Iberosattel® SHOP Buy top riding accessories
How Do I Plan a Trail Ride?
A trail ride is more than just a trip into the countryside – it is an experience that connects rider and horse in a special way. But before you set the first hoofprints in nature, there is a lot to think about: How do you plan the route? What preparation does your horse need? And what alternatives are there if you do not bring your own horse or want to cover longer distances?
Jump Directly to
Trail Riding: With Your Own Horse or a Rental Horse?
For many riders with trail riding ambitions, trail riding with your own horse is naturally the ideal option. To do this, you either set off directly from your home stable – or you transport your horse by trailer to the starting point of the ride.
An alternative – especially if you would like to explore attractive routes further away or abroad – is trail riding with a rental horse, usually as part of guided trail rides. On a guided trail ride like this, you do not need to worry about planning the route or organising accommodation. Even catering along the way and luggage transport from inn to inn is often provided by the organisers. For beginners who have no experience of trail riding at all, this is certainly the best option.
Route Planning for Trail Riding
Would you like to plan it yourself? As with any hiking tour, the route for trail riding is also planned in advance along the intended accommodation – ideally using a map at a scale of 1:20,000 to 1:30,000.
- Places to stay: Choose a beautiful, varied route! Google Maps is a great help here. Partly because of the accommodation and refreshment options marked there, and partly because of the aerial view mode, whose zoom function lets you assess route details fairly precisely.
- Horse-friendly paths: Ideally, a trail ride runs exclusively along forest and field tracks as well as forestry roads. Short stretches, for example when passing through a village, can occasionally be covered on (ideally lightly trafficked) country roads.
- A realistic daily distance: Do not plan too much – especially if you are continuing the next day, you do not want to overtax yourself or your horse. On flat terrain you will manage around 30 kilometres in a day, in low mountain ranges 20 to 25, and if there are significant climbs to overcome, often only 15.
Please do not just ride off for your horse's sake. Choose horse-friendly paths and do not plan too much. — Good planning for relaxed trail riding.
Where to Stay When Trail Riding?
Where you stay depends on local options and regulations, personal preferences, and outdoor temperatures – under the open sky, in a tent, or in accommodation that can also house horses. Some farms are designated as trail riding stations. It can also be an option to lodge horses and riders in different accommodation – the horses are then cared for at a riding stable or on a farmer's paddock, while the riders enjoy themselves, for example, in a pretty country inn or even a wellness hotel. Guided trail rides make use of this option more often.
Accommodation Options for Trail Riding
- Under the open sky: Sleep under the stars, if the weather and local regulations allow it – ideal if you are travelling with your own horse.
- In a tent: Flexible and independent, perfect for nature-loving riders on a self-organised tour.
- Trail riding stations: Special accommodation geared towards rider and horse. Here you will find paddocks or stables that are ideally suited to housing your own horse.
- Riding stables or farms: These farms offer simple but practical solutions for housing both horse and rider.
- Country inns: Comfortable accommodation for riders, while the horses are cared for at nearby farms or paddocks.
- Hotels: A luxurious option for riders who value relaxation, while their own horse is cared for at a nearby farm.
The Right Training for the Trail Ride
If you want to train your horse for trail riding, you are essentially working towards the following goals:
- Stamina
- Sure-footedness and balance
- Freedom from fear
- Brisk pace combined with a comfortable seat for the rider
Building Fitness
If your horse is not yet used to longer daily rides, it is best to start the training programme to build up the necessary fitness several weeks before your trail ride: ride your horse at least 90 minutes daily – mostly at a walk, with short trot intervals that can become longer as endurance grows. And go on longer rides at the weekends.
Getting Used to the Terrain
Start with cross-country rides lasting two to four hours, and then build up to five to eight hours – with breaks along the way, of course. Use every opportunity to ride on different surfaces: forest and field tracks, paved paths, sandy ground, bumpy terrain, steps, and slopes are ideal ways to train muscle strength, sure-footedness, and balance.
