things that are essential on any trail ride: a raincoat, a way to tie your horse up, and a good sense of direction. If you don’t have a good sense of direction, bring a map and a compass. GPS and phones are great, but you’re never guaranteed to have service out there. With all that in mind, my best advice is to ride in a group.
I consider a group to be two or more
people. Whenever you go out into the wilderness, it’s best to have at least one other person with you. You’ll have one more brain to solve problems. Safety is obviously a huge plus, and you’ll have some camaraderie as well. If you’re out there appreciating nature’s beauty, you might as well share it with someone. Another thing to consider before you head out on the trail is the type of horse you’ll be riding. If you’re still looking for the right horse, breed preference is up to you, but keep the horse’s spirit level and personality in mind.
CROSS TRAINING
At Parelli, we stress the importance of never ending self improvement; along with that comes being open to learning and adjusting your outlook. Over the years I’ve certainly come to understand how skills translate across disciplines. The more I’ve learned about performance horses - jumping, dressage, racing, reining, cow horses - and what they do, the more I’ve realised how the skills they use in an arena also apply on the trail.
For example, horses that need to know how to perform a sliding stop can be great out on the trail. We’ve got this mountain behind the ranch here in Colorado. It has a lot of this loose shale rock on it, which can be pretty treacherous if you’re not prepared. We practise halts when we’re coming down the really steep parts of the mountain, and we use the same basic manoeuver as a sliding stop, getting the horse’s back up and his hindquarters under him.
Also, performance horses really need to
realised how the skills they use in an arena also apply on the trail.
be aware of their surroundings and very perceptive of where their feet are. These are the types of traits to look for in a good trail horse, and I found them in performance horses!
GETTING TRAIL FIT
Trail riding requires a combination of horsemanship and fitness. Our programme teaches horsemanship, the habits and skills you need to become a partner with your horse. Fitness is something you also need to develop throughout your partnership. Physical fitness can be gained by preparing your horse for the elements - as much as you can - in a controlled environment. Increase his endurance by working at a higher intensity level for
longer periods of time. In preparation for NATRC events, we’d be out there three or four times a week, getting acclimatised to the elements. I’m not suggesting you should do that, particularly if you’re just starting, but it’s all about preparation. Mental and emotional fitness are just as important. If your horse is next to a horse trotting faster than he is, your horse might want to race. I would suggest playing the Parelli Seven Games (more details available at
www.parelli.com) and conditioning him to things that might spook him on the trail.
As long as you’ve prepared yourself and your horse, trail riding can be one of the most enjoyable and memorable experiences you share. Just keep prior and proper preparation in mind.
ABOUT PARELLI Pat Parelli founded his programme based on a foundation of love, language and
leadership. Parelli Natural Horsemanship (PNH) allows horse owners at all levels of experience to achieve success with its at home educational programme. Together with his wife Linda, Pat has spread PNH across the globe with campuses in the United States, United Kingdom and Australia. Launched in 2011,
parelliconnect.com
provides an online social forum packed with training tools, step by step to do lists, videos and more. Log on today for your free 30 day trial at
www.parelliconnect.com
The more I’ve learned about performance horses and what they do, the more I’ve
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