How to Lead Beginners on a Trail Ride

Riding out into the open is an exciting prospect for any novice equestrian, and it will usually be one of your first requests from new students. But while going on a trail ride might seem like a leisurely and straight-forward exercise, leaving the security of an arena can easily become intimidating for unfamiliar riders and horses. A properly guided group trail ride can help beginners gain much-needed confidence and ability, but even the smallest upset among such huge animals can seem catastrophic to inexperienced or nervous riders. Here's how to remain alert and prepared in hopes of preventing a scary situation from forming.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• A second instructor or a suitably experienced rider to assist
• Approved equestrian-specific safety helmet for each rider (helmets should be SEI-certified and meet the ASTM F1163 standards)
• Minimum of 2 lead ropes
• First aid kit
• Two-way radio or mobile device with emergency-dial capability

Getting Ready

1. Select and check horses. Horses to be used on the trail should be selected by an experienced instructor who is familiar with each horse's habits and personality. All horses should be checked to ensure that their tack is appropriately fitted, secured and in safe condition.

2. Have students lead their horses to the arena or enclosed area on foot, and hold them until instructed to mount (NEVER tie a horse or leave it tied when attempting to mount).

3. Determine the order of the ride as a single-file line, roughly following to these guidelines: The instructor leads in front, while second instructor or assistant follows last. More experienced riders should either follow in line behind the lead horse or ahead of the final horse, while the most inexperienced or insecure rider should be situated roughly in the middle of the line. (This will not only help maintain stability and control among the animals, but puts students who are most likely to need help within view of both instructors.)

4. Have students mount their horse themselves (if capable) or assist them one at a time while your own mount remains secured.

5. Each instructor should carry a lead rope with them (clipped to the horse's halter with loose end secured to the saddle is best), in case it becomes necessary to lead a horse on foot or to "pony" him off of another horse. At least 1 first aid kit (easily carried in a soft portable bag or "fanny pack") and a 2-way radio or mobile phone should establish communication with other on-site staff.

Riding Out

6. Have the group should remain standing while instructors mount up, and then lead the ride single-file at a walk. Horses should always remain at least 1 imaginary horse-length apart to prevent interaction between the animals which could instigate kicking, biting or other accidents along the trail. As an easy reference, riders should be able to see the back hooves of the horse in front of them between the frame of their own horse's ears.

7. Riders may not have encountered sloping ground in their lessons, so have them lean slightly forward from the hip while riding uphill and slightly backward when going down a slope to make things easier on their horse and to maintain their own center of gravity.

8. Watch for low-hanging branches, large obstacles on the trail, blind turns and anything coming up ahead that might look unusual to your horses. Communicate to the other instructor and to your students throughout the ride to enable them to prepare themselves and their horses for a challenge or a possible spook.

9. Horses will naturally walk at different speeds. If the horses get too far apart (as in, you can no longer see the entire group at a glance), halt the ride until all riders are caught up.

10. At your chosen stopping-point, have all riders halt and reverse their horses, again keeping a safe distance between them. The second instructor now becomes the leader and the first horse in line becomes the last. Most horses will be more comfortable walking back along the same route they have just traveled, so that even a less-ambitious horse can lead the way home.

11. At the end of your ride, once again line up in the arena to dismount before tying the horses or leading them back to the stables. Horses and students both benefit from this kind of consistency and structure, and does not encourage a bad habit of the animals heading back to their stall without direction.

Tips & Warnings

• Some horses are naturally more inquisitive and adventurous than others. It is important to observe the behavior of your horses on the trail yourself beforehand to avoid using horses that are easily spooked. This will also enable you to choose the horse that's best suited to lead the group with confidence. You don't want to get stuck on your ride because none of the horses are willing to continue!
• Be aware that horses will often increase their speed or even break into a run when pointed in the direction of home and the comfort of their stall. Advise your students to keep good contact on the reins and be prepared to slow their horse if necessary. While many beginners would love to allow their mount to go faster, increasing speed can over-excite the horses and easily cause students to lose control. Always have beginners practice their gaits in a riding arena.
• Horseback riding is an inherently dangerous activity and the nature of the animals makes them unpredictable, even for the most seasoned professional. This activity is undertaken at the rider's own risk, and should only be attempted while wearing adequate safety gear and under the supervision of an experienced instructor.