I really want to get a trailer and do just this. I so want to trail ride more often, but none of my horses are what I would call “relaxing”…we’re working on it though.
OP, I don’t want to hijack, but has anyone bought a trailer and just starting taking their horse out alone as a way to get them more broke to trails? One of mine is pretty good and I think lots of exposure would be great for him, but it’s not a “sure thing” and don’t know if I want to invest in a trailer if he’s not proven.
Well, the trailer is an investment-- it will outlast your horses if you take good care of it. And you can always haul your horse somewhere and HAND walk him on the trails if either of your confidence is an issue.
If you really want to trail ride, the only way to make that happen is to get out and do it. You can start by renting a trailer, of course, but you can make most horses into decent trail horses; it just takes time and miles.
Yes and No. I have a 17 yr old horse that is just my comfy old shoe. I have taken home on solo rides for the last 5 yrs. I smuggle my dog too. HEAVEN is doing the trails w/just your horse and dog, IMO. Just completely peaceful and wonderful!!
I have several riding buddies that I really like, so do enjoy riding w/people too, BUT solo’s are where I can just clear my mind and totally relax!
My old guy had a ligament injury. He is healed, but cant do deep mud or sand anymore, so some of trails are off limits to him now.
I just got a 4 yr old QH that is pretty solid, but is young. I have yet to take him on a solo. I am putting lots of miles on him, trying to haul out @ 3 times a week, but w/another horse and rider.
I will probably gear up my confidence late Fall to take him out solo. I really think he will be ok, but he is just not my SHOE.
I know what my old guy will do before he does anything. This guy just has a bit of question marks as to how he will handle things.
I know in a year or two, my newbie will become another SHOE, but we are not at that place yet. I do hope to be there in a month or two, to do at least a few solo’s.
We are doing our first endurance ride on Saturday, so are in the process of making memories and adding more experience together 
CONGRATS!! Been quite a few years, but I STILL remember that feeling driving home after my FIRST solo w/my NEW trailer, so I can totally relate.
You will be on a high for a few more days, LOL!! I probably will be too after the first solo w/my new guy too
Congrats to you, OP - sounds like you’re having a joyous experience with your horse!!!
I ride solo 95% of the time, and I go out once or twice a week depending on my schedule. I love trail riding and being alone with him in the woods. I sing to him (“I belong with you, you belong with me, you’re my sweethearttttt”) sometimes, sometimes I talk to him, mostly we’re just quiet together and enjoying the sounds and sights of nature (deer, coyote, bear! oh my!). He walks right on the trailer, we go have an adventure for a couple hours, and we come home. It is part of our normal repetoire and I think he likes it as much as I do. (Actually I’m pretty sure he enjoys it more than being in the arena!)
Count me in as a solo trail rider. Got my trailer in February and have been out six times this summer. My goal is to use my trailer at least twice a month for trails or showing. My horse has his moments - I think he is trailer-bound if there can be such a thing. At any rate, when he balks at something I don’t fight him. Just hop off, walk him past the sticky spot, and then clamber-grunt-and shove my way back on. Thankfully he stands like a statue for that part! If I had to wait for a buddy to trail ride I would never get to go.
Next time I go out I will be thinking of all of you. We will be solo trail riding together in a virtual way!
you go girl! your ottb sounds like a rockstar!
a few years ago i didnt have a very generous work schedule, so i had to ride at night if i wanted to keep my horse fit enough for jumping and competition (we evented at the time). i always ALWAYS trailrode alone. family said it was dangerous (and it was) and i’d be gone for many hours. my horse loved it though; it was a great way for us to bond as well as work on fitness without him thinking i was “making him work”. we would be gone for hours.
some things i’ve learned are always necessary when you are out alone:
you need a phone - always. freak accidents happen and they’re more likely to happen when you’re all by your lonesome.
a flashlight - you’d be surprised how handy they are. good for worst-case scenarios - if your horse is injured and you need to better gauge the injury, or if something (say a predator) intercepts you on the trail. i’ve thrown my flashlight at a too curious wild dog before.
baling twine - if your tack breaks or a rein breaks, this is a lifesaver on the trail.
halter - i would put my halter over my horse’s bridle. there have been a few times where i had to stop and tie him.
hoofpick - i cant count the number of times my horse got something stuck in or under his hoof or shoe. a vine, a rock, or worst case, extracting a shoe.
water - left on the trailer for when you return!
but, ive spent a lot of time alone on the trails and i am happy to say very few scary incidents happened. best of luck to you and happy trails!
