Physical Fitness

Although recreational riding is a non-competitive activity and a great way for you and your horse to stay in shape, physical fitness is necessary for a horse, especially if you plan a long or difficult ride.  A horse should carry a medium amount of body fat—you should be able to feel the horse’s ribs but not see them. Excessively thin horses have limited energy and excessively fat horses have to work harder to carry their own weight, making them more susceptible to overheating.  A horse’s hooves should be trimmed and preferably shod every four to six weeks. Horseshoes protect the soles of your horse’s feet from becoming bruised or cut, and are recommended if you are riding varied terrain.

Training

Proper conditioning helps a horse meet the physical demands of recreational riding, but training and mental readiness also play important roles in preparing a horse for the trail. The unfamiliar and unexpected sights and sounds that may be encountered when riding in the great outdoors can frighten a horse that is not well-trained, as well as a horse that has limited experience outside of an arena. Motor vehicles, animals and trail obstacles such as creeks and logs can startle a horse and turn a leisurely ride into an uncomfortable or even dangerous experience for both horse and rider.  Even the most well-trained horse may be startled sometimes. For this reason, it is important that the horse responds to its rider’s commands and not flee— even if frightened. A well-trained horse will obey your command even though it is frightened, and not make a dangerous, runaway dash through the woods. 

Whoa—“Whoa” is possibly the most important command for your horse to understand. Horses are powerful animals, and the ability to control their movement is the first step in safe horsemanship.  One way to make your horse feel more comfortable when encountering someone such as a bicyclist or hiker is to stop and speak to the person. This allows the horse time to adjust its eyes and lose its fear of the newcomers and the “unidentified” object they are riding or carrying.

 

Stand Calmly While Tied—When pleasure riding, you may want to stop for a break or to explore the area briefly on foot. If you do, you want your horse to stand quietly, without pawing the ground, pulling back on the lead rope, or rubbing itself or your equipment on a tree.

 

Load and Unload Easily—In the event you find yourself faced with unexpected weather conditions or difficult terrain, your horse should easily load into and unload from the trailer. For instance, if caught in a hailstorm or other inclement weather situation, you want a horse that calmly loads into the trailer when you ask. If your vehicle breaks down along the highway and the weather is hot, you may need to unload your horse from the trailer until help arrives. In any situation, a horse that is a seasoned traveler will make your away-from-home  recreational riding experience much more enjoyable.

Recreational Riding Checklists

Before beginning your drive to the ride, do a safety check on your vehicle and trailer.

Oil level in truck
Tire pressure for truck and trailer
Trailer hitch for proper hook-up
Trailer lights and signals
Trailer floors and mats
Spare tires for truck and trailer
Brake and turn signals
Windows/vents for ventilation
Tire tools
Trailer interior for damage
Latches, locks, chains and bars
Wheel bearings
Truck and trailer brakes

Single Day Ride—For You

Lunch/snacks
Canteen/water bottle full of water
First aid kit
Snakebite kit
Bee sting kit
Sunscreen
Insect repellent
Jacket

Rope/lariat
Batteries
Slicker/rain gear
Swiss army knife/multi-tool
Toiletry items
Equipment repair kit
Wire cutters
Cellular phone
Flashlight
Hat
Sunglasses
Camera and film
Saddlebags