Your first trail ride - What should you expect

If your planning on taking a trail ride for the very first time. This is what you should expect.

The riding stable employees should introduce them selves and should tell you what their jobs are. This is so you will know what person you should ask questions too.
There will be anywhere from 5 to 25 horses tied up along a hitching post. Each horse will have a name and a unique personality. There will be gentle horses, lively horses, older quiet horses and horses of all colors, sizes and breeds.
Before the trail ride starts a employee will ask if you have ever ridden before. This will help determine what horse you will ride.

An employee will go over the rules of the ride, what you will do on the ride and how long the ride will last.

Rules will include things such as keeping behind the lead horse at all times. Trotting or galloping only when the leader says it is ok. Rules about eating, drinking and where to put any garbage you might have.

What you will do on the ride is determined by each riding stable. However there is always a lovely trial that will usually wind around pastures, fields, rivers, forests and hills. Almost every trial riding place will give their guests the opportunity to trot and gallop at some point during the ride. Guests can also choose not to gallop if they are not comfortable with it.

Someone will tell you who will be in charge of the ride. The person in charge is the 'leader'. There will be one or two employees who will ride at the sides keeping the horses in line. This is called 'riding flank'. There will be one person at the very end of the line to keep horses from straying. This is called 'bringing up the rear'. These people are there to keep riders safe and happy.

Once you have been given a horse to ride, walk up to your chosen horse and give him a pat. Hold your hand out with your palm flat and let the horse sniff. If he nudges your hand you may pet his face and neck.

Now it will be time to mount your horse. Mounting is not difficult and there will always be someone there to help. Basically what you do is, take hold of the stirrup and turn it so it faces you. Put your foot into it. Now grab hold of the saddle horn and pull your self up. Don't worry if you can't get up there are other ways. An employee can make a cradle with their hands. You can put your foot into their hands and they will lift you high enough to get you on the horse. All you have to do is swing your leg over and voila your ready to ride.

Once everyone is on their horses the leader will give you brief instructions on how to steer and stop your horse. Listen carefully to what they say.
Your ready now to enjoy one of the most exciting and fun things on the planet!

For your information here are some safety tips
If your horse for any reason begins to run and you don't know what to do. Follow these instructions: Gently pull on only one reign. The horse will begin to make a circle. keep pulling the one reign a little harder. The horse will keep going in a circle until he stops.
What you do not want to do. Do not just yank on the reigns. This may cause the horse to stop and rear up. This is dangerous and can get you hurt.
Always were a helmet. If you fall off your horse your head must be protected! Most trial riding places will give each rider a helmet.

If you are very nervous on your first ride, tell the leader. They may attach a lead from their horse to yours. This will ensure that your horse is under control at all times. Small children should have a lead attached as well.

Follow all the rules and your ride will be safe and enjoyable.

What kind of horse should a parent buy for a child?

You need to consider a few things. Do you think your child is going to ride the horse a few times and then let something else take their interest? If this is the case, then it is probably best not to buy a horse, but instead rent a horse at a riding stable.
If your child has had the chance to take some riding lessons and shows a keen interest in continuing the hobby and talks about wanting to participate in shows and or riding events then it might be time to consider buying a horse.
When you buy a horse the responsibility for it's health and welfare must be shared by both you and your child. Responsibility can be passed entirely onto the child as he or she becomes more mature and understands that horses need daily work and that routines must be established.
If the decision has been made to buy a horse you will want to buy a friendly and well trained gelding or mare. Do not buy a horse from a trail riding stable. These horses are trained to follow a lead horse and can become quite belligerent when taken out on their own.
Buy your first horse from a stable that breeds and trains horses. They may be more expensive, but they won't come with problems sometimes associated with trail riding farms.
Generally speaking horses used for western pleasure riding can include Quarter horses, Paints, Pintos, Palomino's and Appaloosa's to name a few.
Horses used for English riding can include Hunters, Arabians and sometimes Thoroughbreds.
The fact is you should buy a horse that has good personality, mannerism and higher level of training. A three or four year old horse will have enough experience for even beginner riders.

You simply need to choose a breed of horse that you and your child especially like. Once you have determined the breed, start looking for a horse that is friendly, well trained and well kept. A friendly horse is a sure sign of a happy horse that has been trained well and will be suitable for almost any aged rider.

