Out of the Barn: Exercising Your Horse on Trips and Trails
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Exercise is essential to equine health. Now that spring has arrived, the weather is getting nicer, and summer is around the corner, it is a great time to be creative when developing your horse’s exercise program. Taking your horse out of the barn and adding variety can not only provide your horse with the exercise it needs to remain fit, it can also be a fun outdoor activity for the whole family.

Because many horses do not receive a sufficient amount of exercise to meet our demands, it is important to set realistic expectations. For example, it is unrealistic to expect your horse to swing into action after spending a week in a stable or strolling along pasture. Introducing your horse to a carefully designed exercise program is a healthy way to keep your horse in shape and ready to meet demands and expectations. Keeping your horse in great shape year round will not only benefit the health of your horse, but will require less work and preparation when you do decide to take your horse out for the day or on a road trip.

Exercise will help your horse build stamina, strengthen its muscular build, improve cardiovascular function and may even help prevent your horse from developing a difficult temperament. Like a child cooped up on a rainy day, a horse that does not exercise regularly may become restless from energy that needs to be released. Your horse could become very difficult to handle, train or even ride. The horse can become unruly, resist training, bite, buck or simply not behave if it is not exercised properly. Developing an exercise program that allows your horse to experience the variety of being both in and out of the barn is a great way to spend the season and get your horse moving.

A horse needs to be introduced into a new exercise program slowly so as not to cause overexertion or strained muscles. The routine you develop will depend on the type of horse and the amount of physical activity you will demand from your horse on a regular basis. Starting your horse’s exercise routine by leaving it out to roam in pasture or by hand walking allows the horse to warm up and prepare for a more rigorous activity.

When developing an exercise program for your horse consider trying a new location, taking the horse to a state park or riding on a local trail. Perhaps you have even considered taking your horse on an equestrian vacation with you. Lets admit, if going around in circles at a stable gets a little boring for you, imagine how excited the horse must feel. Get him out and moving around!

Remember, training does not have to stop once you leave the stable walls. Just about any technique you are using to train your horse in the stable can be exercised outdoors with the help of a little imagination. If you decide to take your horse out on a local trail it may be a good idea to visit the trail first, get a sense of direction, and familiarize yourself with landmarks. Obstacles such as fallen trees, boulders or steams can act as training devices. Visiting the trail first would present a good opportunity for you to develop a plan for riding and training.

Once you do begin taking your horse out on the trail, use the landmarks as a guide to help train your horse to maneuver obstacles. Start with simple commands and then make them more difficult as you travel along. Each time you take your horse on the trail ask the horse to perform a different command. This can be a great way to train your horse to listen to you rather than anticipate a familiar obstacle.

Bringing your horse with you on vacation can be a great adventure. Not only can you direct your vacation toward an equestrian oriented setting, you can also explore areas on horseback that you may never consider visiting on foot or in a car. Several vacation spots exist throughout the country that are specifically geared for equestrian getaways.

There are a few things you will want to consider before jumping in the truck with horse in tow. Planning an equestrian vacation is not necessarily the most economical way to explore the country, but the rewards can be outstanding. In addition to the cost of your own accommodations, food, entertainment, gasoline and mileage, you also need to take into consideration the cost of boarding your horse near your destination, the cost of the trailer (if you do not own your own), vaccinations, and extra supplies you will need to take along for the ride. More importantly, however, you will need to take into consideration the safety of your horse.

If you are a veteran at showing and competing then you probably have experience preparing your horse and trailer. The more inexperienced traveler may need a few tips for the road. The most important factor when traveling with your horse is planning ahead. You will want to make reservations ahead of time for places to spend the night that are trailer friendly. It would also be a good idea to investigate places along the route that are easily accessible for you to stretch your legs and to give your horse a break from balancing its weight. When you do stop, try to park the trailer in the shade. It will most likely be warmer in the trailer than it is outside, so make sure to provide plenty of ventilation for your horse. Lastly, do not forget to bring along your horse’s health records and negative Coggins test to cross state lines.

With thousands of trails and state parks to choose from throughout the country, a normal day of riding can be turned into a fun way to add variety to your horse’s normal exercise program. Whether you are planning for the day, or a week at an equestrian getaway, training does not have to stop once you leave the stable. With the proper planning, a well thought out program and a little creativity, taking your horse out of the barn could be a great way to spend the season.

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