Trail riding tip of the day.

[Country Girl 43]

Riding on narrow trails.

My friend and I got to discussing turning your horse around on a narrow trail. We both know you are supposed to turn TOWARD the drop-off. We were talking about other people we have seen who turn their horses uphill. This is VERY scary and can be dangerous!!!

It is very important that you turn to the edge. I know it is very scary to look out over the edge of a narrow trail while you are turning, but that is what you are supposed to do. If you are looking that way and are concerned about the drop-off, your horse is looking too -- and hopefully is just as concerned as you are!

The horse can see exactly where his feet are. However, when you turn your horse to the uphill side, your horse cannot see its back feet. You stand the very good chance of having your horse slip off the trail backwards. I know it makes a person feel better to do this, but please don't.

Also, when a horse is pointing downhill, and if he slips off the trail, he can stop better in this direction. If the horse is facing uphill and slips, he cannot get his legs under him to break his fall because he is going in the wrong direction. I won't tell you what can happen when a horse starts to slip backwards on a steep hillside, but a$$ over teakettle comes to mind.

[WashingtonBay]

Good tips!

Of course... I think the first option to consider is... try to turn around in a place that's safer to turn around.

I try to make little notes of good places along the trail to stop, turn around, or get off the trail to let someone pass. When we meet up with other riders or think some might be coming in narrow places (the most common need for us to have to turn around) I usually like to be the one to turn around and retreat back to that spot... I trust my judgment on 'enough room' better than someone else's.

[Country Girl 43]

True WB, but sometimes if you are on a new trail you never know where the turn around spots are.

Also, sometimes we get on our normal trails and something has been washed away and we have no where to go except to turn around or back the horse up. Dallas always tried to go UP and it scares the crap out of me.

[PaintedHearts]

That's a great tip. I never even thought about it but it make sense. Thanks. :D

[jeezitsjacki]

great tip, it is scary to see that edge, but if you think about the back feet it makes a lot of sense

[carla]

:jawdrop:



Oh_my_God. Is backing out an option?

[WashingtonBay]

Backing up is often more dangerous, then the horse really can't see where he's going.

Horses can spin on a dime. Or at least, on a hoof. Knowing how to do a good turn on the haunches is valuable in these times. Preferably the rear haunches!

Mine have turned around many times where there was high brush on either side of a narrow trail. If they can turn around when it's close quarters on both sides, they can do it when there may only be close quarters on one side. :)

[carla]

I gotcha, WB. ;) It was kind of a joke, but cliffs are some of the scariest things to me. OMG, I can't even walk to the edge of one to look over! And I get very uncomfortable like when people walk/sit on the edge of one in movies, lol!

edit: I do trust horses around steep places, though, and am more comfy than on my own feet.. but I still don't think I would be excited about having to turn around on one.. of course, in my mind I'm picturing Grand Canyon-style cliffs, with a wall on one side and on the other......

[WashingtonBay]

Heights... there's good reason to be respectful of them!

Our trails are interesting, I think, because we ride a lot of steep areas, that, when they're treed in mature timber, don't look ALL that steep. You don't get the sensation you're at the edge of a cliff when the trees and brush are over your head on both sides, obscuring the bottom.

http://www.baywindfarm.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=3670&stc=1&d=1243016724


You don't get any great sensation of heights till they log it and you can see the bottom:

http://www.baywindfarm.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=3671&stc=1&d=1243016799

Even this spot below... is quite steep. Probably the steepest drop we face on our trails, and when they logged it several years ago now, it was pretty puckering to ride this section. In fact, it's a section of trail that has "One Way" signs for the loop, so there's less chance of having to meet oncoming traffic.

http://www.baywindfarm.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=3673&stc=1&d=1243017098

But now that it's grown up a few years, it doesn't look nearly as intimidating.

[vicklynn]

Oh nice WB. Have fun and ride that trail for me, cause I aint going on it. I am affraid of heights and dont do narrow trails like that...ugh.
So my thought is, dont get on a narrow steep trail and you wont have any issues...lol

[carla]

See now I could definitely handle the first pic, WB. As long as there's something for my horse and I to grab onto on the way down.. ! LOL

The last pic, I could handle, but thank goodness for the one-way thing.. 'cause if I met someone coming the other way, I ain't movin! :D

Vick, you and I will stick to the flatland trails, mmkay?

[Piper522]

I have little to almost NO experience on trails so all of this is really helpful. There are hundreds of acres of trails where I board now so I am looking forward to adventuring out. MINSKEEP owned my horse before I did...she took Cabo on trails...so at least HE has had experience!

[outriding01]

I live in FL. I steepest thing we have are roadside ditches. Thank goodness, I like to run like a crazy person on trails. I see a lot of gorgeous places that people get to ride on here, but give me a flat, open field any day. I never would have even thought of this though if you hadn't posted it. I do like to go trail riding on vacation, so that will be a handy tip if I ever find myself in a tight spot someplace else.

[Steelhorserider]

Thanks for the tip...never thought about it, but it does make sense. All I have around me is flat land.

[Diane of Buck's Hollow]

Great Tip. Thanks for sharing. I really don't like heights. I don't think I could ride on a trail like the one WB posted. I would like to live in Florida now that I have a horse. I would love all the flat land.

[quest]

Good advice! Was never really sure what to do in that situation

[Tatesgram]

Oh nice WB. Have fun and ride that trail for me, cause I aint going on it. I am affraid of heights and dont do narrow trails like that...ugh.
So my thought is, dont get on a narrow steep trail and you wont have any issues...lol

ROTFLMBO :hysterical:. Me too Vicklynn! Give me logging trails and fire breaks with nice wide trails.