Taking Your Horse on a Trail Ride? Consider These Tips For Success!

Finding a hobby you enjoy participating in is a great way to reduce stress. If you love horses and being outdoors, then taking riding lessons is a great idea. Over 7 million Americans ride horses annually. For most people, taking their favorite horse on a long trail ride is something they enjoy doing. 

If you are thinking of going on a trail ride with your horse for the first time, you need to seek out the guidance of professionals. Finding a company that can provide great trails and some assistance with getting your horse through this experience is a must. Below are some helpful tips on how to make your first trail riding experience a success. 

Provide Your Horse With Lots of Rewards

Keeping your horse happy and motivated is essential when trying to get through your first trail ride. Some riders focus so much on what they need to be comfortable on one of these excursions that they neglect to bring anything for their horse. If a horse is not routinely rewarded for their hard work on a trail ride, it is only a matter of time before they start to act out a bit. This is why bringing along lots of snacks and goodies for your horse is a must. 

There are a number of snacks like mint, grapes, and apples that are perfectly healthy for your horse to consume in moderation. You can also carry along cantaloupe, apples, and beetroot if you want. However, you will need to avoid things like onions, cabbage, and potatoes as snacks. Bringing along snacks your horse loves will help you have a great trail riding experience. 

Learn How To Be a Leader

The longer your horse has to carry you, the more leadership you will need to show. If your horse is not acclimated to trail riding, it may take a while for them to be compliant. Rather than getting frustrated and ruining your trail ride, you need to focus on being a good leader. Experienced horse riders have no problem being stern and compassionate with their horses. 

You need to make sure your horse feels safe and well-taken care of when trying to establish a great relationship. Allowing your horse to act up too much on the trail can create even more problems in the long run. This is why setting a precedent on the first ride regarding leadership is so important. 

Choosing the Right Professionals to Help You

Trail riding is typically something a number of riders do together. If you are inexperienced, you need to work with a company that can help you organize and carry out one of these rides. Having this professional guidance can help you avoid mistakes and increase the enjoyment this experience provides. 

Need Horse Riding Lessons? 

Taking lots of horse riding lessons before jumping on a trail is important unless you go on the trails with a guided trail riding company. At Ocean View Stables, you can get the riding lessons you need at an affordable price.