The saintly packer tourist trail string horse

[SharonA1]

So, just back from a big family vacation. Volcanos, whitewater, beaches, mountains, sloths, tortoises, pina coladas, etc. The younger set of the family – not realizing that COTH has ruined me for trail string horses (I am always assessing their soundness and their weight and looking at their feet), or that friends had forbidden me to go horsebackriding in the wilds of central America for fear that I would adopt the lamest, skinniest, worst of the bunch and bring it home to the US – demanded horseback riding.

So. The horses were pretty dull to us tourists. I confess I tried to go all Warwick Schiller on dear Lollipop, being present and open but not demanding anything of her. I am not sure she was impressed, but after a few minutes of ignoring me she did turn her head, look right at me, and blow on my foot. I’ll take it.

But, there were some impressive things about this crew. One: the horses nonchalantly marched through two class II rivers, flank-deep, over rocks of all sizes, and were unphased. Two: they all were perfectly capable of riding in a butt-to-hip, nose-to-tail herd at times when there was a bottleneck, and no one pinned their ears or kicked or flung their head in the air, etc. Three: I must say, Lollipop was really freakin’ smooth. Her trot and canter were absolutely flowy. Four: the hills these horses do are no joke. I thought the hills around GMHA in Vermont were taxing, but, those are easyish compared to what these horses do every day. If it were my own horse, I would be getting off and walking/praying. Lollipop, however, had it in the bag.

I will say that the handlers seemed to genuinely know and care about the horses, and the horses were all willing to come out and work for the handlers. They all came out of the paddock on their own when the handlers opened the gate, and the ones who were directed back in (they all seemed trained to different types of whistling) seemed kind of disappointed.

And I did not come home with Lollipop.

[CindyB59]

We rode horses on Jamaica once. I got on mine, while they were helping others. Got raised eyebrows when I checked the bridle and saddle. Took 3 steps, said this horse is lame. Got “no, no…horse is fine “. Walked a bit more, jumped off and refused to get back on. Someone, a supervisor. Came over , checked horse and got me a different one.

Dummy me for letting them know I knew horses. I got a retired race horse. No relaxing ride for me LOL

[NancyM]

I spent a few weeks trail sweeping for a local very posh guest ranch. They were over booked, and didn’t have enough staff for everything that had to be done, thus I got the call. I’m an old h/j rider/trainer, and race trainer/gallop girl. So this was OK with me. My main job was to pick up what the tourists dropped, any horseshoes that came off, etc.
I was given a drafty X gelding, a roan. He and I got along fine, he was not a “guest” horse, had been ridden solely by another ranch employee previously. He was big. He was a bit sensitive, but I was floored when he manouvered to close gates that we went through. He knew how, I just had to hold the gate and do up the chain. After a week or so, I got a day off. The next day I was there, I heard that one of the guests had wanted to ride the horse, because he was a pretty colour. They let him. It was a disaster. The horse did not like to have anything behind him… any other horse. He HAD to be last. He had freaked out substantially with the guest on him. I wasn’t surprised actually, because I had noticed that he was constantly “checking” behind us, and as long as we were LAST in line (my job), he was fine… but he did check. So I guess all hell broke loose when another guest on another rent horse was behind him. The trail boss didn’t know this.

One day when we were heading down the trail, with rocks everywhere, the guests wanted to gallop. This was an “advanced” riding skill group. Sooooo, the trail boss dutifully started off at the gallop, leading the bunch. I don’t like taking rocks in the face, so held back enough that we were clear of the flying rocks. I kid you not. Then, up ahead, there was an accident… one of the guests horses tripped, and fell, pretty much a cartwheel. at full speed, on the rocky ground. I saw it happen, with a couple of horses ahead of me between me and the downed horse. It was a young girl on the horse, one of the few who THANKFULLY had a helmet on, which most of them didn’t. (I did, of course, much to the dismay of the cowboy way). The horse that had fallen, the other grooms in the barn had been “reluctant” to send this horse on this ride (knowing that some galloping would be in the cards). I knew nothing about anything, because I was only an ignorant “temporary” employee. But these grooms knew that this horse was NOT up to doing what was going to happen… she was elderly and a bit stumbly. But the child specifically requested to ride this horse, so it was done. And this was the result. The horse got up, and was bleeding and shaken. The kid was also bleeding and shaken, and still alive. The “trail boss” decided that he should put some “dirt” on the bleeding horse, to "stop the blood- old “indian trick”. (I kid you not). I was appalled. About everything. I said nothing. Eventually, the kid got back onto the horse, and we walked home… it took several hours to get back to the ranch. The trail boss came up to me and said pointedly, “The kid dropped the reins, which tripped the horse and brought the horse down”. I said that that was not what I had seen… that the horse had stumbled. He repeated this theory. I said nothing. We had to go for a late lunch. The story spread like wildfire at the ranch. One of the guests came up to me and asked exactly what I had seen. I said nothing other than go ask the boss. I did not work there for long, I was only hired temporarily just because they were over booked. I’ve never been back. But I did hear that their trail boss got fired that year. He was an idiot. But I liked my big roan drafty gelding, he was a sweetheart horse. Sensitive, and super smart. I heard the foundered him soon after, and he was gone.