Things to do every day to keep your horse happy and healthy

The everyday responsibilities of keeping a horse

Happy smiling horse

Horses are much more than just pets, and they require a lot more work then most other common house animals. Every single day of your horses life span, you must do several things.
1. Every morning the horse must be fed and fresh water must be provided.
2. At some point each and every day the horse must be groomed, his hoofs cleaned out and his body inspected for any cuts, open sores, burrs stuck to his coat, leg problems, unusual behavior ect.
3. At some point every day his stall must be cleaned out. Horses should never be left in a dirty stinking stall. Use fresh straw or wood chips to replace the soiled stuff you just removed.
4. Horses need and want exercise. Unlike humans, horses are not inclined to become lazy. Horses love to run and play outside. We call this horsing around. If you do not plan on riding your horse for the day, then at least get them out into the paddock so they can trot, gallop or play.

5. Horses need to be socialized with humans. This means bonding or becoming friends with "you" the "rider". Each and everyday spend time with your horse. Fuss over him. Brush him. Give him a treat. A neglected horse is a sad horse. Your horse is there for you to enjoy, but it is a two way street. Your horse should enjoy being with you!
Remember you are asking your horse to do a lot for you. Give your horse something back by being responsible for his care!

Safe rider tips

Before you ever get on a horse.
Walk around the horse in a complete circle and run your hands over the horses body. This may alert you to any problems the horse may have. An example would be a bur stuck to his flank or leg. Another example would be a cut or scrape that had gone unnoticed. Generally your just looking for any potential problems.
Next be sure the saddle has been properly tightened
 

I once had the displeasure of a saddle coming undone while I was galloping a very naughty horse with a very hard mouth. For about 30 miserable seconds I was underneath the horse in a full gallop. I was very lucky not to sustain any serious head or leg injuries.
Next be sure the Bit is correctly placed in the horses mouth.
The Bit needs to rest in the horses mouth where there is a spot with no teeth. Run your hand lightly along the gum of your horse. You can feel the spot where there are no teeth.



Most hoses will open their mouths when you stick a finger on this spot.
The bridle can be adjusted for your horse, so that the Bit always lands in the right spot.

When you mount your horse and get comfortable.
Be sure that only the toe of your riding boot is in the stirrups. There's nothing worse then falling off a horse and being dragged around the paddock because your foot got caught. Just putting your toe in the stirrup will prevent this.
Wear a helmet and enjoy your ride!

How to take care of your leather saddle

Good saddles are made of leather and need a good cleaner/conditioner to keep them soft and supple. About once every three months use a clean dry clothe to rub your entire saddle with honey leather cleaner/conditioner

Click picture for info on cleaner

Honey leather cleaner is the premium standard and works very well to soften the leather and help weather proof it. You don't want to do it very often because the leather can become saturated and get heavy. Use a small amount, just enough to leave a light coating. Always store your saddle in a dry place. Inspect the girth strap often to be sure that it is not getting to thin or starting to wear unevenly. A good saddle with the proper care can last three decades or more.

Advanced riders know the benefits of a good saddle and will very often have a favorite that they have been using for years and years. With the proper care the advanced riders saddle over the years conforms to their bodies and becomes extremely comfortable. There's nothing better then sitting in complete comfort while riding your horse.

Buy the best saddle and keep it in good shape, chances are you will still be using it for years to come.

How I got my horse to jump the first time

There's something wrong with this horse! I said to my instructor, he won't jump.
Well I have learned a lot since then. Getting a horse to jump is a really easy thing. Horses in the wild do not think twice about jumping across ditches, broken fences, holes in the ground, fallen trees and anything else that might be in their way. So why will a horse on it's own jump, but won't jump with a rider on it's back?
The answer is all about control. The rider must give up control to the horse. The rider must have enough confidence in the horses ability to make the jump.

How I got my horse to jump the first time

 I had just purchased my first Hunter. She was a fine looking horse, but the owner was selling her because she couldn't get the horse to jump a basic 3 foot high rail. I handed over the money for the horse and asked if I could ride for a few minutes before I took her home. The owner agreed and supplied the riding equipment.
I took her into the paddock where there were a bunch of small 3 and 4 foot rails set up.



