Organized trail rides should be satisfying and safe, the epitome of pleasure on horseback.One guideline: Take your seasoned horse. For training your promising youngster, choose small rides with one or two companions on steady horses. Photo courtesy of Appaloosa Horse Club.

 
We were descending switchbacks on a timbered mountainside on the sort of day trail riders live for. The air was crisp, perfumed with pungent pine. I was enjoying watching the dozen riders I’d guided up the mountain, now riding ahead of me on their gaited horses. Each turn on a switchback allowed me the sight of their gliding progress down the trail. Their speed was safe but brisk, the riders’ hats and helmets cruising with little vertical movement, as though they were on conveyor belts rather than horses, testimony to the smoothness of their mounts.

Although I was the ride leader, I’d chosen a steady friend to ride in front on the trips’ return leg, a reward for his willingness to bring up the rear on the way in. We were equipped with small two-way radios, but rarely had to use them with a group of this size. When we arrived at the trailhead, proof of the ride’s success were the smiles and chatting of the participants, the comments about doing it again soon, and the agreement to stretch our fellowship a bit longer with a rendezvous at a restaurant for dinner on the drive home.

Organized trail rides should be just that way, satisfying and safe, the epitome of pleasure on horseback. Unfortunately, they often fall short. I’ve participated in enough such rides, often as leader, to be able to identify pitfalls that can turn a day of pleasure into one of annoyance, discomfort, and even danger. Rather than relate a set of rules — some of which would be invalid for particular rides — I’ll concentrate on a few problem areas I’ve witnessed.

The Ride Leader
In all endeavors, good leaders put the welfare of those they lead at a higher priority than their own, this while accomplishing a “mission.” The mission on trail rides is getting from point A to point B safely and enjoyably on horseback.

The best trail-ride leaders are usually light-handed and quiet. We’re doing this for fun, after all, not to be subjected to the tyranny of a mounted Captain Bligh. On the other hand, competency is a must. Horsemanship cannot be faked. How confident would riders be in a leader who appeared inept at saddling or who mounted and rode clumsily? The leader’s horse must suit the role as well; he should be steady, trustworthy, and competent.

Equally important is the leader’s knowledge of the trail to be traveled that day. Too often, the leader fails to do the necessary reconnaissance and is surprised by an obstacle, a new bog, or even a trail closure of which he or she wasn’t aware.

Lastly, it’s the leader’s responsibility to see to it that all necessary safety and emergency equipment comes along, first-aid kits for both humans and equines, and navigation gear, such as compass, map and global positioning system. (Becoming lost is an ultimate failure in leadership.)

At the Trailhead
As leader, my most common trailhead frustration has stemmed from one thing: riders not being ready at the appointed time. More than once, I’ve had an entire assembly mounted up only to see a late-comer’s trailer pull into the parking lot.

Similarly, I’ve seen riders pull pristine new equipment out of their trailers and toss it onto their horse’s backs for the first time. Instead of fitting new gear at home, they’ve waited until they arrived at the trailhead, then adjusted, punched additional holes, tried alternative girths — this while the rest of the group was waiting for them.

Waiting at the trailhead is not only frustrating, it can also be dangerous. Horses are herd animals, often champing (literally) at the bit, anxious to head up the trail together. The safest thing for the group is to mount up and go. The longer everyone sits on horses and waits, the more likely one of them will become restless and cranky, perhaps kicking another or jigging in place.

On The Trail
On large, organized rides, take your seasoned horse, not a green youngster. Large trail rides are poor places to train. Yes, your horse may be whisked along through obstacles while sandwiched between two horses, but the first time you take him over similar obstacles alone or in the lead, you’ll probably discover that he hasn’t learned very much. 

Your on-the-trail training can also be inconvenient or dangerous for others. On one large trail ride I led, a professional trainer far back in line actually stopped and held an impromptu “clinic” to straighten out the unruly colt he was riding. The disruption caused a long wait for other riders, along with an unnecessary ride for me back from the lead position to discover what the trouble was.

Another rider ponied a jumpy pack horse along “because it would be good for him.” Still another insisted on holding his colt 100 yards back from the last rider, because the horse tended to act up as other horses drew away from him. I finally convinced the rider that he was asking too much of the colt, a herd animal terribly worried about being left alone in an unfamiliar environment, but only after the man was bucked off — right in the middle of a creek!

The developing running walk or foxtrot of a gaited youngster can be damaged if he’s required to keep up with seasoned, mature horses on a fast-moving gaited-only ride. The youngster’s muscular development isn’t yet adequate to sustain his smooth gaits, so he’ll often break gait to an undesirable pace or trot to keep up with the others.

For training your promising youngster, choose small rides with one or two companions on steady horses — riders who know your purpose is to train, who’ll wait while you teach your youngster to cross obstacles, and who’ll give you turns in the lead position.

I like a gap of one horse length between riders. That interval will tend to protect horses both from feeling crowded behind or intimidated in front. A longer gap tends to create more of the “accordion” effect. Remember the “snake dances” you did in high school, long chains of kids holding hands, and how the motion of the group was intensified at the rear? Though the distance covered is the same, riders at the rear of the group must slow down and speed up more abruptly, another reason for the leader to keep a steady pace.

