Autumn is prime trail riding season, making it a favorite time of year for many horse enthusiasts. The prospect of spending hours in the saddle, aboard your favorite horse, spending time with friends and taking in crisp, fresh air is a horse lover’s dream.
Successful trail rides don't happen without ample time to plan, proper packing of saddle bags, and choosing the right horses to hit the trails. It's important that each trail rider follows a list of rules and proper etiquette to help ensure a future for trail riders.
Rules on the Trail
- Never trail ride alone and always be sure someone at home knows where you will be riding
- Be aware if you are riding on public or private land and that horses are allowed there. You can determine this by planning prior to the ride, looking for property borders, and requesting permission from landowners, if needed.
- Obey all signage: Do not ride in areas where horses are not allowed.
- Open the gate? Close the gate!
- Wear bright colored clothing, and if riding near sunset, have reflective gear.
- When encountering others on the trail, remain to the right side (where safe) and make sure you communicate with others so that they know how to pass your horse safely.
- Keep your horse moving while he passes manure to spread it down the trail.
- Pack it in, pack it out: Take everything you bring in, out with you (keep your muck in your trailer and dispose of it at home).
- Only tie to safe/secure items on the trail or use hobbles (only if the horse has been trained to use hobbles prior to the ride)
- Do your best to not tie directly to a tree. Use a tree saver strap with your picket line to minimize any damage or impact to the trees along your ride. (If you must tie to a tree, choose a live tree with a diameter of at least 8 inches and with no sharp branches at eye level.)
- Never tie a horse with the reins attached to the bridle—pack a rope halter for this.
Trail Tips
- Keep horses that tend to kick towards the back and identify them with a red ribbon in the tail.
- If passing a branch, do not let it swing back into the next rider. Lift the branch straight up and alert the rider behind you of the branches.
- Keep at least one-horse length between horses in a single file line.
- Be prepared for hikers and bikers sharing the trail—those trail users should yield to horses, but they may not.
- Have an open, friendly dialog with hikers and bikers, letting them know how many are in your trail riding party and ask that they move over to the side or wait for you to pass.
- If walking alongside the road, go against the flow of traffic for better awareness.
- Crossing streams/water: Use the "sandwich effect" by putting a horse unfamiliar with water between two horses that are familiar with water crossings.
- Hear a noise? Turn your horse toward it.
- Do not plan a ride longer than you or your horse feels comfortable doing. Longer trail rides require stamina for everyone, and if it’s your first ride of the season, work your way to longer rides later in the season.
Hit the Trails
Always go into your trail ride with a plan in mind and proper preparation so you can enjoy the great outdoors to the fullest.
To find a forest and more information on where you can legally go trail riding, visit the USDA's Forest Service website. You can also join the Horse Trails of America community to share more tips and find new locations to ride.
Find the latest in trail gear on Tough1.com and purchase at your favorite Tough1 dealer.
