THE TRAILS ARE CALLING AND YOU MUST GO

Plan for your summer adventures! There is much fun to be had with a horse in the Alberta backcountry – just keep some of these trail riding considerations in mind to ensure everyone enjoys the time out.

STORY & PHOTOS BY MONIQUE NOBLE

Alberta is blessed with hundreds of equestrian trails, offering everything from cactus-strewn deserts and riverside hoodoos, to mountain top vistas. We are all chomping at the bit to hit the trail with our horses so now is a great time to chat about how we can ensure we are all happy on the trails.

HORSE AND RIDER FITNESS

Who doesn’t love long day trips and new trails? Everyone does however, the first few rides of the season should reflect the fitness levels of both you and your horse.

A horse and rider team that rides three to five times a week will have a much higher fitness level than a team that rides once a week (or not at all over the winter) and these are things you should consider when you start planning your rides.

One to two-hour “there and back” trails you have done before are perfect for conditioning both you and your horse. The familiar terrain will allow you to assess your team’s fitness levels and create a conditioning plan, while also giving you both a boost of confidence and strong start to the trail season.

Ideally the trail will have mild terrain that will allow for plenty of walking, trotting and if your horse’s fitness allows for it – long trotting. If your fitness allows for it do some posting-trot. Plan to take breaks along the trail. When your horse’s breathing (or yours) gets heavy or rapid, rest until your mount is breathing normally again. Recovery time will shorten as fitness levels improve.

Loping and large steep hills are fun; but should be avoided on your first few trails. Spring trail conditions can be treacherous as ice can be hidden underneath ground-cover. It’s also important to remember that a horse’s muscles can easily be strained when asked to travel at speed and/or over uneven ground before they are physically fit to do so. While the strain may not manifest in an immediate lameness, it may show up in other ways such as undesirable behaviours or irritability. You want to work your horse but not overwork your horse. A good mantra to remember when conditioning both of you for the trails is, “Stress, not distress.”

Stretch! Always remember to stretch yourself and your horse, before and after your ride! A vigorous grooming with a rubber curry après ride with some carrot stretches may make your horse feel appreciated and more comfortable.

Lastly, consider the condition of your horse’s feet when choosing your trails. Have your hoof care specialist out and ask their opinion. Some horses have soft feet in the spring because of mud and moisture; they may need extra protection like shoes or boots. There are many topical agents that can help harden feet as well. Until your horse’s feet are a little broken into the new terrain and workload, it is kind of you take less rocky

TRAIL PRE-CHECK AND PACKING

Before you hit the trail, it is always a good idea to clean your tack and check for needed repairs. A few things to check are your latigos, billets, keepers – if you use back cinches and breast collars (always recommended on the trail) – and saddle bag ties. Retighten all of your conchos, Chicago screws, lacings and stirrup bolts. Check the flocking of your saddle to see if it is clean and wearing evenly.If it isn’t, find out why – saddle fit is important. Check your saddle pad and cinch for the same thing. Are they still doing their job well or is it time to replace them? One last check to make is to run your hands over your saddle and bridle to ensure there are no sharp edges and nothing is sticking out. Your horse’s comfort is important for everyone’s safety and enjoyment. The last thing you want to be on the trail is unprepared. Check the weather and dress in layers. Always have a sharp knife, means to start a fire and extra food on your person, in the event you get separated from your horse. It’s also wise to have a small reflective emergency blanket. It will help keep you warm and make you easy to spot in an emergency. Some riders pack their halters and leads in their saddle bags, others ride their horses with their halter underneath the bridle and the lead wrapped around the horn, with enough length that the horse can reach water but not trip or catch a leg. Having a web halter underneath a bridle is perfectly comfortable for your horse, as long as the bridle is not too tight and nothing interferes with the chin strap or bit. It is important to have a means of tying your horse while on the trail. Never tie a horse with the reins. Tie your horse to a solid object or live tree and if you don’t have a way to tie your horse, hang onto it. Hobbles are an option, if your horse is trained for them. No matter how well your horse ground ties at home, do not ground tie on the trail.

Most trails in Alberta are well maintained with environment and erosion control in mind.

TRAIL TIPS AND ETIQUETTE

While there are no hard and fast rules, there are a few guidelines that help everyone have a great time on the trail.

For the most part whenever I have come across Off Highway Vehicles (OHV) users, hikers and cyclists on the trail, they are happy to see us and while they admire our horses they don’t always know a lot about them. Therefore, these people tend to look to the riders for guidance. Ideally they should give us the right-of-way, but if you can give them the right-of-way it’s nice of you to do so. If you can’t, ask them to go to the lower side of the trail as horses are more comfortable with “stranger danger” below them, rather than above.

