Tags
horseback, horsemanship, horses, mules, trailriders, trailrides, wagons
There are a million different kinds of things people do with their horses, and one of those things that I can easily separate into distinct categories is a species of horses and riders known as “trailriders”. There are 3 basic types.
1. The Endurance Riders
These people are much like marathon runners or the crazy people who ride the MS150. Their horses are lean, greyhound looking, solid muscles. They ride with light weight equipment- often English or Australian saddles and bright neon nylon tack. Like runners or cyclists, they ride in all- weather breathable athletic fabrics. They travel all over to special courses that are set up for very long distances. Beginner routes are around 12 miles and the increments double from there with 25mile, 50 mile and 100 or 150 mile routes. It’s a blast but you, your horse, and your gear had better be in tip top shape. I’ve seen mules, gaited horses, Arabians, warm bloods… All kinds of horses that are comfortable covering miles and miles.
2. The Casual Adventurers
Most of the people I ride with these days fall into this category. They want to take their horses to new places and spend the day exploring new terrain, taking their horses over fallen trees and swimming them across ponds. Sometimes beer drinkers, the adventure riders are up for a fun, relaxed time. No big hurry, we can cook lunch on the BBQ whenever we get back to camp… Whenever that may be.
3. The Professional Weekend Warriors
These cowpokes may be the most fun of all. If they can catch it, strap a saddle to it’s back and jump on, they will ride it all weekend. They are prepared for anything with wagons pulled by teams of mules or horses that are loaded with ice chests, BBQ pits and major sound systems. It’s a party crowd but despite the bottles of Boone’s Farm and hard liquor concoctions being passed around, they’re pretty responsible. They take good care of each other and make sure no people or horses get into trouble. They pick paved roads with wide shoulders and good grassy ditches to ride along, and with the help of police escorts, car traffic isn’t a big deal as long as everyone stays behind wagons or in the grass.