[2DogsFarm]

[quote=“CindyB59, post:2, topic:802229, full:true”]Dummy me for letting them know I knew horses. I got a retired race horse. No relaxing ride for me LOL
[/quote]

Tell us you know horses without saying…
Long, long ago, on a roadtrip SF to LA, DH & I brought our chaps & boots to a trailride in Molera State Forest.
After a young guide complimented us on our “shotguns” (roughout EQ chaps from Stateline ) we were assigned horses.
Crossing a shallow creek, we spotted a bobcat on a downed tree, not 50’ from where our dozen or so dudes were riding, nose-to-tail. Not a single horse so much as cocked an ear
Feeling pretty sure my TB would have spooked, I asked the guide how long my chestnut mare had been doing rides. His reply:
“She’s new, been here a week, but we figured you & your husband knew what you were doing”

[Scribbler]

I think dude strings build on the natural tendency of horses to follow the herd. I have even seen video of people (obviously experienced) on back country rides where the pack horses or mules are being allowed to just follow with no lead ropes.

Most dude riders don’t have the skills to moderate the horses behavior very much so the rider is just a rather floppy package up there, and as long as the herd is OK with the trail, the string will.follow along.

[NoSuchPerson]

@CindyB59

Dummy me for letting them know I knew horses.

Some years ago, on vacation with a friend, my friend booked us for a trail ride. I was not there when she did it. They asked her about our riding ability when she made the reservations and she said “One beginner and one expert.”

After we arrived and they were assigning horses to everyone, one of the wranglers asked, “So which one of you is the expert?” and I was looking around to see who the expert was when my friend pointed at me and said, “Her. She’s the expert.”

Lucky for me, the horse they gave me was a lovely little mare who was only a little spooky.

[Cammie]

I went on a beach ride in Borneo years back. I told the staff I rode but made sure to downplay my experience level so I wouldn’t be given the rankest horse they had. Didn’t really work, I was given a flea-bitten Arab cross mare who HATED her job with a passion. She had her ears pinned back the entire time and kept threatening to cowkick when I adjusted the tack before getting on. Then immediately started crow hopping and just being rude when I did finally get on. I growled at her to knock it off and booted her forward which clearly surprised her. We had a bit of a tense discussion for the first 5 minutes until she realized I wasn’t going to be ripping her face off or slamming down on her back. Then it was like a flip switched and she was a delight to ride. Ears went up and she turned out to be a very responsive and fun horse.

The guy leading the ride was amazed at how well she was going for me. He’d never seen anyone manage to get her to canter before. She apparently normally spent the whole time intimidating riders by trying to unseat them and turning her head trying to bite their feet.

I felt so bad for her having to be in that rental string. The horses came from South America, I think Brazil if I remember correctly. Lousy luck for a smart sensitive mare like that, to be shipped to the other side of the world for tourist rides in a sweltering jungle.

My friend who was with me had no riding experience and got a big sweet gelding who was the classic saint personality that just went along with the group and was very tolerant. Definitely the antithesis of the mare!

[furlong47]

I’ve taken a number of trail rides over the years while traveling, often alone… I always research and check places out ahead of time. I’ve never gotten a bad horse, although they definitely tend to give less than a total deadhead when you show up with your own gear. A number of places it’s just been me and the guide and we would pick up the pace and have a great time. Probably the best match was when I went to Mackinac Island… they give you a paper to fill out with questions about not only your experience level but what type of horse you prefer. Once the guide takes you up into the park you’re also allowed to go off on your own so it’s definitely not a nose to tail experience. I got a gelding who was fun and brave, went out alone with no problem but definitely still had his own thoughts about things at times.

[2DogsFarm]

@furlong47

still had his own thoughts about things at times

You reminded me…
On a weekend vacation, DH & I went on an unaccompanied trail ride in Wauconda, IL.
They sent you out, advised trail was marked & you were on the clock.
Signs on the trail - basically a big loop - instructed “Canter Here” & “End of Canter”, “Walk Here” & darned if those livery horses couldn’t read!
As we approached the Canter Here, both picked up a depart & sure enough, as we came to End, both slowed back to walk
We finished the loop, but still had maybe 15min left, so we decided to turn back on our tracks.
Both horses were adamant NOPE! & politely fought us asking to turn around, but grudgingly gave in.
I’m certain we could have done the whole hour without touching the reins or asking for any gait

[fordtraktor]

Often the trail string horses are hardly broke to do anything but follow at whatever pace the string is going. Our local place doesn’t shoe them—she says they are better behaved/wont take off on the rocky trails if they are a little sore. Sigh.