There is a bit of seasonal overlap with skiers on some multi-use trails. If you encounter these kinds of backcountry guests, please give them the right-of-way. Please do not ride on designated ski only trails.

Ride to accommodate the least comfortable or novice team in your group. Leave no person or horse behind, if you lose sight of a horse-and-rider team yell, “Marco!” every now and then if you don’t hear, “Polo!” in response turn back and look for your lost explorer. If you get separated from your group or your horse stay where you are until someone finds you.

Let someone know when and where you are going, when you plan to get back and when you do get back.

Communicate with your group; make sure everyone is comfortable with increasing speed before doing so. If anyone appears the slightest bit uncomfortable, do not increase your speed.

If you are going to lope on the trail and others in your group have chosen not to but don’t mind if you do, the safest way to do so is to trot a short distance ahead, look back to make sure everyone is comfortable with the separation and then go for a short controlled rip. Then stop and wait for the rest of the group to catch up to you at their pace or walk/trot back to them. Oh and hey to the people who like to dawdle and then “run to catch up…” We know what you’re doing. Stop it! It’s dangerous and it stresses the horses.

When passing another rider, let them know your intention and pass at the same gait they are travelling in. Never pass another rider while going up or down a hill.

Travel in single file most of the time. Try not to tail-gate the horse in front of you. No one wants to get kicked or nipped. Think “teeth and toes” – if either are in range of your horse, adjust your position.

If your horse is a kicker, inform your companions and put a red ribbon in their tail. If your horse is new to you or new to the trails, inform your companions and put a green ribbon in their tail.

Stay on designated trails. Most trails in Alberta are well maintained with environment and erosion control in mind.

When “pushing” bush, lift it above you

Still waters run deep. Typically when crossing water, the more babbling it is, the shallower it is.

so it swings down, rather than back into the next rider.

When crossing water let your horse drink and when they are done, move to the other side of the crossing. Wait for your group so their horses may also drink. Continuing down the trail ahead of the others will discourage the other horses from drinking.

Still waters run deep – when crossing water the more babbling it is, the shallower it is. (My Dad always said this applies to people too, but seeing as I’m chatty, I never quite knew how to take that.)

If your horse refuses an obstacle such as water (look past the obstacle, not at it) or a gate, try three times then let another team try. While patience is a virtue when working our horses through challenges, we also must recognize when it’s time to take a break. Try again on the way back.

If you need to dismount to navigate the obstacle, cross ahead of your horse then move to the side before encouraging your mount to follow you – or your horse may end up in your arms.

Always close gates after you have gone through them.

If you hear a strange noise on the trail, turn your horse towards it. This will make the noise easier to identify and discourage your horse from bolting.

If your horse loses a shoe you can ride it out at a walk, as long as your horse isn’t lame. Don’t pull the corresponding shoe off you will only annoy your farrier. Having one shoe on for the short time it will take to return will not “unbalance” or bother your horse. I’ve discussed this at length with both farriers and vets.

Know what’s happening in the area – is there a fire ban? Have there been bear, wildfire sightings etc.? Share this information with others you meet on the trail.

If you have a campfire – never leave it unattended and make sure it is extinguished before leaving.

Relax and have fun but have an “active seat,” you never know when a scary rock will jump out at you.

Take all your garbage out with you and if you see garbage pick it up. Clean up your horse’s manure from parking lots and staging areas. Take everything you brought in with you, out with you. Leave only hoof prints. WHR

THINGS YOU SHOULD HAVE IN YOUR SADDLE BAGS:

• A safety kit with antihistamines and pain killer of your choice (liquor does not count). • Vet wrap. • Three bottles of water. • Food for the day plus a little extra. • A lighter (I wrap mine in duct tape, it keeps it water-proof and you have tape). • Waterproof matches. • Toilet paper. • Feminine supplies – they are good for wound dressing and fire starter on a wet day. (If using a pad for wound dressing, attach the adhesive side to the vet wrap, voila, a bandage!). • Small foldable saw. • Hoof pick. • Halter and lead rope. • Gloves. • Bug spray. • Sunscreen. • A compass and map of the area – because batteries die. • GPS and/or spot device if you have one. • Baler twine (It was duct tape before duct tape was duct tape.) • Duct tape – In a pinch it can secure a loose shoe or protect a hoof that’s lost one. • A full length rain slicker rolled and tied behind the cantle (some of the items listed above are in the slickers pockets to make room for beverages in my saddle bags). Bear spray; this should be on your person not in your saddle bags. On a side note, my husband won’t let me carry the bear spray because he doesn’t trust me not to spray him. He’s not wrong.