42 August , 1962 Trail Riding Shows Walker In His Best Stride
BY VIRGINIA LAMB 2901 37TH AVENUE SACRAMENTO , CALIF .
Third Article in a Series In trail riding , you will find many obstacles confronting you ; steep embankments , rough hillsides to climb , fallen logs , boulders and rocks to pick your way across or around streams to ford , thick brush to plow through , gulleys to jump , etc . Start your horse out by riding him in a rough , plowed or hilly field . This will start him on his way to surefootedness . Next , find a gently sloping incline . Take your horse up and clown this incline at various spots . Relax on the reins slightly and lean forward in the saddle to help “ push ” your horse up the incline and in going down , lean back in the saddle , keeping a tighter rein to keep the horse from running down . When he realizes you are not going to let him run down the hill , he will learn to walk down .
On steeper hills , where the horse cannot walk up , but more or less has to leap with each step , give him Iris head completely and lean far forward in the saddle . After reaching the top , be sure to stop him and let him rest for a few minutes . It is generally best , if the hill is steep to take the horse down at an angle if at all possible . This will help him to keep his balance , which is so important . You will notice , as the horse is going downhill for the first lime , that he will do every
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Find as many logs or broken down fences to take your horse over as you can . If he can step over them , fine . If he can ’ t , teach him to jump by blocking both ends of the log so he cannot go around . Teaching him to jump low hurdles will not be too difficult . It sometimes works better to have another horse and rider along who can take his horse over the jump first . Rather than be left behind , your horse will find himself following suit . After a few jumps , he will begin to take them easily .
Be sure to confront your horse with any obstacle that you can find . Old worn out tires , placed close together , are excellent . He will learn to pick his way between and through them lo reach the other side . This will also teach him how to pick his way over rocks . Take him between trees that are close together , and across any streams or ditches that are close by . He will either have to jump or walk across . An irrigation ditch filled with water is a good place to take the horse over . He will usually have to jump the ditch as they are generally too narrow and deep to ford . Running water of this type will usually cause a horse to balk at first and this is why it is such good training . A good trail horse has to learn to take anything in stride .
Training Takes Time
All of this training Lakes time . The horse may be worked anywhere from one hour to three hours a day . While the horse is being worked steadily , he is not being over exerted , but is legging up and building up his wind for the sometimes gruelling tesL ahead . Being worked out in the open this way , and being with other horses , he will not become ring sour and will enjoy his learning as much as you , the rider .
It is a good idea to work the horse around gates by opening and closing without dismounting . Take your horse through any thick , brushy area you can find . Ride him through fields with animals of other breeds such as cattle or sheep . This will also accustom him to any strange animals he may meet on the trail .
All of the before mentioned are the basic fundamentals and all of these things are important and should be taught to the horse before you go on an actual trail ride . Also , by this time , your horse should be reining -well , without crossed reins , and should have learned to depend on himself a great deal instead of completely on the rider . There will be many times where the rider will have to direct the horse , but there will also be many occasions where he rider will have to depend completely on the horse . This should never be forgotten .
Is It Really Worth It ?
You may sometimes wonder “ Is all this really necessary ?”, but you will find it just that . When you come to difficult territory and find your horse performing as if he had done so many years , you will find all of your labors justifiably rewarding .
Always have at least one other party with you on any ride . In case of trouble you will not only have help , but you will find your ride much more enjoyable with a companion .
Have a good horseshoer check over the horse ’ s feet and reset his shoes if necessary . This may prevent complete loss of a shoe on the trail .
Now that the basic home training is over , remember this ; After the learning comes the experience . Experience can be a fine teacher , but she sometimes will teach the hard way . If the horse is well started , his experience will just come naturally , but if you took him only halfway and immediately put him on a rough trail , you may damage the horse permanently . Now that you are ready for your first actual trail ride , take him on a trail Lhat is well traveled and reasonably easy . Rougher trails can be found as both you and the horse gain the needed experience . I doubt that you will find a more pleasing and satisfactory ride than a trail ride on the back of your Tennessee Walking- Horse . Good Luck !
40 Years To Go
The Voice is happy to meet Mr . and Mrs . Dwight Henderson , I-Iartville , Mo . “ We have been raising and showing Walking Horses for the past 40 years ,” they write . “ We are 40 years old now anti hope to see 40 more ,” the letter adds . Folks like that should live to 100 years at the least .