To help both you and your horse adjust to group rides, follow these preparatory guidelines. (Note: As you work with your horse, always put safety first. If you need help, ask a qualified trainer or certified riding instructor for assistance.)
Why Should You Prepare for Group Rides?
Going on group trail rides is a great time! It gives you time spent with friends, allows your horse to get socialized, and can let you traverse difficult country with the satisfaction that there are others around to help if you get in a tight spot.
However, if your horse isn’t used to riding out in groups, or even on the trails, follow these simple tips to get him ready for a ride with other horses. Some of these tips will also help keep you safe on the trail, whether alone or with friends. These tips also apply if you’re taking your horse in a crowded warm-up pen for the first time.
Group Ride Prep
Never lend out your horse. Your horse should be ridden only by people who’ve bonded with him and who are at your horsemanship level or above. It takes time and work to truly bond with a horse, so this likely means that you shouldn’t allow anyone you don’t know to ride your horse, especially on group rides.
• Assess arena safety. Before you ride in a public arena, assess it for safety. Observe the other riders; are they riding safely and responsibly, following arena etiquette? Make sure there’s good footing and a safe fence or wall.
• Assess new trails. Assess new trails on foot, as much as possible. Introduce your horse to new trails slowly and with an abundance of self-confidence. Be the trusted herd leader.
• Ride with responsible people. Ride only with those who truly understand safety on the trail and elsewhere. Ride on a regular basis with two to three trusted, responsible friends. Then gradually add more safe, responsible riders to help your horse slowly adjust to large groups.
• Go on short rides. As you add riders, begin with short rides. If your horse seems nervous, go back to riding with the number of riders with which he’s comfortable. After a few short rides, slowly increase group size once again. This may take quite some time or it may not. Be patient with your horse and yourself.
• Lengthen the rides. When your horse seems to be comfortable being ridden in larger groups, gradually lengthen your ride time. Watch for signs of nervousness. Ask him to accept only what he can handle while staying relaxed.
• Practice trailering. You’ll likely trailer to large group rides, so accustom your horse to trailer loading at home. Take him on short trips, then longer ones.
• Invest in a portable stall. Invest in a safe, portable stall to contain your horse on the road, so he’ll be relaxed and comfortable. Provide plenty of fresh hay and fresh, clean water.
• Consider hobbling. To prepare for those times when you can’t use a portable stall, train your horse to handle hobbles. On the road, hobble him in a safe, grassy area with access to water. Keep him close by, and check on him from time to time.
• Warm up. Warm up your horse in a safe, level area before every trail ride. Perform ground work, if necessary. (Don’t be self-conscious doing ground work in front of strangers.) Stop, back up, and flex your horse laterally and vertically. Do the same thing under saddle, and add gait changes.
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