband is doing dressage with her, so she gets court work about once a week and I trail ride her once or twice a week…on an average of 6 to 8 miles per ride. Our terrain is fabulous for conditioning…sandy washes/trails and easy elevation. We don’t do a difficult pace…mostly walking and some trotting. I am very cognizant of her developmental stages. I’ve asked the vet when he thought she would be ready for somewhat tougher rides and he said towards fall/winter. At that time I will increase the pace of the rides and then the distance.
By the way…she turned out to be such a terrific horse that we just purchased her full sister. This little girl looks like she’s going to be at least 16 hands. She will be a great dressage horse.
Anyway…if someone tells me hwo to upload pics…I’d be delighted to show you pics of ALL my babies!
Many ways to teach them to go alone. here are a few examples - Brave, not so brave, weanie.
- Just do it - short rides at first, increasing the duration
- start out with a buddy, split off for a bit, and rejoin your buddy. increase the duration of the split.
- Hand walk the trails for a bit. Then hand walk out, ride a bit, hand walk back. Ride out, hand walk, ride, hand walk back. Mix it up alot.
to condition - lots of hills - lots of trot work.
When I first started taking my 3 year old out, she started to do typical 3 year old stuff. Having no prior experience with that behavior (my previous horses were all older and more experienced) I was afraid and I didn’t know what to do. She would decide she was going home…and refuse to go forward. When I would try to make her go forward, she’d back up…she’d back into trees and start kicking the trees…with me on her and my head in the branches!!! It was lovely!!! She’d decide to turn around on a steep hill…when I didn’t feel I had the room to fight with her. I was sooo frustrated!!!
One time I had my husband walk behind us…not even on a horse. He walked behind us and every time she started her antics, he would tell me exactly what to do! It was the best lesson I ever had. ON THE JOB TRAINING!!! Since that time I feel like I can handle pretty much anythng she throws at me…and as a result, she’s turning into a great little gal.
Was your husband a horse person?
I had to ask that because my DH, the non-horsey Geek would read up on literatures on horses and would tell me what he’d learn. :eek: Even I had to take him out on training with me, he’d remember what he’d read and would share them. He still refuses to ride! But, he adores our horses!
My husband is a dressage rider/trainer. We’re a mixed marriage…I’m strictly western trail…he’s dressage :lol: :lol:
And your family approved of that marriage?? lol
This thread got me thinking. Even thought we try out best to de-sensitize horses for the trail. Are there just horses that simply are too worried or skittish to go out alone no matter what we do?
Its sort of like people, some are laid back easy going and some are alway anxious and nervous.
I had one a few years ago and no matter how hard I tried to make it a good experience, he just did not like it.
They figured if he could put up with me it didn’t matter what kind of riding he does!!! 
