Going for a Trail Ride with Catherine Shelley

This article is from the August 2020 Horse Deals magazine.

Going on a trail ride can be an exciting and fun way to exercise your pony when carried out safely; in contrast to riding within the bounds of an arena.

Apart from your well-fitted riding helmet, wear comfortable riding gear that will keep you warm if it's cold or cool if it's hot; and make sure you can be seen - the brighter the colours the better. As you can see, Robert and Harry are making sure they are seen from a mile away.

Whether you are an inexperienced or experienced rider, it is important that you avoid riding out on your own; so it is far better to organise a ride with a friend, and it is also a great way to catch up together. Nothing is more wonderful than to ride your pony out next to a friend whilst enjoying the beautiful countryside.

If you are going out on your very first trail ride you may be a bit nervous; get mum, dad, or an older friend to walk next to you so that you can build up your confidence. To have a person on the ground is a great advantage and can also be helpful, such as to opening gates and to checking your pony’s girth from time to time.

It is very important to double-check the tightness of your girth before you head out on your trail ride, as many ponies puff out when their girth is being done up, then as the pony relaxes and breaths out, the girth can tend to become loose. For this reason, it's generally a good idea to check your pony’s girth after you've mounted him, and again about five to ten minutes into the ride. You may also want to check the girth halfway through the ride, just to be sure. A loose girth can lead to all sorts of accidents and injuries.

When you're riding with a friend, it's important to know if their pony has any issues. For example, ask the question; “Does your pony kick out if another pony gets too close to him”? A lot of ponies do not like other ponies getting too close to their rear end. Some people tie a red ribbon on to their horse’s tail, if they are prone to kicking; the red ribbon acts as a warning.

Keep in mind that a rider at any time should always put at least one pony length between his pony and the pony directly in front if you are riding single file. Sometimes you do have to ride in a single file on a roadway for safety.

If you ride through a farm gate that was closed, remember to shut it after you. There is an old saying; leave a gate how you found a gate; meaning if it was closed, close it, and if the gate was open leave it that way.

Sometimes, when riding through the bush, you may be fortunate enough to see some native wildlife like kangaroos, wombats and koalas; so just keep in mind it may be a first time experience for your pony and they may get a bit nervous; so be prepared to stay calm whilst quietly reassuring your pony, which will give him confidence so he will not think that he will be eaten by these strange creatures.

After you have finished your trail ride, it is very important to care for your pony by making sure he is well-groomed and put back into his paddock with plenty of fresh water, shelter and a feed if he is not in a grassy paddock.

Until next month, happy horsing around!

Catherine Shelley

NCAS EA SSTA/ CE Level 2 General Coach, NCAS Level 1 RDA Coach, Dip. of TB racing - Melton Equestrian accredited with EA Ready, Set, Trot program.

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