SAFETY & INFO
WHAT TO WEAR:
Loose, comfortable jeans that you can bend in easily so you can mount the horse ok.
Boots with a one inch heal are preferred. No open toe shoes allowed!
If you have a riding helmet, bring it. If not you can get one from us. Hopefully we will have one that fits.
GENERAL INFO:
Riders under 18 Must wear a safety helmet. If you do not have one, we will supply it. Adults over 18
can elect not to wear the helmet by signing a release waiver that releases liability to the ranch.
The minimum age for trail riding is 10 yrs old unless they are an experienced rider.
We do offer lead-line rides in the riding ring for kids ages 6 and up.
Riding "double" is not allowed.
TRAIL RIDING GUIDE:
Never mount a tied horse. Please wait for your guide to bring your horse to you when it is time to mount up. By the same token, when arriving at the barn after a ride, wait for your guide to tie the horse.
- Don't let your horse eat or graze on the trail. Just one mouthful leads to many more and eventually the horse becomes unruly.
- As an animal of flight, the horse is startled by sudden movements, loud noises and unfamiliar objects. Don't throw things (hats, cameras, etc.) to or from a horse. Please ask the guide to stop first. Its also best not to carry back packs or any other bulky loose items that can flop around while on horseback.
- Staying calm while around horses helps your horse to feel more comfortable and confident in you.
- Always try to go about the same pace as the least experienced rider.
- Don't ride past your trail guide.
- Should someone dismount during the ride, wait for them and be sure the guide is aware right away.
- Do not allow your horse to sniff, rub, or get too close to the other horses, one of them may become annoyed and strike out at the other one. Pay attention to the horse's ears and you will see where their attention is. This is one of the easiest ways to stay in "tune" with your horse.
- Don't follow the horse ahead of you too closely. A horse finds tailgating about as annoying as you do -- and he may kick. A good following distance is at least a horse length.
- Keep your feet in the stirrups and on the balls of your feet with your heels down, toes up. There are a couple reasons for this, one of them being that you never want your foot caught in the stirrup and not be able to fee it loose. That can lead a person to being dragged at the worst case scenario and nobody wants that! So, try to keep the lower leg and those feet under control.
- If you are unable to sit out the trot, we ask you slow down so as not to cause discomfort to the horse.
All this and much more is taught in our lessons. It is generally recommended that you take a few lessons before ever going out on a trail ride. Alot of people prefer just to go out without them, this is one of the reasons why we do a mini-lesson in the arena prior to take off. It's also good to get acquainted with the horse you are riding a little bit first.
Before you go on the trail:
The following skills are taught in your lesson and warm up in the arena before going out on the trails:
Mounting
Stopping the horse - how to do an emergency stop.
Steering the horse - using the right amount of control and pressure, when and how.
Shortening the reins – sometimes those darn reins just seem too long, you gotta get a grip on 'em.
Maintaining correct spacing – the rider should see the heels of the horse in front of him between the ears of
his own horse- we don't want to "tail gate". Getting more space can be achieved by shortening the reins and
putting pressure on them until the correct distance is reached then releasing.
Thanks for reading this and we hope you have a great time here.
Happy Trails to You...
Reserve your trail ride now
Ranch phone: 619-328-3029 Email: ridingcenter@cox.net Go Back