In every issue of Horse & Rider you'll find articles on training by the country's leading experts, the latest on equine health care from top veterinarians, trail riding tips from savvy back country riders, and much more!
Take tech with you while on the trail and horse camping? Don’t equestrian adventures mean “unplugging” to get away from today’s ever-present technology? After all, you find the sounds of nature more calming than cellphone alerts. But wait—you likely carry your cellphone in case something goes awry and use a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver to help you find your way. On long rides and overnight trips, you need a portable battery charger to keep these devices up and running. You also need a protective case and holder for each device. Are you ever caught on the trail after dark? Trail lights can help when your ride runs later than planned. Do you enjoy music, either on the trail or in camp? Durable Bluetooth speakers will deliver the soundtrack to…
If you’re the trail rider who needs every gadget, check out this new haul from KingStar Trailers. For a sticker price of $64,900, the Trail Lodge Edition with living quarters has space for two horses and a sleeper cab for two riders. It’s loaded with gadgets, including folding corrals that come down on both sides at the push of a button, revealing hay pods with easy tilt-open access. The trailer also features an LED-lit awning and automatic waterers. Inside, you’ll find a kitchenette with a cooktop, microwave, hot-water shower, toilet, heating, and air conditioning. Watch the video at kingstar.net. Heidi Nyland Melocco (www.wholepicture.org) is a lifelong horsewoman, equine journalist, and photographer based in Longmont, Colorado.…
You’re riding along on the trail when you come to a water crossing. All of your riding buddies safely approach the water crossing, but your horse stops dead in his tracks. As you try to convince him to go into the water, you feel him start to wiggle around—moving left and right to escape from the pressure. Or the opposite happens, and your horse takes a leap of faith trying to clear the water in one big jump and throwing you out of balance in the process. Instead of fighting with your horse at every water crossing you come across on a trail, take time to build his confidence and show him that it doesn’t have to be a such a scary obstacle. Here I’ll show you five steps you…
Your trail saddle must fit your horse well and allow him to do his job. It also needs to complement your trail-riding needs. Here I’ll help you select (or make sure you already own) the right trail saddle for your horse and for the particular type of trail riding you do. First I’ll give you saddle-fit tips. Then I’ll explain how the saddle’s tree can help or hinder your horse’s performance—and how each tree type suits a specific purpose. Finally I’ll give you a rundown of add-ons designed to help secure your saddle over challenging terrain. Find a Fit Evaluating saddle fit is both an art and a science, but you can look for clues of poor fit yourself. Pressure-point indicators include uneven sweat patterns, white hairs, and back soreness.…
You’ve bought a show horse with the idea of having a trail horse with a solid training background. Or you’re ready to transition your current campaigner to be your full-time trail partner. Most horses with a background in showing can make solid trail horses. Your show horse is likely well-trained, has traveled to unfamiliar locations, and is used to trailer travel. We ride all our show horses on the trail. While we make sure that our horses are both trail- and arena-trained from the start, we understand that many show horses are trained only in the arena. Your transition to the trail might be easy—or require a few extra steps, depending on what your horse did in the arena and the type of training he had. Here we’ll give you…
You can do it all: show your horse competitively and go on exciting trail rides with him. Riding on the trail promotes balance for your show horse—figuratively and literally. Visiting new and natural scenes with your horse can provide a mental break and give him a way for him to stay in excellent shape. If you have an expensive show horse, you may think the trail is off limits and be reluctant to try—the terrain varies and you can’t control the environment. Something might happen to spook or injure him. You might also feel that you can’t work riding on trails into your busy competition schedule. While these are valid concerns, think about what your horse might be missing in education and in conditioning if you don’t leave the arena.…