I find that abroad, with no liability laws, the situation can be very different. I got to gallop an Arabian stallion in the desert in Egypt, and ponies across the Mongolian steppes. Super fun and well cared for animals. The Arabian was the owner’s personal horse and breeding stallion, he was gorgeous.

[saddleup]

My husband and two kids went on a trail ride at Jackson Hole, Wyoming. I told them I had horses and they put me on a young Percheron/QH cross. A few minutes into the ride he went to snatch grass and I automatically corrected him as I would with my own horses, then rather sheepishly said “sorry, it was automatic”. The owner asked me how long I’d be in town and offered to have me ride each morning on a different horse for free, that they were all young and needed someone who wouldn’t let them learn bad habits. It was a blast. They used their horses all summer for trail rides then sold them to hunters in the fall who needed seriously broke trail horses.

[piaffequeen2]

I went on a trail ride in Kentucky while I was visiting my friend-she didn’t go. I made the mistake of telling them that I had some experience and they put me on an OTTB named Tarzan who had been off the track for a couple of months. Nice big 16.1 chestnut gelding. Couldn’t be mounted by the other horses so I got led to a mounting block at the other end of the arena. As I was getting on he got a little antsy so I gently checked him and said whoa quietly. The man helping me screamed at me don’t yank the reins. I turned around and said I did not yank the reins and don’t you ever talk to me like that understand? He backed off and I got on. He couldn’t fix my stirrups (western saddle and made for a 6’5 giant)) and then said you’re an expert you can deal with it. I rode the entire ride without stirrups.

Tarzan was great until we had to go up some rock steps on the trail-even following he had trouble. Didn’t know how to navigate. I gave him a loose rein and grabbed mane because he just sunk down and just leapt. I ended up out of the saddle and came down hard on the horn-ripped my jeans and ended on his neck. He stood rock still as I scooted back into the saddle. All the other riders behind me were like we don’t want that to happen. Trail guide said ok let’s all trot-we did and Tarzan actually had a really smooth trot that I could sit to.

Trail ride ended and the back guide came up to me and said I did a really good job with Tarzan and she was sorry for what happened. The owner came over to ask how we all liked the ride. The back guide told her about the guy yelling at me and what happened out on the trail. The guy who had yelled at me said I was a liar. I told him F off and that I work for AAA (which I did just not in the Travel Area) and that i will make sure this outfit gets a negative review. Back guide and the other riders backed me up and also told her that I had to ride stirrup less because dingleberry couldn’t fix my stirrups. She apologized and refunded my money.

Lesson learned never tell any outfit what an expert rider you are-I am paying to enjoy my trail ride not to school your horses.

[Obsidian_Fire]

@piaffequeen2

Lesson learned never tell any outfit what an expert rider you are-I am paying to enjoy my trail ride not to school your horses.

Yep… years ago, when we still had dude strings around here, you could rent by the hour and go around the trails at this one barn. I would go out and rent a horse just to get on something different, for experience. They made you fill out a form, one question being how experienced are you, I always checked less than I actually am…
I did get to ride some halfway nice horses tho. Sad part was one day there was this little bay Arab mare in there, I’d never seen her before, turned out her owner hadn’t paid board so they put her into the dude string to earn her keep. I rode her, she was so nice, I wished I could’ve brought her home.

[2DogsFarm]

@piaffequeen2

rode the entire ride without stirrups.

Unless you’re used to Western tack, that could have been beneficial.
When I visited friends whose idea of a trailride was 6-8h, used Aussie Trekking or Western saddles & rode one of their horses, I found something about the angle the stirrups hung torqued my knees.
I’d drop my stirrups after an hour & found it was the only way to stay comfortable.
When I took my horse camping with them to Brown County, I rode the very vertical trails in my Dressage saddle & was fine.
Same trip I borrowed a treeless Western to try it & had to drop the stirrups.
Pic while I still had the stirrups:

[ReSomething]

Ditto. Some sort of well thought of gaited trail saddle, had a lot of bulk right at knee level, coupled with a chunky rocky mountain horse, very painful by the end of the ride.

[endlessclimb]

I won’t buy or ride in a western saddle that isn’t either VERY broke in or has the wrapped/twisted fenders (not sure the technical term). My knees won’t take it, either.