Experience the sheer joy of being one with your horse and one with nature.When you're riding the trails with your horse, you enjoy a refreshing feeling of freedom, the exhilaration of exploration, and an invigorating escape from the demands of the day. You're in control--as long as you can control the 1,000-pound creature you're riding. Trail Riding: A Complete Guide takes you from the basics to more advanced trail riding skills with information on:* How to choose a horse, including basics on conformation* Finding the best trail-riding lessons, tack, and equipment* Feeding, care, grooming, health care, and stable management* Conditioning--for the horse and yourself* Trailering to trails* Advanced trail riding, including information on camping with your horse, how competitive trail riding is judged, and racing on the trail* Tips on how to find the best trails, both locally and around the countryThis book helps you develop the knowledge and skills that will give you a leg up every time you climb in the saddle. You and your horse will become the perfect pair for relaxing yet energizing adventures off the beaten path.
Author(s): Audrey Pavia
Edition: 1
Year: 2005
Language: English
Pages: 240
TRAIL RIDING......Page 3
CONTENTS......Page 9
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS......Page 13
INTRODUCTION......Page 15
Part 1 GETTING STARTED......Page 17
Horse Looks......Page 19
Breeds......Page 22
Equine Personalities......Page 23
Horses Are Like Kids......Page 25
To Rent or Not to Rent?......Page 27
Riding Basics......Page 29
Taking Lessons......Page 31
Other Ways to Get Riding Experience......Page 36
Using Your Arena Horse......Page 37
Finding a Horse for Trail......Page 38
What Makes a Good Trail Horse?......Page 40
Costs of Horse Buying......Page 43
The Buying Process......Page 44
Evaluating the Horse......Page 46
Conformation......Page 47
The Vet Check......Page 49
Finalizing the Sale......Page 51
The Leasing Process......Page 52
English Saddles......Page 53
Endurance Saddles......Page 55
Buying a Saddle......Page 56
Bridles......Page 58
Other Trail Tack......Page 59
Caring for Your Tack......Page 63
Part 2 CARING FOR THE TRAIL HORSE......Page 65
Options for Housing......Page 67
Feeding Your Trail Horse......Page 73
Clipping......Page 77
Finding the Right Vet......Page 80
Vaccines......Page 82
Eliminating Parasites and Other Pests......Page 83
Shoeing......Page 85
The Importance of Exercise......Page 87
Lameness......Page 89
Other Issues......Page 94
First Aid for Trail Horses......Page 101
Part 3 ON THE TRAIL......Page 105
Basic Training......Page 107
Dealing With Common Obstacles......Page 116
Conditioning for Trail......Page 121
Warming Up and Cooling Down......Page 125
Trailer Loading......Page 126
Tack Check......Page 128
Why Trail Riding Is Hard Work......Page 130
Getting in Shape......Page 131
Training for Trail......Page 134
Ride Day......Page 136
Safe Equipment......Page 141
Trail Etiquette......Page 143
Safety in the Wilderness......Page 148
Negotiating Difficult Terrain......Page 154
Have Fun!......Page 156
Trail Quality......Page 157
Types of Trails......Page 158
Responsible Riding......Page 160
Trail Maps and Compasses......Page 161
Where to Look......Page 162
Anatomy of a Horse Trailer......Page 165
Your Towing Vehicle......Page 169
Buying a Trailer......Page 170
Hitting the Road......Page 175
Part 4 ADVANCED TRAIL RIDING......Page 181
Getting Started......Page 183
What to Bring......Page 185
Setting Up Camp......Page 188
Competitive Trail Rides......Page 192
Trail Trials......Page 197
Endurance......Page 200
Ride-and-Tie......Page 203
Part 5 APPENDIXES......Page 209
Appendix A GLOSSARY......Page 211
Appendix B RESOURCES......Page 217
Appendix C TRAIL RIDING OPPORTUNITIES......Page 227
ILLUSTRATION CREDITS......Page 229
INDEX......Page 231
