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Autumn Trail Riding The rich pungence of the wet autumn leaves and the soft breeze assisting the trees to shed their leaves add to the fun of trail rides in October and November. The air is crisp and the horses are frisky and watchful of the squirrels racing across the road with their cheeks full of winter stockpiles. The deer have quickly transitioned into their winter coats and seem to be crossing the roads at all hours of the day. Trail riding is not only rejuvenating for ourselves but also breaks the monotony of workouts in the riding arena. For us in the saddle, trail rides add another venue where we can tune our riding skills, to encourage our horses forward while being watchful of our surroundings. For the horses, it gets them into new environments and exposes them to new things. It is also good for young horses to join the pack on a trail ride. They learn to have more confidence in new surroundings but have the comfort of the “pack.” Because young horses have a shorter attention span, the trail ride offers an alternative way to catch their attention and instruct them further. It is great to have a lead horse on a trail ride to set the pace and offer the chance for the others to follow across bridges, by rocks, and with animals crossing the road ahead. Things we take for granted while driving, such as cows grazing in the pasture, can become scary objects to a horse who is not used to being away from their comfortable surroundings. It is good to move at a walk through the paved roads, even if your horse has four shoes. The hard surface of the road can cause more stress and wear on their joints. It is also recommended to let the horses walk back to the barn so they do not become accustomed to bolting back to their buddies. If you leave the barn for a ride at the end of the working day, you may want to allow your horse a short while to enjoy a flake of hay. A fed horse is usually more enjoyable. Enjoy your rides while this enjoyable time of year permits you to refresh and soak up the aesthetics of the colorfull vista of sun permeating through the trees. 10-25-04 | ||||
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