Trail Riding On Horseback

[2sweed]

My last horse went totally loco. When our house burned down and my horse was ridden right past the house and fire trucks by a relative wanting to help get my horse to a safe place. After that day, she could not be ridden again. She would throw herself over backward and try to kick and bite anyone close to her. Sadly with no horse whisperers in the area, she was sold and later put down. That was my last horse. But what would stop me now is having not enough strength to lift the saddle to put it on a horse. And getting that foot in the stirrup would be to hard as well. And that trot would rattle all my bones. LOL

But it sounds like you had a wonderful time riding, as well as, a nice friend to ride with and watch out for you. That would make wonderful memories.

 

[happyflowerlady]

For some reason the link says that I do not have permision to view it; and it is too small to read. When I stretch it on the ipad, then it comes up larger; but to blurry to really read.
I did get the part about you "fall off of the horse" though, just not all of the rest of it. Probably just as well, and i do worry about the possibility of falling off of the horse nowdays, since my balance and muscle tone are not so good anymore.
However, I have started going to the fitness center and swimming and using the exercise machine; so maybe I will get back in shape enough to think about riding a horse again.
Meantime, I will settle for watching a video.

 

[2sweed]

Sorry about that it was big when I saved it. Oh well, @happyflowerlady, here is a link where you can read all about it. I found it to be quite real and honestly could see it happening. Puts a smile on your face. http://www.horsechannel.com/life-with-horses-blog/2011/0131-aging-riders.aspx

 

[Onatah]

My husband and I go trail riding often. We own six horses and a burro. We have our senior citizen horses who are close to being retired and each have a young horse we are training. Mine is a BLM mustang (my burro is BLM as well). We are blessed to live on a gravel road surrounded by hundreds of acres of wooded state land and plenty of trails. The Manistee National Forest Trail runs by our property. Lots of areas here aren't horse friendly but some are.

We also frequent a horse camp just over a hour away from our home and have formed a group of regulars. We went just two weeks ago with close friends who also happen to be our youngest son's in-laws and his father in law is also our farrier. Small world here where we are from. Sadly, the wife was bucked off her 17hh horse during a freak spook and was seriously injured so we won't be going to horse camp again until next year (they close down in October anyhow).

I am no young chick at 46 and with assorted health issues like arthritis in my spine and knees and a large hemangioma on my liver (blood tumor) I have to worry about breaking so riding takes on new discomforts and risks for me but I can't stop. Trail riding and camping with horses is what puts me at peace in this chaotic world we live in. I just find new ways to ride more comfortably, like risking laughter when I hit the trails in my English saddle. The friends I meet camping with horses are the greatest! Now combine this with hunting or fishing and I'm in absolute heaven.

 

[2sweed]

Just think of the hardships of the journey of trail riding by traveling across America on horseback, to fulfill a dream. that is what this woman has done. Tracey Elliot-Reep, a photographer from Dartmoor, rode solo on her quarter horses from Mexico to Canada, across America. This video shows some of her amazing 6 month journey following the Rocky Mountains.

 

[2sweed]

To be a member of the Long Rider's Guild (www.TheLongRidersGuild.com), a person has to complete a horseback ride of at least a thousand miles.

Tom Fairbank dreamed of completing such a ride and planned for this one for several years. Fairbank plotted a course from north-central Washington east along the Pacific Northwest Trail across Idaho and into Montana, then south along the Continental Divide Trail, ending in the Centennial Valley where his grandfather homesteaded.

Katie Russell joined the team for this great ride, and the two spent the entire summer of 2011 making their great ride.

 

[2sweed]

Trail riding in Yellowstone National Park. This video contains some of the most beautiful nature photography I have ever seen. I hope you enjoy it. This short film shows many of Yellowstone's prominent features as well as wildlife and deep back country regions that the typical visitor never gets to see. Filmed by a horseback outfitter to showcase pack trips in Yellowstone National Park. The entire film is accompanied by the second movement of Jett Hitt's Yellowstone for Violin and Orchestra.

 

[Onatah]

Maybe with a well mannered, gaited horse and a super comfy saddle such as a Tucker endurance, I could go on a thousand mile trek with my trusty steed. Well, I'd give it one heck of a good try anyhow. I'm more of a loner personality most times and crave being in the woods so, heck, I may just never come home if I tried it!

 

[happyflowerlady]

Maybe with a well mannered, gaited horse and a super comfy saddle such as a Tucker endurance, I could go on a thousand mile trek with my trusty steed. Well, I'd give it one heck of a good try anyhow. I'm more of a loner personality most times and crave being in the woods so, heck, I may just never come home if I tried it!

I would definitely want a gaited horse if i were going on a long trail ride, although every horse is doing a four-beat gait at a walk; which is what a person would be doing at least most of the time.
For many years, I thought that an Arabian was the only horse that was suitable to ride; but as I got older, comfort started becoming more important .
On what was mainly a whim, I went to a Peruvian Paso horse show in Western Washington, and was totally amazed watching these magnificent horses seemingly floating around the arena. The riders sat so still on the horse that they could have been driving a Cadillac around the arena, rather than riding a gracefully moving horse.
After the show, they had horses for sale, and people were allowed to ride around in the arena. Once I tried riding a Peruvian and found how comfortable they were, I knew that i had to have one !

I no longer have horses, or ride anymore, but have gone on many trail rides when I was younger, and loved being out with nature and enjoying the companionship with my horse.