You’ve been riding for some time now through the woods. You come into a clearing. A green, grassy field before you, the shady woods behind you, and the sounds & smells of horses, leather, and sunshine surround you. As you hear the laughter of your friends and family over your shoulder, you can’t help but smile down at your noble steed and whisper in his fluffy ear: thank you. Yes, the thankfulness you feel is as real as the cool breeze swirling past you. You are thankful for your horse, who brought you to this moment, for all the work, time and money you have put into your equine. Because this one moment makes it all worth it. Your sacrifice hasn’t amounted to nothing. But most of all I am thankful for my Creator. Who made the people with me, the nature around me, and the horse on whose back I ride. This is how I feel during a trail ride, and this is why I love it.
No matter what discipline you do, or how many horses you own it is important to have these moments. This is not only true with horseback riding, but with any endeavor we make. At that moment we look back and realize the time and resources we put into this or that were worth it. And there’s only one place we can go from there, thankfulness to our Creator. This is what I feel as I come into the clearing, with the woods behind me, nature all around me, and my family, friends, and beloved equine before me.
Not only do I love trail riding for this reason, but it also has tons of great benefits for you and your horse!
- Trail riding builds your horse’s stamina and balance.
When trail riding, your horse often has to navigate rough terrain and maneuver up steep hills and valleys, all over an extended period of time. This builds your horse’s stamina and balance, things every discipline requires. Expert horseman Richard Spooner comments that, “It’s good for them getting used to watching where they are going, to going up and down hills, getting used to putting weight on their hindquarters and to traveling with their body in different balances.” Along with building your equines strength and balance, trail riding reduces the risk of injury. “The risk of wear-and-tear injuries is reduced by varying the type of exercise, by working your horse on different surfaces and terrains..” says accomplished veterinarian Hilary Clayton, BVMS, PhD, Dipl. ACVSMR, MRCVS. Your horse being familiar with different terrains can come in handy when showing in a new environment.
- Fine turns a rider’s position.
Not only is your equines posture getting improved by the rolling hills and valleys, but, you as a rider, are improving your balance and seat. Horsemen Peter Lutz affirms this,”Because the varying terrain requires you to adjust your weight constantly to stay in balance with the horse, this is an excellent strengthening exercise for riders, too.” *So as you ride the trails, sit a little taller in the saddle and work on your posture and balance.*
- Trail riding establishes trust.
As your horse encounters rustling leaves, barking dogs, and rushing streams, he’ll learn to be confident in his rider. Not only will your pony gain more confidence, but you as a rider will too. Your horse will learn to trust you and you to trust your horse while you trot through the winding pathways of the woods and gallop across spacious meadows.
- Nature (yes, nature!)
It’s extremely stress relieving to have a change of environment and a blast of fresh air, for you and your horse! *Not to mention healthy!* So if you or your horse is stuck in the barn, or practicing the same old same old, GO OUTSIDE and experience a change in scene and get some fresh air & sunshine. *That goes for all you non-horse peps as well ?*
- Last, but not least: Trail riding is a way to socialize with family and friends.
Some of my favorite memories were made riding with friends, cousins, and my family. As a plus your horse also gets to socialize with his trail buddies! (this post talks about horse buddies!)
These are some great benefits of trail riding! Your horse establishes trust, gets a change of scene, and gets stamina, all the while your posture is improving and your socializing with friends, experiencing the outdoors. *Man! Was that not an awesome summary sentence?!* I love trail riding, and after reading this article I hope you give it a try! OR maybe you have; tell me about in the comment section below!
Tails & trails,
Reese
Here are the resources I used!
https://cowgirlmagazine.com/benefits-trail-riding/
https://practicalhorsemanmag.com/training/5-benefits-to-riding-outside-the-ring
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