Conference noted::equitation

    When a group of us gets together, we always announce when we plan to
    trot, or canter, or gallop.  If some one is in an uncomfortable
    situation, they can speak up and say wait til we get by that puddle,
    log or whatever they think their horse might shy at.
    
    I always put a red ribbon on my horses tail...she absolutely hates any
    other horse with their nose on her butt.
    
    And, if someone has a horse that won't stop...then that person should
    train the horse to whoa or not get into those situations. 
    
    We all love riding in groups and with a few simple rules you can have
    fun.  Altough, we have been riding together for years now and feel
    comfortable with us and our horses.  
    
    and remember,you can't make everyone happy all the time!!!
    
    have fun
    
    Caryl

Rob, this is a good topic.

We ride with alot of different people and different horses.  I always talk
to the people I will be riding with and I ask them what their riding style
is like.  I then inform them of my riding style and we work out a compromise.

I like to ride hard and fast, but alot of my friends ride at a much slower
pace - and that is fine by me, atleast I know what to expect and I will
ride slower that day.  I just wont go out w/ opposite riding style partners
on a daily basis.

As for do's and don'ts on a trail.   You bring up a good point.  I always
make it a point no matter who I am riding with to always be courteous.
When I go over the log, I always keep my horse at a walk until the
other rider is over the log.  Or when I go though water, I never take
off running until the other rider is completely trough the water too.  When
I'm about to gallop up the hill, I let everyone I am going to do so, and
I ask if this is a good time or are you coming"

As for who should be first.  I think it is very important for a horse to
know how to do both.  My girlfriends horse liked to be first all the time.
but that is a bad habit.  We worked with him a whole summer to accept
what ever position he is in.  He is now a much better horse and  more fun
to ride.  My horse hated to go first, so we also worked a whole summer on
him - and now he will go first and stay first until I tell him otherwise.

Another good thing on the trial is to "call out" when you hear/see a car,
bike, dog, low branches - etc..  this will help the others out alot, and if
they are going to have trouble with any of the items - they can let you
know like "can we walk under the limb please" :-)

    
    I'm one of those friends Louisa rides with at a slower pace :>). 
    
    You should have seen me the first time I met these guys and went trail
    riding!! I think they forgot I was an amateur, and my first experience
    in an English saddle. But I rode hard and stayed on! :>)
    
    The horse I ride with them, Zak, tends to like to be first, tends to be
    fast, and tends to be on the forehand alot in a canter. Then when 
    he gets in front, he slows down. We've been working on that, and he is 
    getting better, and know that I am learning with him more, I can do
    more on a trail with him.
    
    The first time out with Zak he was unfamiliar to me and I didn't know
    what to expect and he did some dumb things, so we went slow, walks,
    small trots. (Louisa and Carolyn are quiet understanding and patient
    with that).
    
    She and Carolyn always ask me if I want to canter or trot or if I am
    unfamiliar with the trail, they tell me the spots where it would be
    good to trot or canter seeing they know the trails better than I. I
    love to trot and canter, but there are times that I sometimes like to
    walk, depends on my mood. But I am flexible as I don't want to spoil
    their fun either.  And I know if I start a trot or a canter they'll be
    following right along behind me or vice versa.
    
    I, for one, like to get over logs, slowly. This because one time
    with them we all went over, and I was the last one and woke up a bees
    nest, very unpleasant. 
    
    Gee, you know, odd things seem to happen when I ride with these ladies! :>) 
                                                    
    

    This is a good topic, I agree.  I ride alone usually, even on organized
    rides where we encounter a lot of other riders and often join up with
    them for a few miles, etc.  At times I do the whole distance with a
    friend, but I prefer to be alone and to go at our own pace.  My mare
    is very quick, especially at the walk, and easily out-walks most
    companions - so in groups I'm constantly holding her back and it's
    not relaxing.  Still, I prefer a slower over-all pace, and only trot
    or canter about 1/4 of the time.
    
    A few 'rules' that are commonly accepted:
    
    Always pass on the right, and ask permission first.
    
    Always ride on the right side of a road.
    
    When at water stops, don't allow your horse to splash, and don't leave
    the stop until you are sure all the horses have had time to drink/get
    refreshed.  
    
    If a rider is having trouble crossing obstacles (water, bridge,
    whatever) do NOT go ahead of them without asking first.
    
    Red ribbons in the tails of kickers, green of inexperienced
    horses/riders, yellow for stallions.  And respect the above if the
    are on the horse ahead of you!
    
    If you are committed to riding with a group, do not exceed a pace
    that makes the slowest horse/rider combination comfortable.  If you
    want to go faster, venture off on your own.
    
    If any rider dismounts for whatever reason, stop and do not resume
    moving until the rider remounts and is ready to move on.  If you 
    come across an unmounted rider on the trail, stop BEFORE you get to
    the pair and do not pass without 1) asking if everything is okay and
    do they need help (someone could be hurt!) 2) asking if it's alright
    to move on by them.  When you have gone by, do not begin to trot/canter
    off until you are out of sight. 
    
    
    

    
    RE:--->>>   Always pass on the right, and ask permission first.
    