Training Calmness
You can build nerve strength well on guided walks in the countryside. Here you can gain many different experiences: rubbish bins, stacks of logs, parked cars, bridges, railway underpasses, cows in the pasture, tractors in the field: if you sense that something is unsettling for your horse, calmly and confidently lead it as close as possible to the supposed danger, and give it plenty of time to get used to it – again and again, until it is convinced that everything is fine.
Fitness, calmness, and gentle preparation for the terrain are important focuses of your preparation. — A trail ride should be trained for.
Speed When Trail Riding
When trail riding, speed is not the priority – it is about riding comfortably at a relaxed pace. Most of the distance is covered at a walk, to conserve energy and move safely through unfamiliar terrain. Every now and then, a brisk trot or a canter on suitable terrain adds a bit of variety and fun.
Pace Without Trotting
You can achieve a brisk pace that you can sit comfortably with the extended walk – a ground-covering walk that gets you moving along nicely even without trotting. You can practise the extended walk in the arena with cavaletti poles set so that your horse has to take bigger steps. Or you can encourage the big, brisk steps by driving with your leg every time the horse's shoulder moves forward – keep this up until the desired pace is reached. Incidentally, a ground-covering walk almost automatically develops when riding uphill. Make sure not to restrict the pronounced nodding motion of the horse's head that goes with the extended walk with the reins!
The Jog: Comfortable Trot for Trail Rides
The jog, or short trot, also works well for trail riding – a flat trot that is very comfortable to sit. The jog results from a slowed, highly collected trot: the back arches up in a loose, swinging motion, the neck is horizontal, and the forehead-nose line is roughly vertical. Many Western horses "jog" naturally. Other horses can learn the jog by alternately driving with the feet at the trot and bringing the horse onto the bit with the reins, so that the back arches up and the strides shorten.
What Our Customers Say About Their Trail Riding Saddle from Iberosattel®
Uschi A.: Trail Riding with the El Primero
I can only report good things about the quality and workmanship of the leather too. Even after almost two years, the girth straps still look very good, and the saddle is in use about 4–5 times a week.
I can recommend Ibero's service to everyone. I know what I am talking about, because I have already had plenty of unpleasant experiences with other saddle makers.
I can recommend Ibero's service to everyone. I know what I am talking about, because I have already had plenty of unpleasant experiences with other saddle makers.
Carina N.: Service and Quality Completely Won Me Over ...
Service, quality, and the concept of wide bearing surfaces completely won me over. My Friesian moves noticeably more freely and more relaxed in this saddle.
I myself feel like I am sitting closer to the horse, the small thigh blocks give me enough legroom, and thanks to the galleries I still feel nicely framed.
I myself feel like I am sitting closer to the horse, the small thigh blocks give me enough legroom, and thanks to the galleries I still feel nicely framed.
Your Individual Saddle for Trail Riding
We would be happy to help you find the right trail riding saddle for you too. Which saddle suits you and your horse? Do you have questions or would you like to arrange an appointment? We are happy to advise you by phone and will then gladly come to visit you for a test appointment.
Simply download our brochure with prices to get a first overview. Or call us directly or fill in our contact form.
Simply download our brochure with prices to get a first overview. Or call us directly or fill in our contact form.
Hotline: 09179 / 964117
Everything About Trail Riding on Iberosattel.com
Soft, Wide Padding for Your Trail Riding Saddle
For wide horse backs: the wide Comfort pad
Soft, short and wide is what you want? The Comfort-Compact Pad meets all these – for many trail riding saddles very important – requirements.
Thanks to its super-soft sandwich structure, it acts as a kind of pad, allowing you to ride out without a thick saddle pad while still achieving perfect pressure distribution.
Thanks to its super-soft sandwich structure, it acts as a kind of pad, allowing you to ride out without a thick saddle pad while still achieving perfect pressure distribution.
We Individually Adjust the Spinal Channel to Your Horse!
For your horse's comfort: measuring for a sufficiently wide spinal channel
To give your horse sufficient freedom of movement and reduce pressure on the spine, the panel channel of a saddle must be individually adjusted for each horse.
At Iberosattel®, we take this adjustment seriously and arrange a saddle fitting appointment with you and your horse.
At Iberosattel®, we take this adjustment seriously and arrange a saddle fitting appointment with you and your horse.