The equipment necessary for trail riding includes a saddle pad, a lightweight trailing saddle, the usual riding tack for the horse and a few accessories for comfort on the trail. Gather up the necessary tools and gear before hitting the trail with helpful advice from an experienced trail boss in this video on horseback riding.
Hi, I'm Judy Smith and I'm here today to talk to you about the gear that's needed for trail riding. I've been trail riding for many years; I'm from Battle Ground, Washington. So first thing that we're going to get out of here; I've already brushed her so the first thing we'll get out is the saddle pad and by the way this Sunny; a six year-old Tennessee Walking Mare. I, I use a cotton; it's kind of like husk beetle felt and I use that underneath. This is called the Skito pad; it's very padded because I use the Bob Marshall saddle which is a trailing saddle. It's very extremely comfortable for trail riding; it's like sitting on a pillow. The best kind of saddle for trail riding is one that's lightweight and that's comfortable both for you and for the horse. And we have a breast collar, what's called the breast collar that keeps the saddle from sliding back when you're in extreme uphill, uphill movement; with uphill movement and a crupper which keeps the saddle from sliding forward when you're going downhill. The next step is the bridle. I'm using a long shank and this is a curve bit; it helps to keep the horse collective for gating. This is a, a walking horse bit. Another important gear for trail riding is your horn packs. For just your basic; go to the park, go out behind your house, you really don't need much; a bottle of water, some toilet paper, just the basics. But if you're going to go out on a trail for any length of time at all; I have Deput's towelettes, nice and convenient package. I have some face wipes for the horse for flies. I have a, just a small first aid supply; bandages, stuff like that. This is a, emergency; no this is the pancho. It's actually a little pancho that fits over and it's been used that's why it's not as compact; emergency blanket; fire starter; sunglasses. That's all I have on this part. I have my bottle of water; I have my visor. Oops, I have a saw; anything's falling down on the trail. I have a pair of gloves. I have some Extra Bug off and this is actually fly repellent for the horse that I put in that bottle 'cause it's nice and convenient. On this side I have a scarf if the trail is dusty and I'm the second one riding; there's some suntan lotion. So basically these are just all supplies that you need out on the trail. There's flashlights; there's knife; there's a hoof pick; there's different supplies; your handy toilet paper and candy bars. Couple more things that we need to talk about for gear for trail riding; these are emergency boots in case your horse throws a shoe or in the springtime, a lot of time they don't have shoes put on right away, I use these old back boots. One thing that I usually take with me unless it's a very short trail ride is my saddle bags and in one side I have my lunch and I find it very convenient. You just put it into a lunch box; slides right in there; it's easy to take out, to take with you wherever you're going to sit on a log, alongside the stream, whatever. And the other side I actually take my horse's lunch. Horses are grazing animals; they eat twenty four hours a day. When I'm having lunch, my horse has lunch. And I take her grain bag along and I put in; one of a kind of food supplements; a little bit of alfalfa pellets; a little bit of grain, there's a mixture in there I think that she likes and gives her more energy after we ride. Plus she stands quietly, I leave the feed bag tied on her the whole lunch time so she just stands there quietly and goes to sleep. She knows when she's done that she stands there; so works out really sleek. And I also make sure that they're balanced; like you one, you know, my lunch and her lunch winds up weighing the same so that they fit nicely and they, they're balanced on her on both sides. One last thing is on the cold days is a camel bag. You can put a rain pancho in here or a sweatshirt. You start off cool in the morning and it gets hotter in the afternoon; you can take your sweatshirt or shirt off, put it in here; works out really sleek and it just snaps on and I tie it on over the top of the saddle bags. Spraying the horse with flies sprays is very important. You want to make sure that there's plenty on there; having their comfort in mind, makes her comfortable ride for you. Spray them underneath; spray their legs; make sure you get their face. I put it in my hand or on the claw finch; she doesn't really like it; but that's too bad, there we go; yeah. The last couple things we do before we head out are put on; if I had a camera, I would put it on first and then I put my horn bags on. I would tie them down. i have a, a clip on here and I just clip it. That's what, way if your horse is startled or you're canoering down the trail they're not flapping so bad; you don't lose them. Then I throw the saddlebags on. I have her lunch closest to me so when I get off, I tie her up; I grab her feed bag and I give her her lunch and it's all right here. I've just given you a basic overview of our trail riding equipment except for one small detail. At the end of the day, make sure please that you use your pooper scooper; clean up all messes that you've left behind around your trailer. It's very important that we not leave any waste that, for other people. Just practice your leave no trace ethics and everything will be great. Happy trails; have a great time.
Specialty: Trail Rides
