Voice of the Tennessee Walking Horse Show 21
Some Do ' s And Don ' ts About Trail Riding
BY VIRGINIA LAMB Last Of A Series
Now that the basic fundamentals for training your horse for the trail have been fairly well covered, a few do ' s and don’ ts should be pointed out. as well as the dangers! Many very wonderful letters have been received from people who have purchased Walking Horses for just the purpose of putting on the trail, but found out they didn’ t know how to train them for such. Questions have come up, which I have tried to answer, and hope they have helped.
Isn’ t Tying The Reins Dangerous?
One question, but not from a beginner, was this; " Isn’ t tying the reins dangerous and couldn ' t they drag a person?" My answer is " yes.” Any time a beginner tries to do something they know nothing about, without proper help, it is dangerous, regardless of what it is they are trying to accomplish. There is always the danger of something going wrong, but if a person has a guiding hand, they will stand a much better chance.
This lied rein business is something that should have been clarified from the start. First of all, let me say that as a trainer, I do not use tied reins except in rare cases. However, it is more for the benefit of the rider in learning to keep the reins at a longer length and to use only one hand, usually the left one. Also, if a horse has a tendency to try to pull his head down, the reins will not go beyond the knot or rivet in the riders ' hand, thus preventing loss of rein. The reins should not be used in this way continually, but only to help the horse until he is on his way and to help the rider get adjusted to using one hand only in reining the horse.
Il is not at all necessary to use the tied reins, but is up to the individual.
Danger Is Still There Now then, regardless of whether the reins are tied or not, there is always danger of the rider being thrown and dragged. The most experienced riders and trainers have been thrown, but, very few have been dragged. Most young, inexperienced people do not want to let go of the reins for fear of losing tbe horse.
This is the wrong attitude for several reasons. Let me say first, NEVER, NEVER, hang onto those reins! Let them go! The horse will probably not go very far without you and he can be caught again. If you try to hold onto the reins to keep from losing the horse you can pull the horse over on you and be badly injured or perhaps killed, or you cotdd cause serious damage to the horse.
A horse will not fall on the rider if he can help it. A good rider knows this and this is the reason he is not dragged by the reins. Good riders also know that by letting go, they will fall free and clear from the horse. This eliminates a great deal of danger to both the horse and rider.
Feeding And Caring For Horse Different?
Other questions have come up regarding the do’ s and don ' ts in feeding and caring for the trail horse. It there a difference? No! You should take care of the trail horse just the same as you would any other horse. Each horse is an individual and should be fed according to his capacity. Do not overfeed him. This will do no good and will only hurt the horse.
Do not put the horse up hot or wet and do not let him drink any water until he has cooled off. Do not feed any grain during this period. Do sponge the trail horse off or hose him down with warm water. It is an excellent idea to hose the legs off and then rub with a good liniment. Check each hoof carefully and be sure to keep them cleaned out. It is good to check them over before as well as after a ride.
Don’ t force die horse into an unexpected situation without giving him time to find out he is not going to be hurt from it. As an example, if he is suddenly confronted by a cow, if he has never seen one, he will be apt to want to take the long way around. If you force him to ride up to the cow, you may find yourself riding a tornado. Stop the horse and talk quitely to him. He will usually calm clown and gradually get used to this strange smell and sight. This holds true of anything that is DIFFERENT in the daily pattern of the horse.
Always be sure to keep your riding equipment in good repair and clean. Use a good saddle soap on all parts to keep the leather soft and pliable. Stiff leather will rub the horse and cause raw spots, besides being uncomfortable to the rider. It is good, in cold weather, to warm the bit before placing in the mouth of the horse. This can be done by putting in warm water or holding in your hands for a few minutes.
What Is The Right Age?
How old should a horse be and how much advance training should he have before trail riding efforts are begun? This is not an easy question to answer! It takes the average horse approximately six months to become well broke and to become set in his gaits. A Western horse is usually not started until the age of two and onehalf to three years, due to the heavier saddle, but the Walker is generally started at about 20 months and started English.
By the time he is two and a half, he is ready for the heavier saddle. His back has become toughened up so that it should not hurt him. At least a year of good solid training should be behind a good trail horse for the beginner and that would place the age of the horse about three. A horse from four to six years is usually what a person will purchase for various reasons.
They are at that time, extremely well broke and have been faced with many hazards during their training, are more dependable and settled than a colt, and can still learn quite readily. They are more developed, and in general, a good age. They have usually reached their full grow th so that you know the exact size of your mount. An older horse may take a little longer to convert, but is definitely not to be overlooked.
A younger person is more apt to want a young horse because they feel a colt is what they need. They do not realize the dangers that lie in owning a colt as they are not dependable, and if the person does not have a lot of experience behind him, he will wind up being hurt. This is one reason w ' hy I urge a person, young or old, to choose an older, better broke, more dependable horse, at least until the rider becomes more experienced and capable of handling a younger animal.