Trail Ride Etiquette

Tbitt · Oct 12, 2008

snaffle said: ↑

I recently went on an organized trail ride.

I was actually caught off guard that day when a few things happened and just sat on my horse like a bump on a log..

I felt so stupid later when I got home and thought more about it. The memories of WHY I dont go on those organized rides all came back to me.
I am President of the club for pete's sakes!! I should have spoken up!!
Next time I am on a ride that is a group ride you can betcha I will be spouting off.

First there was a lady and daughter who kept running their horses up the butt end of my 2 year old. It was the very first large group ride for Janey.
The first part 1/2 hour of our ride was not a happy and relaxed one.. with that idiot DRUNK woman riding like a kindergartner.

Twistedwire suggested I let speedy gun zollas ride ahead of me and that helped tremendously. I know I know.. probably the normal thing to do right? Let the faster riders move ahead of you. It is common sense on the other hand to NOT allow your horse to run into the horse ahead of you... again and again.

Later in the ride, there were a couple younger girls who would take off like bats outa H and race to wherever they wanted.

Not a good thing to do!! How silly and stupid.

NOOOO the silly and stupid thing was for ME and anyone else on the ride to not tell those screwballs to knock it off.

At a recent club meeting, we discussed and voted on drinking alcoholic beverages on our rides, and people who leave the group to run. Our rides from now on will be alcoholic free and anyone leaving the group will be considered GONE, and will not be allowed back in with the group to ride.

It is common sense that when riding with people you do not know
(and often with people you DO know) to not take off running your horses with out discussing it with the other riders. Not all horses will stand quietly when another horse takes off running.
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Tbitt · Oct 12, 2008

poodlelover said: ↑

You are so right Snaffle.

I was camping this weekend. The trails were lovely and the riders on the trail were respectful of other riders. The trails were narrow and whenever we met another group on the trail one of us moved over to let the others pass. No argument or questions.

However the people in the campground were quite another story. Galloping around through the campground and letting their horses act like idiots. I was really concerned that my horse would freak out - happily she did not.

I think that if a horse left the ride and started galloping away my horse would probably think there were bears in them thar woods and I'd be in big trouble!
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Tbitt said: ↑

Snaffle

It is common etiquette to NOT let your horse run into the back end of another horse - or to ride too close to them.

Some people know each other real well and it is tolerated - but when you are with others that you don't know, you DON'T do it!

My horse LOVES to be on the back end of the horse in front of him. He is happiest if his head is resting on the shoulder of the rider in front of us. BUT - I do not allow it. Depending on who is in front of me - I hold my guy back a certain distance. Young/green horses/riders: I will put another horse between me and them. Common safety practices!

Now when it is just me and my hubby (or if my hubby is in front of me) I allow it.

My husband's horse is a GEM! He is sooo tolerant! And I want him to stay that way!!! So my guy gets to tailgate or bump him. My husband's horse is the one we PUT in front of green/young horse/rider. We met a new person through our Farrier, her horse was a rescue and still has issues. We parked Hubby right in front of her..........her mare rushed up hills, freaked out about water/mud/other riders coming past us.......Flint was our Wall of safety for her.

She said she ended up having on of the best rides she has had off property..............she and her mare got some great experience and both learned a lot.

So, ya you are right. You HAVE to be respectful of the people you are with. For you and their safety!

Disrespect tends to happen a bit more with bigger rides. But YOU have to protect yourself and your horse it is YOUR job! Next time feel confidant saying something. It is your RIGHT!

Better yet stick a red ribbon on your baby's tail it will keep them off!!!!

Seriously, say something, politely. Tell them your hours is young and you can not have their horses running into her back end. Give them a distance to stay back....

Don't let that freak you out! Trail riding is a GREAT life calming thing Stick with it!
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Ponythief said: ↑

I hate it when strangers ride right up on your horses ass. No respect. I think we as riders(that have non kicking horses) should put our hair up in a ponytail and tie it with a red ribbon and then when someone rides up on us WE can get off and kick their ass. Red ribbon=fair warning. ;D
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Tbitt said: ↑

Oh Hell ya Ponythief!

I love this suggestion!
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syndiego said:

However the people in the campground were quite another story. Galloping around through the campground and letting their horses act like idiots. I was really concerned that my horse would freak out - happily she did not.
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This is a HUGE pet peeve of mine, and for the life of me cannot understand it. I don't do organized trail rides, but have on occassion had the misfortune to have to park in a campground with these fools. WHY do these folks come to a place that has miles and miles of lovely trails (Tippecanoe is one such where I experienced this), and gallop laps around the campground? Even galloped through my camping spot. Methinks they're just hotdogging for each other; hell, if they were out on the trail they'd not have the opportunity to display their most awesome riding selves and their most awesomest trail horses (poor things usually having their faces yanked off).
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kats said:

Alcohol doesn't always mean people will be stupid. There are a lot of people I refuse to ride with who don't drink and do stupid and dangerous things.
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horsefreak said:

Wow so this is what deja vu fells like, I think I know I saw this post on another site..ahem...
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snaffle said: ↑

horsefreak...

you only saw it on ONE other board
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horsefreak said: ↑

Yeah I never got on another board before this one came along...what trouble makers ;D
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TwistedWire said: ↑

I just feel like I shouldn't have to tie a red ribbon in my horse's tail and have him labeled as the "bad" horse...when he only wants to kick at the loud dangling tack and thump thump thump feet and the horse's that carry their throatlatch on top of his hips. :

Yeah, I should have said something, too. My poor Kid didn't know what to think.
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Tbitt · Oct 12, 2008

Tbitt said: ↑

Well, now you both know!

You have plenty of time to think up a good response to this, if it ever happens again. Be confident!

Isn't it funny how we try to be sooo nice in public - sometimes to the detriment of our charges?

I remember how I felt the first few times I let ADULTS action hinder the well being of my children, out of fear of not getting along, or hurting their feelings.

My heart broke because my children suffered because of my lack of confidence in reacting.

Well that didn't take long to fix! 1 or 2 day so feeling like a bad mom fixes that!!!

Another motto of mine:

I will NEVER let the feelings, or ego, of an adult take precedence over the well being of my children or the animals that I have in my care, who trust me to keep them safe!

NEVER, EVER AGAIN!!!!!!

And I have no problem publicly saying this!!!
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Imzadi said:

What about making a list of trail etiquette rules, and having everyone sign it before they sign up/go on the ride? If this had been happening to my 18hand gelding, they would have been losing their teeth, and not by me! Actually he is a wimp, but I would have been doing some yelling!
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paige said: ↑

Now see my Twist after 14 years has finally learned that a pop in the chest is not required for it to be a real trail ride. He used to get kicked on every single ride we went on. No wonder he is so dang slow now, which drives me friggin crazy.

I guess we are lucky that we do not really run into these sorts of problems on the trail--never had an issue that I can think of.

Or maybe I just drink too much beer to notice. :
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horsefreak said: ↑

Yeah Paige I gotta say I would like riding with ya sometime! Even if you are totally trying be careful, if you get to talking and wham the line stopped and you didn't notice and your in another horses ars....I can't help I talk too much.
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AppyGSP said:

Beer = talking water The more beer she has, the more she talks.
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horsefreak said: ↑

Kinda weird but I'm not actually very talkative on rides, but I Janeen and Jeannette are!
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Trail Ride Etiquette

Tbitt Most beloved member of MW

Tbitt Most beloved member of MW

Tbitt Most beloved member of MW