Everyday Trail Riding

Book excerpt: With proper training, any horse can become a great riding companion out on the trail. It's a matter of learning how to adapt your experience to your particular horse. Fully illustrated lessons in trail riding start with the differences in working with a retired jumper, an actively competing reiner, or even a natural-born trail horse. The section on riding techniques helps you use what you already know from hunter-jumper, dressage, or other experiences. Both solitary and group riding get special attention, as does handling different types of parks and paths. The full range of possible spooking challenges covers encountering animals, heavy traffic, weather, and children, as well as tripping, hoof injuries, mounting and dismounting in unusual situations, and other emergencies.