Nothing is more relaxing than enjoying nature from the back of a content horse. In fact, most equestrians are recreational riders, not competitors. For the horse lover who is a bit of both, there are a number of trail activities to quench any competitive thirst. Although urban sprawl is eating up much of our open space, with a little research even most city dwellers can find miles of trails practically in their backyards.
This book offers all the information you need to enjoy trail riding to its fullest. Whether you’re looking for a horse or already own one, we’ll start with how to size up a trail candidate. Then, we’ll explore the options in tack and attire so you and your horse can be comfortable on the trail. Even though trail riding isn’t a contest for the best form, we’ll discuss how you can be a better rider by positioning yourself and using your training aids effectively to make rides easier on your horse.
Because modern-day trail riding often means sharing the trails with others and riding on roads to access trails, this book offers detailed instruction on how to desensitize your horse. We’ll also look at how to care for your trail horse and how to plan ahead to make sure you both stay healthy and happy on the trail. Riding with other horses and riders requires trail manners, so we’ll discuss leading and following manners and what to do if you want to train your horse to ride out alone.
Although a steady, well-trained horse is a must for the trail, even the best horses occasionally act up; we devote an entire chapter to dealing with those problem behaviors on the trail. After we’ve discussed the training and planning aspects, we’ll explore ways to find trails, to camp, and to compete in trail-riding activities.
If trail riding interests you, read on for a wealth of information that will have you safely exploring trails near and far.