I got the horse to trot around a little and then asked her to canter. After about five minutes I was feeling very comfortable on her back and she was responding well to my riding cues.
With her in a full canter I had her head straight for a three foot rail. As we approached I loosed the reigns and let her have all the control. All I had to do is rise up in the stirrups as she cleared the rail.
The owner couldn't believe the horse she just sold jumped so smoothly.
I continued around the paddock and asked the horse to again make another jump. She did so without any effort at all. I went on to the four foot jumps and she cleared them all without a care in the world.

If you want to try jumping your horse for the first time, take a pleasure ride and if you see a fallen log or branch get your horse to trot straight for it. As you approach ease up on the reigns and let your horse have the lead. She will most likely glide right over it. The trick is to be confident. An anxious rider makes an anxious horse. If not your not ready for jumping, the horse will sense it and you will most likely fall off when the horse bolts to the side instead of making the jump.

If your just learning, put a post on the ground in the paddock and simply let your horse walk over it. Then try your horse at a trot. Next a canter. When your completely comfortable with cantering over the rail, raise it up by one foot. Repeat the exercise. Walk, trot and then canter. This will give you and your horse enough confidence to move on to bigger and better jumps.
Jumping is one of the most exciting and rewarding things you will ever do on your horse.

The Arabian Horse for Pleasure Riding

The Arabian Horse

You can find a lot of good info all over the web about Arabian Horses. The info will tell you about how the breed came to be. What the breeds characteristics are. What the Arabian horse is good for and on and on.
Besides the very obvious beauty,  the Arabian Horse has eyes that will steal your heart away. Look into an Arabians eyes and you will see intelligence, pride, energy and above all loyalty.

When treated right the Arabian horse will do anything you ask of him within his capabilities. He will go to the end of the trail with you and he will bring you back safe. He will stand in the way of danger to allow you to escape. He is not just noble, he has the ability to think and solve problems. He is the ultimate pleasure riding horse and so much more. It's almost a shame to own one of these beauties and not work him towards his full potential. He loves to move and perform. You simply won't see the kind of energy he has in any other breed..

He is easy to train when treated well and he will not tolerate any cruelty.   Be cruel to an Arabian and you will lose his trust forever.

He makes a fabulous pleasure riding horse. He does exceedingly well in the show ring. He can put other breeds to shame when jumping and he gives his absolute best in dressage riding.  He can work on a cattle farm or do circles around the Quarter Horse. I guess this is why the Arabian has become one of the worlds favorite breeds.  

Almost any horse breed is suitiable for pleasure riding

When you decide to buy your first horse it is important to know that for the most part you are choosing a type of horse that will best match the type of riding you plan on doing. If for instance you plan on Western pleasure riding and maybe you will participate in some local riding shows, a Quarter horse may be the right choice.
The Quarter horse has long been a favorite amongst all avid western riding fans. The Quarter Horse comes in all shapes, sizes and colors including my personal favorite the Pinto.

A beautiful Pinto foal

Now you may be wondering why a Quarter Horse is also a Pinto. How can that be?  Horses are bred according to strict color and conformation characteristics. A Pinto horse can be registered as a Quarter Horse a Paint and as a Pinto.
So as you can see the important part in choosing a horse is not by type but by personality and by what appeals to you personally.

The first task is to find a breed that you absolutely love the look of. Secondly you need to find a stable that sells the type you want. Thirdly you must look at the stable. Is the stable clean and well organized? Do the horses look healthy and alert or are the horses dirty and skinny.  Pet one of the horses that you like. Does the horse shy away when you pet his head. If this is the case I suggest you go to another stable.




When you find a stable that is clean and organized with horses that are alert and friendly it is time to ask questions. Ask the owner if this horse is used for pleasure riding, show riding, jumping and if the horse has been trained for both Western and English riding. This is important because you may want to try different riding techniques without having to buy another horse.

What you want is a well rounded horse that is friendly and calm. You want a horse that is easy to saddle and bridle. You want a horse that has been trained in all the basics.

After you have gained a basic knowledge and understanding of horses, riding, and showmanship you may want to further your skills and get another horse or train your horse to do more.

The bottom line is to buy a horse you love and have fun learning to ride. Spend time with your new horse and get to know him personally. Buy a few good books about horses and enhance your knowledge. I can honestly say you will never regret owning your first horse.