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Ridge Rider Trail RidesJoin us and ride! Because of insurance, the Association's organized group trail rides are open to members only and operate by guidelines designed to keep everyone safe while having a good time. Be familiar with the rules and recommendations outlined below, then come ride!
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Suggestions for Any Trail Riding
Common sense and courtesy are the rules to follow while trail riding to help insure the safety and enjoyment of all riders. Remember, not everyone is an experienced rider, and most horses are not bomb proof.
Trail riding is skilled riding. Before you even think of going on a trail ride, you and your horse should have mastered the basic skills of stop, go, and turning in both directions. Check your tack to make sure it’s in good repair and effective for the outing.
Let someone know where you are riding. Have ID on your person and on your saddle; carry your cell phone on your person--it’s no good if your horse should run off with it in your saddlebags. And never feel embarrassed to wear a helmet--it’s your head you are protecting!
Trail riding is skilled riding. Before you even think of going on a trail ride, you and your horse should have mastered the basic skills of stop, go, and turning in both directions. Check your tack to make sure it’s in good repair and effective for the outing.
Let someone know where you are riding. Have ID on your person and on your saddle; carry your cell phone on your person--it’s no good if your horse should run off with it in your saddlebags. And never feel embarrassed to wear a helmet--it’s your head you are protecting!
Rules for Ridge Riders Outings Read more
Rules for Ridge Riders Outings
Get Ready To Go
• Trail information – date, location, directions, length of ride, terrain description, any special skill requirements ie: crossing water – will be posted on the website once the ride is made available. It is the responsibility of all riders to check the ride information ahead of time. If you have questions about whether a ride is suitable for you and your horse, please ask.
• Register with the Trail Boss for the ride, and provide your name and phone number. If we need to cancel a ride it will be done at least 24 hours ahead of the ride start time and those who made reservations will be called.
• Riders bring their own food/snacks/water (do not drink from water sources along the trail), as well as water for their horse, though some locations will have water available.
• Ride with/carry a halter and lead rope so you can tie your horse when we stop for lunch.
At the Trailhead
• Be on time; better yet, be early. Plan ahead by knowing where to go, arriving in plenty of time to finish grooming and tacking before the scheduled departure time – no one likes to wait for a late arrival. Practice backing and parking your trailer with other trailers and tied horses.
• Riders age 12 and under must be accompanied by an adult.
• Riders must sign in with the Trail Boss at the trailhead; this sign-in will serve as a release (and if someone gets lost, we'll know who it is)
• Be self-sufficient by carrying a first aid kit, appropriate clothing (rain gear,etc.), food, water, and emergency/repair items.
• Be prepared for changing weather conditions. During lightning storms, stay off mountains or ridge tops and clearings. Do not seek shelter under a lone tree. You will be safer in a cave, between large rocks, or in a forested area.
• Tie a red ribbon in the tail of a known kicker.
On the Trail
• Be polite to others you meet on the trail; greet them with a smile and a friendly hello. Urge hikers and cyclists to speak to you so your horse will know they are human beings, especially if hikers are wearing backpacks. Horses have trail priority over hikers and bikes. However, as a matter of courtesy, offer to get off the trail and yield to other users.
• Always respect trail signs and rules. Horsemen don't need a bad reputation for failure to follow rules. Footprints tell the story of offense for weeks after the horse is gone.
• If the ride is on maintained, established trails, stay on the trail. Do not follow too closely behind the horse in front--one horse length is a good minimum. This helps prevent "pile-ups" or being kicked if there should be a sudden stop. On off-trail rides, try not to ride single file as that will create a new trail.
• Leave gates as you find them.
• Don't ride away when a rider is off their horse and/or trying to mount up. This can cause panic in the horse left behind.
• Ride near horses with which your horse is familiar, particularly if they are anxious.
• If you want to pass the person in front of you, please give a warning alert, ie: "Passing left". Never pass a horse or group of horses at a trot or gallop. Stay behind the Trail Boss unless instructed to do otherwise.
• Always ride to the level of the poorest rider. Make sure all riders agree before trotting or cantering on the trail. If you are having difficulty with your horse shout out and ask for assistance.
• When climbing up or down a hill, keep at least one horse-length between your horse and the one in front; do not charge up or down hills.
• Do not ride like a rubber band--alternately falling behind then trotting to catch up. This is disruptive, distracting, and downright dangerous, especially on narrow and steep portions of the trail, crossing gullies, streams and the like.
• On narrow steep trails, take your feet out of the stirrups so you can dismount/jump very quickly if necessary.
• At water crossings, leave room for horses to cross, but don’t ride off until all horses have had a chance to drink and cross.
• If the trail is particularly tricky, you may be safer dismounting.
• Expect and be prepared for dead falls and overgrown trails.
• Always lean forward when going under obstacles.
• When riding alongside a road, ride with the traffic (on the right hand side). When crossing roads, ride abreast rather than single file and post a rider to each side to alert traffic.
Stopping On the Trail
• If you have to stop anywhere on the trail, inform the Trail Boss or the Drag Rider and the whole group will stop. The Trail Boss will then decide to either wait until the rider is ready to proceed, or to continue, leaving the disabled rider with the Drag Rider. Never leave another rider alone on the trail.
• Always tie Head High (High rhymes with eye – tie at the horse's eye level). Tied Long rhymes with Wrong; Tied Low rhymes with No.
• Proper horse handling techniques can help minimize damage to the environment. Do not tie stock directly to live trees for extended periods. If animals are inclined to paw while tied, use hobbles to allow movement but prevent damage to soil and plants.
