Trail Riding - Choosing the Right Barn for a Relaxing Day

Horses have long been considered one of the most useful animals to humans. Through the years, they have provided labor, transportation and camaraderie for humanity. Nowadays, their role as companions has come to the forefront.

Equines are an expensive species to keep, having gone from labor to luxury in most areas. Even so, it's quite possible to affordably involve yourself with the four-legged creatures! Trail riding is one such way to do that, and can provide relaxation, the chance to bond with a horse, and a unique view of the nature surrounding you.

It's not quite as easy as just driving on over to the barn and hopping on a horse, though. Different barns have different characteristics, and rules. In addition, not all barns are created equally... and some should be avoided.

Here are a few tips to keep in mind, and questions to ask yourself before you run off to go gallivanting on the back of a trusty steed!

English or Western?
There are two distinct disciplines involved with horseback riding. Most trail riding barns, particularly in the western areas of the United States, use the Western style of tack and riding, but there are English trail riding barns too. The main difference between the two is the tack that the horse wears. Western saddles, in particular, are much larger than English saddles, and often more ornate. They sport the big horns in the front of the saddle, and overall, may make a beginner rider feel a bit more secure and comfortable. English saddles are lighter and smaller, without any horns to hold onto if necessary.

The basics of riding for either discipline are essentially the same-toes up, heels down, look straight ahead, kick to go, pull back to whoa! But there are some differences; in English, you hold onto two reins, one in each hand, while in Western riding, you typically hold the reins with only one hand, and the methods for steering are slightly different. Regardless of which discipline you choose, a good trail-riding barn will explain the basics of riding before you go out into the wilds.

Guided, or Unguided?
Most trail rides are guided, meaning that an employee of the barn leads you down the trails. A great deal fewer barns provide unguided trails, which are usually smaller and loop around a lot more, so that riders won't get lost. For people who haven't done much riding beforehand, a guided trail is probably the way to go. That way, any problems that arise can be handled by someone that both knows horses in general, and the specific horses from the barn that you may be riding. The guide can offer tips and basic instructions along the way.

Rules and Regulations
Barns differ in the rules and regulations that patrons must follow. One of the more basic safety guidelines that many barns have is that of wearing a helmet. For adults, trail riding barns often leave the option of helmet-or-no-helmet open. Helmets can save you in the case of a fall, though, and while most trail rides are relaxing and without trouble, horses are unpredictable animals, and if something were to go wrong, some protection for your brain would not be amiss.

Barns often have other safety requirements that outsiders must follow. For one thing, if you're bringing children along on the ride, keep an eye on them at the barn! Do not allow them to wander without supervision, as many places in barns are closed to the public. Horses have different personalities, and while some may be sweet and gentle, others may be prone to kicking or biting. If the staff of a trail barn tells you that an area is off-limits, make sure that you and any children with you stay out of that area!

In general, follow the directions that the staff gives you, because, ultimately, it's for the safety of both you and the horses.

Health of the Horses
Not all barns treat their horses equally well. While horses at one barn may be pampered and well-cared for, other barns may be downright abusing their animals. If you happen to be unfortunate enough to come across the latter, don't go out on the trails! And if the situation looks particularly bad, you may want to think about calling the local animal cruelty association nearest to the barn.

The most obvious observation to make is the weight of the horses. Do they look thin? Can you see their ribs, and the other bones of their bodies? While some breeds naturally tend to be thinner or finer-boned than others, and older horses tend to be skinnier, the horse shouldn't look skeletal! If a lot of the bones seem to be sticking out, particularly on the majority of the horses at the barn, there's a problem!

Also, look down. What do the hooves of the horses look like? Severely cracked hooves can be painful for the horse to walk on. Keep in mind that all of the weight, of both the horse's body and the rider's, is going to be placed on those hooves. If they're crumbling and in bad condition, the horse can become increasingly sore and injured.

Do the horses look well-groomed? Equines are notorious for getting dirty, so a bit of dust and mud isn't a problem. But if the horses look overly-scruffy, as if no one has taken a brush to them before tossing a saddle on their backs, it's not a good sign. Hoof-picking is an important factor to grooming, and while the staff likely won't be doing that in front of patrons, the horses' hooves should be free of rocks and large debris.

Overall, what are the horses' attitudes like? Well-cared for horses are happy horses. If the majority of horses are biting and kicking, with their ears continuously back, they aren't happy horses! In most cases, horses with bad temperaments have a reason to be nasty. Often, they are in pain, either from medical problems or ill-fitting tack. They may also be overworked, or have poor nutrition for the jobs that they're doing.

Condition of the Farm
The condition of the barn and the trails is also an important factor. While most barns are far from spotless, there shouldn't be any obvious problems with any of the structures, be they for use by humans or horses. If walls are falling down, ceilings sagging, and fences are rotting away, that may say something about the lack of care that the employees have for their horses, and, by extension, for their patrons. While a barn doesn't need to be absolutely perfect, a tidy, organized facility says a lot about the people that run it.

In addition, are there unsafe materials in use? In specific, one of the worst possible materials to see around a barn is barbed wire. Often, the wire is thin and hard to see unless you're up close-and that's true for the horse, too. There are countless horror stories of horses running into barbed wire and getting tangled. The loss of life and limb isn't uncommon in those stories. A barn that uses barbed wire around horses has a death wish for their animals, as there are countless choices of safer materials to use instead.

Before going out on a trail ride, you might want to ask around if you know others who have gone. Beyond unsafe materials, it's important to know that the facility cares for its trails. Particularly after heavy rains or other inclement weather, the trails will need to be inspected for mudslides, fallen trees and other debris. No tour group should go out if the trails haven't been inspected, as badly-kept trails make for unsafe rides.

Once you've found a suitable barn, go out and have fun! Remember to respect the animals-they aren't like cars, and keep in mind that you're sitting on the back of a living creature! Appreciate the equines that carry you along through nature, and enjoy the unique experience that riding through the trails can bring!