All About Horses: Tips for Packing for Your Summer Trail Ride

I was fortunate enough to grow up on a horse farm, in a place called Howell, Michigan. We started small - My mother had a Palomino gelding, named Sunny, and then my father brought home a black and white Shetland Pony one day. While he was named Lightning, this pony was anything but... save for "A Message Driven Home and the Great Cement Fiasco", but that's another story for another time.

As time progressed, we took in more and more horses - boarders and trainers, as well as horses that my family bought and bred. We even took in some Thoroughbreds who needed a little R&R time from the track. For many years, just about anything and everything I did was somehow involving horses. It was a lot of work, but it was also a young girl's dream.

Some of my fondest memories involve the horses, particularly our summertime horse shows, fairs and trail rides. It seemed like something was always going on during the summertime. One of my favorite treats was to pack up and go for a long trail ride on our horses. Sometimes, this was the State 4H Trail Ride, where we were gone for several days and got to camp out. Other times, it was the family and a couple of friends making an all-day ride to the Historic Grist Mill, in downtown Parshallville. If we timed it late enough in the season, it was very hot, but we had the rewards of going swimming in the nearby river, as well as the lure of fresh pressed apple cider and ripe yummy pears and apples. Don't even get me started on the freshly made, delicious donuts they also offered there! It was a long ride, and we only got to do it once a year, but boy was it worth it!

Of course, setting out on a day-long (or even longer) summer trail ride meant making special preparations and precautions ahead of time. Here is a list of some things that we were sure to keep in mind, when we planned our summertime trail rides. Perhaps these will help you to plan your own adventures with your equine friend. Just remember, a little pre-planning can go a long way towards making your summertime trail ride a safe and fun experience!

My Trail Ride Pre-Planning Guide

1. The Buddy System - If you're going out on a trail ride, particularly in remote or unfamiliar territory, don't ride alone. Be sure to plan your trail riding adventure far enough in advance that you can have a trail riding buddy to take the time to ride with you.

2. Let's Get Our Physicals, Physicals - If you're going out for a ride and there's any question about your physical capabilities, always go the safe route and get a doctor's okay first. Equally important is that you also have your veterinarian come out and perform a thorough check-up on your horse, as well as ensuring he is up to date on all of his vaccinations. There's an old saying that goes, "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure," and it fits this situation perfectly. A trail ride is a big event and both of you need to be in shape, physically capable of making the trip.

3. Map It Out - Just like if you were taking a road trip in your car, it's important to know where you're going. Before you head out for your trail ride, be sure to map out your trip from start to finish, as well as planning out a couple of alternate routes, in the event that life throws one of its many little detours at you. You should also leave a tentative map route copy at home, in the event of an emergency.

4. Emergency Contacts - Be sure that you always let one or two people know when you are leaving, your estimated time of arrival at your destination, and a map of the different routes that you may be taking. In the event that something does happen, providing a few friends or family members with this information will help to save valuable time and may even alert others that something is amiss.

Packing for Your Trail Ride

When packing for your trail ride, its important to carry the following items in your saddle bags:

1. Emergency Information and Contacts - In addition to listing anything that may be important for people to know about your destination, route and estimated time of arrival, it's also important to carry information such as your family doctor, hospital, who to contact in the event of an emergency, and a list of any allergies you may have or medications you may be taking. Also, be sure to carry this with you in a zip-lock baggie or a water-safe container.

2. Cell Phone - I usually complain about these things. They're a hazard on the road, they're annoying in the movie theater and I want to scream every time a phone interrupts dinner... but they do have their uses. Taking one with you will help you have an emergency link with the outside world, in case something happens.

3. First Aid Kit - I highly recommend a small first aid kit, not only for you, but also for your equine companion. You need to carry band aids, dressings, antiseptic creams and peroxide and you should carry dressings and gauze for your horse, elastic wrap, a hoof pick, bulb syringe and a pair of needle nose pliers are good to keep around.

4. Spare Clothes - You never know when a sudden downpour will soak you to the skin or that river crossing had a little more sudden drop off than you expected. Taking a spare set of clothes will help to keep you dry and comfortable. If you want to be extra smart? Buy an inexpensive rain slicker and carry it with you - you'll appreciate it, should a storm catch you unawares.

5. Halter and Lead Rope - Never, ever tie your horse out with just his bridle. A halter can even be worn over your horse's bridle, providing a quick method of tying your horse up, should the need arise.

6. Bug Repellent for You and Your Horse - Not only will you need a liberal dose of OFF for your summertime horseback riding, but you should also protect your equine friend with his own fly spray. Taking a special fly spray mitt, also rub some on over his face, over the eyes (but be careful not to get it in the eyes), around his muzzle and up over the ears and poll. Deer flies and horseflies can be particularly unpleasant for your horse to endure (and can make some horses buck like professional rodeo broncs).

You have to tailor-make your kit to fit your own needs, but these are a few of the basic necessities and steps that you should take, prior to starting out on your summertime trail ride. Remember - a trail ride should be a fun adventure for you and your horse. Make it a safe and enjoyable time for all involved.