Texas than it is in Maine. – you and your husband should wear cloth- leathers and stirrups. These will turn the stir-
Since both you and your husband are al- ing that you know will be comfortable during rups in the correct direction without involving
ready experienced trail riders, and since your a long ride. Don’t ever use a long trail ride as the fenders at all, so the fenders can continue to
new friends at the barn are Texas natives and an opportunity to test a new brand of jeans lie flat against the horse.
experienced trail riders, I won’t bother giving or boots. You won’t be able to stop halfway Your new Western bridle is likely to have
you any advice about rain gear, first aid kits, through the ride and change into something Chicago screws as fasteners to hold the reins
sunscreen, duct tape, water, etc. Your friends more comfortable. and the bit in place. Do not trust these screws!
will undoubtedly cover all of those topics and Wear your helmet. There’s a reason you and They’re notorious for coming undone, gen-
more besides. What I will do is give you some your husband wore helmets when you rode tly and gradually, so that suddenly, halfway
advice that’s specifically applicable to your situ- in New England, and it wasn’t because New through a ride, the bridle comes apart – either
ation. Englanders are soft-headed. (Soft-hearted, yes; a rein falls off or a cheekpiece comes loose and
My five tips for your first Texas trail ride: soft-headed, no.) Your head hasn’t become any the bit falls out of the horse’s mouth. This is
less vulnerable just because you’re in Texas. (No disconcerting even if you’re sitting admiring
Your tack: don’t change it. For your first ride comments about hard-headed Texans, please!) scenery on a horse that’s half-asleep; it can be
over new terrain, use the English tack that you When you do venture out in your new downright dangerous if it happens when you’re
and your horses find familiar and comfortable. Western tack, there are a couple of things you loping along, crossing water, or going up or
There will be other trail rides and many other should know. First, your stirrups are likely to down a steep slope. There’s a simple solution,
opportunities to use your nice new Western make you crazy or at least extremely uncom- though: When you’re putting the bridle togeth-
tack. Whenever you buy new tack, especially fortable unless you’ve taken steps to ensure er, put a drop of nail polish on each screw just
a new saddle, it’s best to take those first twenty that they hang properly with the openings fac- before you tighten it. All of the old cowboys I
rides or so at the stable where your horse lives. ing forward and not resting against the horse’s know are aware of this – it’s something they’ve
Build up gradually until you’re able to ride for sides. There are some several ways of achieving known for so long that they don’t even remem-
several hours at a time – then take your new the necessary change of stirrup position. The ber learning it. They just know. Unfortunately
tack out on the trail. That way, you’ll avoid traditional method involves soaking the fend- this means that they all automatically assume
the pain and inconvenience of discovering, ers, putting the saddle on a chair, twisting that everyone else in the world knows this too,
two hours into a trail ride (which means you’ll the fenders until the stirrups hang correctly, so they won’t necessarily think to tell someone
need another two hours to get back to the trail and running a broomstick under the saddle like yourself who actually needs the informa-
head), that something about your new tack is through the fenders to hold them in place tion. Fortunately for you, now you know, too.
making you or your horse sore. If anything whilst they dry. This is messy, time-consuming, That’s it – now go out and have fun on the
rubs, pinches, or just isn’t quite right, you want and not always reliable; it’s easier to get a little trails with your new friends. I’ll be thinking of
to find out when you’re just minutes from the more high-tech and use “stirrup straighten- you with envy – in my neck of the woods, there
barn and a change of equipment. ers” – small gadgets that you’ll purchase from won’t be any trail riding for a few months yet!
Take the same approach to your clothing your tack store and place between your stirrup
www.texashorsetalk.com March 2008 - TEXAS HORSE TALK 19