I hold the distinct honor of having helped hundreds of people onto a horse for their very first horseback ride! Some of these people had never seen a horse before showing up at my barn. Some of them came with the childhood trauma of Grandpa’s old pony, “Sugar,” who trotted off with them and their cousins that one time when they were 5.

However, no matter whether these folks were eager or nervous, they all had one thing in common: they had no clue what to expect! So, I figured I’d let all y’all in on some helpful information for your first trail ride.

I’d like to point out that I have worked at many stables, and although each horse riding operation functions a little different, these basic tenets should remain the same no matter where you hop on your first horse.

In the next few blog posts I will help you learn how to prepare yourself for a trail ride and give some tips on how to ride your horse. Let’s start with basic preparation!

Step One: Come prepared

I think it’s safe to say that most horseback rides are, 1) at least 1 hour long and 2) outdoors. That means that whether it is hot, cold, sunny, rainy, or even snowing, you need to come dressed and prepared to face the local weather.

Hats v.s. Sunscreen

In the open expanse of snow and desert, sun rays can reflect very strongly off of the ground and back onto the rider. In mountainous or high-elevation locations, the UV rays are much stronger and some people will find that they burn easier than they typically would at lower elevations. However, many barns will not allow guests to ride with any hat that does not have a stampede string (or a chin strap). This sometimes includes baseball caps. Therefore, I suggest that whether you bring a hat with you or not, you pack along some sunscreen as well.

Layer Up

A 1-hour trail ride is typically between 3 and 4 miles long and often includes several elevation changes. While this makes for a fun trip and typically offers the riders amazing views of the surrounding scenery, it can pose a certain difficulty with changes in temperature. I’m going to tell you to dress in layers. It doesn’t matter whether that layer is a hoodie to pull over your t-shirt or a raincoat because the sky looks suspicious. Either way, the wranglers should be able to tie it to the back of your saddle or let you tie it around your waist. When you decide that you need it on the trail, just let your wrangler know and they can hold your horse while you layer up!

Pants and Shoes

On a horseback ride – even in a territory that is used regularly – surprises can find you out on the trail. Leggings or jeans are suggested, as they are long enough to protect your legs from tree branches that might scrape past you on the ride. Shorts are not recommended. Even though many barns will allow you to ride in shorts, you risk your legs running into bushes and being scraped. The saddle leather is also pretty uncomfortable against bare skin. Additionally, You will also always be requested to arrive in closed-toe shoes like sneakers or boots. In some terrain, there is a possibility of bumping your feet into rocks in addition to bushes and we want your toes to be protected.

I would be remiss if i did not mention that while there is nothing your wrangler can do to help you if you show up in a pencil skirt, if it is necessary for you to come on the horseback ride in a dress, your wrangler should still be able to help you get comfortable in the saddle as long as the fabric is flowy and you wear leggings or pants underneath.

Water

Water is not clothing, but water is absolutely necessary. If you are riding in a state you are unfamiliar with, staying hydrated is key. Most barns will offer you a saddle bag to make bringing your water on the ride easier, and if you’re not comfortable drinking your water while the horse is moving just hollar and your guide will stop to let you hydrate!

Okay, Let’s Ride!

Now that you know about proper clothing, extra layers, shoes, sunscreen and water, I’m ready to give you some tips about getting on and riding your first horse!

Join us in our next post to learn about getting on and steering your horse!

Or click here to book your horseback ride with Tattered Saddle now!