When I ride in the woods, I focus on the exercises and goals that I have for my horse in the arena. We go through a similar routine of exercises wherever we are riding because it gives her consistency for confidence and structure for her physical well-being. I just happen to be asking her to execute shoulder-in towards the moss covered rock instead of towards the letter “A.”
A few simple exercises that suit your horse:
Horses that are not very forward moving:
Check that your horse is not acting “lazy” due to soreness or pain. Given that he is in good health, this horse needs some variety in life. Work with regular transitions between gaits that you are comfortable with, changing the tempo on a regular basis. Once he realizes that he does not have to exert too much energy for long, he will be more compliant to pick up the pace when asked. You can also ride this kind of horse “off roading” if you have fairly safe bush. Winding around trees and over logs is much more interesting than following a path.
Horses that get excitable and hurried:
Again, check that your horse is physically comfortable. Poor saddle fit or a sore back can cause some horses to rush and hurry to get the ride over with. Concentrate on a lot of breathing exercises while riding. Our slow, deep breathing can really relax ourselves and influence our horses. Use trees and other visuals to ride around, rather than just going straight down the trail. Changing direction gently and regularly will break the pattern of rushing straight down a path. Bending around trees also loosens up the tense horse’s body, helping him in additionally turning loose stress.
Horses that are stiff through their back and hips:
Horses that are stiff through their neck and ribs:
It is important that we have good influence while riding these horses. The amount of pressure that we use with the rein and our seat/leg aids can cause a horse to relax and stretch, or stiffen into a brace. Try lifting your inside rein up rather than pulling in a backward action when you want to ask your horse to bend and turn. Lifting the rein creates a much softer feeling, allowing your horse’s neck to bend instead of brace. Ride down the path and use every turn in the trail as an opportunity to ask your horse’s ribs to match. For example; if you see a turn coming up to the right, use your seat to soften your horse’s ribs through the bend. The same exercise can be used around trees. One trail ride can improve your horse’s flexibility if you ride with focus.
Trail riding is often a social experience for riders. Remember to stay alert to your horse and his needs. Focussing on your horse will guarantee both of you a more rewarding experience. It is also important to wear bright apparel, to prevent hunting related accidents.
Enjoy the season, and happy trails !