• Look for potential hazards when tethering. For example, avoid a tree that has branches that could damage your horse's eyes or cause puncture wounds.
• Graze and rest stock and riders off the trail.
• Try to practice "Leave No Trace" guidelines. Scatter horse manure from rest stops, gather and remove any dropped items or trash (including toilet paper), and bring a trowel to dig a "cat hole" for human waste disposal. Dig a 6" – 8" deep hole.
Thou Shalt Nots
• No alcohol or drugs on the trail
• No smoking
• No firearms allowed except those authorized by the Trail Boss
• No stallions
• No dogs
• No littering
Get Ready To Go
• Trail information – date, location, directions, length of ride, terrain description, any special skill requirements ie: crossing water – will be posted on the website once the ride is made available. It is the responsibility of all riders to check the ride information ahead of time. If you have questions about whether a ride is suitable for you and your horse, please ask.
• Register with the Trail Boss for the ride, and provide your name and phone number. If we need to cancel a ride it will be done at least 24 hours ahead of the ride start time and those who made reservations will be called.
• Riders bring their own food/snacks/water (do not drink from water sources along the trail), as well as water for their horse, though some locations will have water available.
• Ride with/carry a halter and lead rope so you can tie your horse when we stop for lunch.
At the Trailhead
• Be on time; better yet, be early. Plan ahead by knowing where to go, arriving in plenty of time to finish grooming and tacking before the scheduled departure time – no one likes to wait for a late arrival. Practice backing and parking your trailer with other trailers and tied horses.
• Riders age 12 and under must be accompanied by an adult.
• Riders must sign in with the Trail Boss at the trailhead; this sign-in will serve as a release (and if someone gets lost, we'll know who it is)
• Be self-sufficient by carrying a first aid kit, appropriate clothing (rain gear,etc.), food, water, and emergency/repair items.
• Be prepared for changing weather conditions. During lightning storms, stay off mountains or ridge tops and clearings. Do not seek shelter under a lone tree. You will be safer in a cave, between large rocks, or in a forested area.
• Tie a red ribbon in the tail of a known kicker.
On the Trail
• Be polite to others you meet on the trail; greet them with a smile and a friendly hello. Urge hikers and cyclists to speak to you so your horse will know they are human beings, especially if hikers are wearing backpacks. Horses have trail priority over hikers and bikes. However, as a matter of courtesy, offer to get off the trail and yield to other users.
• Always respect trail signs and rules. Horsemen don't need a bad reputation for failure to follow rules. Footprints tell the story of offense for weeks after the horse is gone.
• If the ride is on maintained, established trails, stay on the trail. Do not follow too closely behind the horse in front--one horse length is a good minimum. This helps prevent "pile-ups" or being kicked if there should be a sudden stop. On off-trail rides, try not to ride single file as that will create a new trail.
• Leave gates as you find them.
• Don't ride away when a rider is off their horse and/or trying to mount up. This can cause panic in the horse left behind.
• Ride near horses with which your horse is familiar, particularly if they are anxious.
• If you want to pass the person in front of you, please give a warning alert, ie: "Passing left". Never pass a horse or group of horses at a trot or gallop. Stay behind the Trail Boss unless instructed to do otherwise.
• Always ride to the level of the poorest rider. Make sure all riders agree before trotting or cantering on the trail. If you are having difficulty with your horse shout out and ask for assistance.
• When climbing up or down a hill, keep at least one horse-length between your horse and the one in front; do not charge up or down hills.
• Do not ride like a rubber band--alternately falling behind then trotting to catch up. This is disruptive, distracting, and downright dangerous, especially on narrow and steep portions of the trail, crossing gullies, streams and the like.
• On narrow steep trails, take your feet out of the stirrups so you can dismount/jump very quickly if necessary.
• At water crossings, leave room for horses to cross, but don’t ride off until all horses have had a chance to drink and cross.
• If the trail is particularly tricky, you may be safer dismounting.
• Expect and be prepared for dead falls and overgrown trails.
• Always lean forward when going under obstacles.
• When riding alongside a road, ride with the traffic (on the right hand side). When crossing roads, ride abreast rather than single file and post a rider to each side to alert traffic.
Stopping On the Trail
• If you have to stop anywhere on the trail, inform the Trail Boss or the Drag Rider and the whole group will stop. The Trail Boss will then decide to either wait until the rider is ready to proceed, or to continue, leaving the disabled rider with the Drag Rider. Never leave another rider alone on the trail.
• Always tie Head High (High rhymes with eye – tie at the horse's eye level). Tied Long rhymes with Wrong; Tied Low rhymes with No.
• Proper horse handling techniques can help minimize damage to the environment. Do not tie stock directly to live trees for extended periods. If animals are inclined to paw while tied, use hobbles to allow movement but prevent damage to soil and plants.
• Look for potential hazards when tethering. For example, avoid a tree that has branches that could damage your horse's eyes or cause puncture wounds.
• Graze and rest stock and riders off the trail.
• Try to practice "Leave No Trace" guidelines. Scatter horse manure from rest stops, gather and remove any dropped items or trash (including toilet paper), and bring a trowel to dig a "cat hole" for human waste disposal. Dig a 6" – 8" deep hole.
Thou Shalt Nots
• No alcohol or drugs on the trail
• No smoking
• No firearms allowed except those authorized by the Trail Boss
• No stallions
• No dogs
• No littering
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