Warn riders behind you of any hazards. Frequently glance over your shoulder at the riders behind you to make sure all is well.

At a watering place, everyone should take turns and get all watering done. On a trail with many creek crossings, it’s frustrating to have one rider water at creek A, another at creek B, and so on. Some horses will feign thirst to get a quick rest.

If your horse plays in the water, paws, and reaches his nose toward the green grass on the bank, he’s putting you on. Horses have big tanks; unless conditions are extreme, one or two waterings on a day’s trail ride will normally suffice.

Cross short bridges one rider at a time. On longer bridges, leave a greater interval than normal so that riders don’t bunch up on the bridge should a horse hesitate to cross. The same principle applies to any trail obstacle. Let the rider in front of you cross the log or creek safely before you come behind. All riders must slow after crossing the obstacle to allow those behind them to catch up.

Special Challenges
Kickers, stallions, and dogs can present special challenges on large rides; I’d like to suggest the following guidelines.

Correct a kicker. Yes, we all know that a known kicker should have a red ribbon tied in his tail, but that practice bothers me. Why? It shifts all responsibility to the other riders, as if to say, “Yes, I’m riding a horse that’s a jerk toward others, but you’ve been warned now, so it’s your problem.”

Go ahead and use the ribbon, but take responsibility for your horse’s antisocial attitudes, and attempt to correct them. The kicker deserves the same sort of aversive conditioning he’d get from a dominant horse in the pasture. Most kickers give      some warning. Their ears go back, they may squeal, and they usually must stop momentarily to launch a really good shot.

At the first sign of kicking behavior, come down on your horse like a junkyard dog. Do whatever works for you. Yell “Quit!” Jab hard with a spur, or pull your horse in a circle. Punish him instantly in whatever way you can handle safely.

My wife, Emily, once hobbled around for an entire summer, lucky her leg wasn’t broken, when a horse in front of her stopped quickly, backed up two steps, and launched a kick that cracked into her lower leg as her horse turned to escape the blow. An alert, aggressive rider on the offending horse might’ve prevented the incident. Such an accident in the backcountry can be deadly.

Practice stallion safety. Yes, I know, some stallions are angels, ultimate trail mounts, perfectly trained and behaved. Indeed, I own one like that, and I love to ride him in the mountains. But every stallion is still a stallion, and even if you can control his behavior perfectly, you can’t control the actions of others. If an improperly tied mare comes loose and wanders over to where your stallion is tied, the stallion’s testosterone takes over, and geldings nearby might well pose a threat to him. Ride your stallion with one or two friends, not with a large group. On most organized rides the point is moot — most prohibit stallions.

Leave your dog at home. I love my Brittany Spaniels, but what’s cute and lovable to me may be an annoyance to others. Your horse may well tolerate your dog, but another horse may not. As with stallions, most large organized rides prohibit dogs.

Sharing the Trails
On large rides, it’s the leader who’ll first handle encounters with other trail users, both human and animal, another reason that his or her horse must have the same steady qualities we want in our human leader.

When you meet other equestrians, don’t stand on ceremony. You may have the right of way (some trails specify that uphill users have the right of way until noon, downhill users after noon), but if it’s easier for you to get off to the side, do so. If you’re in a small party of riders and you meet a fully loaded pack train, it’s easier for you to yield.

Greet hikers in a loud, friendly manner the instant you see them. Your friendliness not only builds positive relations, but can also prevent a dangerous spook. When the hiker answers you, your horse will learn that he or she is human, something he may not yet know, particularly if the hiker is carrying a pack that changes his or her shape.

Don’t expect the hiker to have even the most rudimentary knowledge of equines (but don’t be contemptuous because of that). A fisherman once laid an expensive fly rod across the trail in front of me as he got off to the side. He assumed, I guess, that my horse would deftly step over it!

If a large hiking party splits on the trail to let you by, gently ask them all to go to one side; horses tend to be intimidated walking a gauntlet. The hikers should go to the lower side of the trail, but don’t expect them to know that. I don’t insist on it unless it’s a safety issue. Be courteous. Tell the hikers how many horses are coming behind you.

If you chat extensively with a person on the ground, get off your horse while you talk so you’re on an equal level. Should you wish to talk to someone in a camp, dismount, tie up (or hand the reins to another rider), and walk in. It’s rude to ride your horse right into a camp living area among tents and kitchen gear. He’s all too likely to leave a pile of droppings while you talk. The camper has every right to ask you in no uncertain terms to get your horse out of his “living room.”

Since the last issue's Sketches from-the Trail concentrated on low-impact issues, we'll close with only a reminder. Keep it light, leave nothing but tracks, and keep your horses away from the banks of streams and lakes. Avoid tying to trees. Enjoy your ride, and do your best to build friendly relations with other trail users. Happy trails!

For more information on Dan's horses, visit http://my.montana.net/draa