	Does this apply to a horse with no rider on its back? :>)
    	
    	I've had one pass me on the right before, but minus the rider. :>)
    
    Mary
    

    
    Each time I mount my horse, I condiser it a training process.  I even
    use the trails at a training course.  I just don't go out without a
    pourpous.  example:  Since there is no "outside" or "inside" - when I
    ask my horse for a canter - I ask him to pick up differant leads.  and
    if he does not pick up the one I want - I stop him (no matter how nice
    the run is) and I ask him to pick up the correct one.
    
    When we trott, I will not just do to a trail trott, I make him work - I
    aks for a slow trott, extended trott - etc..
    
    just little things I like to do on a trail to make it productive
    
    and of course HAVE FUN
    
    Louisa   

    I've not done much trail riding recently, but last fall we went
    out on some trails and into a field for a lesson.  My horse was
    feeling good and I found myself struggling with him for the better
    part of an hour.  I let him keep up to the first horse, but got
    the feeling if given half a chance, he would sail right by that
    first horse, so I kept him back a bit.  When we got to the field,
    I let him canter if he felt he needed to catch up, but then 
    when he got too close I held back.  He became very frustrated
    and attempted to throw me (I stayed seated but it was scary!!).
    
    Any tips on what I should/should not do the next time this
    situation arises?  I love to go out in the field, but when
    he gets unruly, I want to be prepared to handle it in the
    best and safest way I can.
    
    g

    GACK!  I just realized the error in my own note - the rule of
    thumb is always pass on the *left*, not the right.  Shows where
    my brain is (or isn't!) on Friday afternoons!
    

    
    
    
    You could try teaching your horse a specific cue to relax by moving
    your hand (either one, but practice with each) down and back towards
    your knee (naturally giving with the opposite hand so that he *can*
    respond).  When the horse softens his jaw and lowers his head in
    response, reward him by stopping the cue.  A horse with his head
    lowered is relaxed.  The bucking and fighting you is caused by 
    tension - to keep up with his buddies, to run off, because he's
    not out often - any number of reasons.  Practice this in the ring
    first, until he gets it and responds 100% of the time, then try
    the field again.  You should get an immediate response in the field
    as well, however brief.  You may have to repeat the cue/response
    cycle frequently at first, but he'll get the idea and the frequency
    should gradually decrease.  
    
    Good luck, I agree, a trail ride on a bucking, tense, 
    pushy horse is no fun!
    
      

    Thanks for that tip.  I will try it in the ring next week.  He's
    been very fast the last couple of lessons (even in the ring) and
    I've had to try a number of tricks to get him more collected and
    to slow down.  Haven't tried this one yet! (I've recently 
    nicknamed him "Sparky")...

    
    Gail,
    
    Try using a half-halt on him if he gets to fast or unruly. 
    
    Attempt trying one in the ring so that he knows what it is. 
    Put your inside leg on and a soft closer of the outside hand and a 
    release. I do my half-halt to a count of 3, close the hand, count slow
    1,2,3 release. 
    
    Mary
    
    

    Yep,  the half-halt is a given.  Unfortunately he ignores it
    (how I don't know).  I sit back, into the saddle, and gently
    try to pull him in with half halts.  When this doesn't work,
    I stop him (hard as it can be sometimes) and back him up.
    Then I ask him to walk forward, and from there I go into 
    a sitting trot.  I ask for the canter from the sitting
    trot, and he starts out very collected, and gets faster
    and faster....  This doesn't happen every week, but because
    it's spring, and he's delighted to be outside, he really
    likes to stretch and run.   He'll calm down after a while,
    but meanwhile, getting him to listen can be alittle bit
    of a task.....

Thanks to everyone who responded, some very good "common sense" or
should I say "horse sense" was provided!

I'm almost ready to go out, my horses just got new shoes yesterday 
(Dianne Lemmon), and April's laminitis has cleared up! 

Now all that I need is my trailer plates, and a few trailering
lessons, and I'm all set. I don't anticipate any problems with the
trailering (knock on wood), but I thought some practice would be
a good idea.

BTW: I picked up some supplies at Wal-Mart in Hudson, good prices.
I heard that the woman in charge of the pet dept. works at McGee's
in Marlborough and did a market analysis of the area and determined
there are 2000 horse people in the immediate vicinity.

Most of the tack supplies are western, along with shampoo and fly spray,
etc.. The Straight Arrow insect spray was only $5.00, Mane and Tail
shampoo was $6.95.

Later

Rob

I know this note is *old*, but I am *new*!

We work on the trail as much as we work in the arena.  One thing we work on
while on the trail is 'leap-frogging'.  We find that this really helps with
a horse's confidence to be alone/ in a group, leading/ in the rear, at speeds/
at a walk, etc.

Usually, one horse starts by trotting down the trail in front of the group, but
they slow to the walk once they're out of sight of the others.  Then another
horse/rider starts and slows to the walk once they've passed the original/
first pair.  The next in line then must trot by two pair of horse/riders before
slowing to the walk.  (Yes, in a LARGE group, you have to time yourselves out.)

It really gets horses used to passing others and waiting for others.  For
experienced horse/riders add in the canter.  For novice horse/riders just
walking away or taking a different fork in the trail before returning to the
herd.  Add speed only after they're very comfortable with this.

It does take awhile before horses feel real relaxed with this game but has been
so useful for us.  I never worry about where my horse is placed in any group
or how fast we go.  (Just as long as no one allows their horse to run up his
butt.  HE JUST HATES THAT!!  Besides being extremely dangerous.)

Yup, we've subjected our 3 YO to it, too.  :>)

						-Reedy