11 Horse Trail Skills to Master for the Summer
It might be the case that you live in a place where you can ride all year long & have the hobby of doing it. The arrival of Summer brings more equestrian activity & you'll get a chance to enhance or sharpen your trial skills.
A ride away from stables is a bit tough for you & your horse. Although, many riders have a passion for riding in the autumn & summer seasons.
Along with marvelous adventures, good opportunities for learning new trail skills come. So, let's find out the eleven best horse trail skills to master for the Summer.
Essential Skills To Get An Adventures Trail Ride
Fitness
Trail riding can sap your energy & can be fatiguing. You need to take care of yourself & your horse's fitness.
The amount of fitness training needed will depend on the length of the ride and the terrain. Riders can gradually increase the size of their rides to improve performance.
Hill work and slope climbing are good summertime exercises to prepare you & your horse for equestrian activities.
Trail Etiquettes
It's always preferable to go on a hack with at least one person for safety reasons. If this isn't possible, keep your phone with you and stay close to a tower.
If you don't arrive back at the scheduled time, leave a detailed itinerary of where and when you intend to ride.
When looking for a horse trail, be careful about the ground rules and check that your horse is calm around other horses. When riding in a single line, aim to maintain a distance of at least one horse length between your horse and the one in front of you.
Know How to Tie Up Your Horse
Talking with your horse while tying it up is the best way. Since it have a high chance of your horse getting loose compared to the arena, you need to take care of it.
If you're unsure how to tie a knot, ask a stablemate for help; they can demonstrate how to make one that releases easily.
What To Pack For A Trail
Without any prior planning, there is no way your plan will work. The same is true for horse trail rides. Even though you don't want to pack your bag to the edge, at the same time, you consider the necessities. Here are a few items which can be helpful:
- Food for rider & horse
- Water for rider & horse
- Medications & First Aid
- Warm clothings
- A halter & a lead rope
Mounting Away from the Stables
Another frequent difficulty arises when dismounting while out on a hack: how to remount without the aid of a mounting block? Although a fallen tree, stump, or boulder can be helpful. There is no assurance that you will find anything similar every time.
If you take friends with you, they may be able to give you a leg up if you are out with them.
Manage Bees and Other Insects
Even though wildlife is different everywhere, stinging insects like bees, wasps, and hornets are a threat that is present almost everywhere. These might have a nest on or close to the ground or live in a tree branch hanging over their heads.
It's too simple to startle them by stepping on or bumping into a nest. Avoid using scented products on you or your horse before a trail ride because the scent can also draw stinging insects, though some riders swear by bee repellents.
Learn how to Prevent Your Horse from Leaving After a Fall
Unintentionally breaking off contact with their horses is common among riders. You must learn how to remount; your horse must learn not to bolt if you fall.
You can teach this using a simple training technique. While leading your horse around the arena on a lead rope, drape a loose, heavy object across the saddle, such as an old tyre or some plastic shopping bags filled with sand.
Crossing Bodies of water
Fording rivers and streams can take a lot of practice on a horse.
Before attempting larger ones while on the trail, check it out and gain confidence that your horse can cross small bodies of water.
Know How to Prevent Your Horse from Eating Grass While Riding
Some horses believe a horse trail ride is a perfect opportunity to graze. It could be hazardous if your horse suddenly stops and you are knocked over its head if you are not paying attention.
Avoiding ever allowing this behavior in the first place is the best way to stop it. Your horse will assume it has the freedom to grab some grass whenever it wants if you let it occasionally.
Learn to Tackle Summer Conditions
You need to check upon conditions to enjoy awe-inspiring trail rides.
Avoid directing the horse too much about where to place its hooves and let it proceed at its own pace.
Lean slightly forward and lift a little of your weight out of the saddle when going uphill. When going downhill, turn around and lean slightly backwards.
Your horse will appreciate the effort, and you two can easily navigate even the most demanding trails.
Teach Your Horse: Be careful about where to put your feet
Although there are no slick trails in the Summer, you still need to pay attention to the path. If you are familiar with the trail, your horse can follow it correctly, but if it is your first time, you should consider this. The best lesson to impart to your horse is maintaining a calm gait.
In Ending
To make your equestrian camping experience even more beautiful, Top Horse Trails offer trips, whether horse camping or trail riding, through the country, state parks, county parks, public bridle trails, backcountry, or wilderness. With our 2500+ horse camps database, we are happy to give you unforgettable horse camping experiences. Follow these tips to master your trail skills.