I primarily ride alone(trail wise) on the farm, but plan on hauling out alone, as my schedule doesn’t always mesh with friends( I work).
I do it all the time. No place to ride at home, so all rides require a trailer.
I started doing solo during hunting season. We set up a camp and leave it for several weeks. I often need to go get everything off the mountain at the end of the season. And too often, everybody else is busy once the hunt is over. So I end up leading a pack string up the mountain. Loading everything up and leading the string back to the truck.
Nothing wrong with time spent alone with your horse.
If I didn’t ride alone, I’d not ride 85% of the time! You need to be comfortable with your truck and trailer, both mentally and physically. Mentally you need to know that your rig won’t let you down, and physically you need to be comfortable with handling it - take it to the grocery store and downtown and get used to backing etc. Then you need to understand about how the trailer brakes work and under what situations and how to drive up and down steep mountains using the gears (your automatic has low gears precisely for this reason).
You horse must load and travel well. Take him to the grocery store too. He must tie quietly at the trailer - use a hay bag if necessary. He must stand to be mounted from anything - rocks, logs, fences, the trailer, etc etc. I primarily ride young horses, so I always use a helmet. A dog is a very handy piece of equipment - jumping in and out of bushes soon gets the horses desensitized. Carry a crop - useful for flies, opening gates, pushing aside branches etc and if needed, to encourage your horse.
Your horse may look at scary objects, he is allowed to stand and take as long as he likes, he is Not Allowed to step backwards (and I would prefer not sideways either), ever. That can be unbelievably dangerous so nip it in the bud.
Teach your horse to “step” - a verbal command that means watch your feet, concentrate, step over a log or walk through a stream. It does not mean rush frantically or jump! I teach them that they can take as long as they like in water - they can drink, eat, rest, whatever it takes - to keep them ultra calm.
Lastly - pick your battles - if your horse needs work on crossing water, for example, wait until you have someone to go out with.
I don’t worry much about wildlife. Bear and elk don’t hang about, and if your horse is worried about cows, then the best thing is to ride at them and show your horse that he can push them - they run away from him! Coyotes can be somewhat nerve wracking and I try and get away from them asap. Not that they are interested in the horse but the dogs and can upset the horses with their howls.
And remember - have fun!
I’ve done it and loved it. But my boy has had on again off again lameness for awhile and I haven’t for quite sometime. Now, the move to the ‘farmette’ and retirement is fast approaching—and it is only a 5 acre parcel, so haul out for trails is going to be a must do. However, the BIG state park with fab footed trails and the river is only 2 miles from the driveway, so I hope to MAKE myself haul out solo quite often for an early morning romp if I can get him trail sound.
(Or get one additional who is)
I go out alone all the time. I’m on a 200-acre farm that has ride-out, so I don’t have to trailer. If I want to go someplace else, I just throw her on the trailer amd go. Nothing like this freedom.
I hate rings…spent enough time in them when I was a teenager…long ago…now all I do is trail ride and for safety I prefer company. I do, however, like to take my horse places by myself and then meet up with friends. I am like a lot of people here. I got my trailer after YEARS of wanting one and I love to use it. I love to put my self loading darling on and take off; we often stop for a snack along the way. I get my coke or ice cream and stand by her safety door and feed her carrots and let people walking by pat her.
[QUOTE=trafalgar;7157473]
I love to put my self loading darling on and take off; we often stop for a snack along the way. I get my coke or ice cream and stand by her safety door and feed her carrots and let people walking by pat her.[/QUOTE]
This and the grocery store comment above make me want to take my guys out to the local Food Lion in our new trailer :lol:
Seriously, we just starting loading and taking short trailer trips in prep for the big trail ride.
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