Equine and Horse Blog October Archive

Proper Trail Riding Etiquette

By Jessica at 10/03/08 22:04

I am new to the large organized trail rides and was not sure of proper etiquette before my first ride. I made sure to stay a little ways behind the horse in front of me and did not gallop or even really trot to catch up to prevent spooking leading horses. I just wonder if there are other rules I should be aware of?

And as far as what to bring, I just kind of winged it. I made sure I had water and a small first aid kit in my saddle bags. I also packed some food and lead ropes to tie my horse when we stopped. Other than that I was not sure what to bring. I need to find someone who frequently goes on rides to show me the ropes.

Does a Horse Chewing on a Tree Hurt the Tree?

I was on a trail ride recently and we all stopped for lunch and I noticed a horse that was nibbling on a tree that it was tied to. He wasn't stripping bark, just nibbling. A man approached to owner of this horse and really let her have it. I felt very bad for her. I am sure that no one wants to look at a forest full on gnawed trees, but he was just cruel about it. He yelled at her in front of the whole group and she just kept apologizing and looked near tears.

So my question is, does it damage a tree if a horse chews it a little. I am not talking stripping huge sections of bark, but just a nibble. It seemed like he overreacted just a touch and the woman seemed like she never wanted to come on an organized trail ride again. There must be a way to educate people without being so hateful. And if it really doesn't hurt the tree, why such a severe scolding?

What is the Best Way to Worm?

I have heard many different things about the proper way to worm or what worming schedule to use. It always seems arbitrary like someone just pulled months from a hat rather than having a logical reason for choosing a certain time of year. Some people, I think, worm excessively, to the point that I think they may be actually harming their horse rather than helping. But on the flip side, I think some people do not worm their horses enough. We need to find a happy medium with sound evidence for when whe should worm and why that specific time is important.

Read more: What is the Best Way to Worm? [click]

Spook Proof Your Horse with Bubble Mailers

My horse really isn't usually spooky, but when he hears popping or banging like a gun, he is just beside himself. He will bolt or sometimes even kick out if such a sound startles him. It always confused me because other loud noises never bothered him. He would tolerate like rustling of a plastic bag or maybe the sound of a hammer banging or motor sounds. It was just popping sounds.

Read more: Spook Proof Your Horse with Bubble Mailers [click]