It’s time for instructional trail rides

It’s trail season again, and at EPI, that means instructional trail rides are back! For the next six months or so (weather permitting), you can add trail rides to your EPI lesson program. This is a great way to refresh the physical, mental, and emotional connection you have with your horse. We take the time it takes, playing with the obstacles and adventures that we encounter on the trail. Trail lessons are limited to small groups for individualized instruction. For more information, see Instructional Trail Rides. (Or, to see what one student blogged about her experience, see Horsegirl on a Journey.)

If you are interested in trail riding but don’t feel like you or your horse are quite ready for the trail, I offer pre-trail lessons and training too. The EPI ranch offers plenty of obstacles to practice trail skills, from dogs and pedestrians to bicyclists to creek crossings and trailer practice. Pre-trail lessons focus on teaching students how to stay safe and have fun out on the trail.

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EPI Lesson-Lease Program

I’m pleased to announce that the EPI lesson-lease program is back! This program is designed to accelerate your progress in developing the feel, timing, flexibility, and leadership that are the foundation of horsemanship.

The intent of a lesson-lease is to give you the time and the tools to progress with a horse without the financial commitments and other responsibilities of ownership. The combination of lessons and practice days ensure that you make positive progress while having the opportunity to learn and grow on your own — all while developing a relationship with a horse.

For more information about the program, see Lesson-Lease Program. To learn more about the horses currently available, see Lesson-Lease Horses.

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Preparing for the Trail

I’ve spent the past couple of weeks preparing the horses — and the humans — for trail rides. My trail tune-up program includes playing with ditches, jumps, brush piles, trailers, bicycles, pedestrians, plastic milk bottles, and all kinds of other fun things in the arenas and around the ranch. You never know what you’ll run into on the trail and the more confident you and your horse can become before you go, the more fun both of you will have when you get there.

Trail Practice: Lakota, Tammy, Parker, Maddie, Rociada, and Barbara

Horses benefit from trails in a number of ways. Trail riding gives horses a sense of purpose: there’s a job to do and a destination to reach. Trails provide variety that even the most interesting arena in the world cannot. Trails often have long straight stretches where horses can stride out and go forward without hitting up against a corner.

I start horses on trails by ponying them from an experienced horse. When they’re ready, I’ll have them carry a passenger so they can get used to having a rider but still have the connection to the experienced horse and me. When they’ve got that down, the training wheels are off and I’ll ride them on the trails.

Barbara and Maddie practice ponying

If you are interested in trail lessons or training, or in learning in how to pony a horse safely, call me at 530-599-1602 for more information and to get on the schedule.

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Instructional Trail Ride – Novices Welcome

September 25th, 2010

We will meet at the Empire Mine trail head at 9am. This lesson ride is great for green horses and riders. You may walk or ride your horse on this leisurely trail.

We will introduce water, bridges and different types of terrain.

Approximately 2 hours of trail time.

$75 per person.
Spaces limited! Please email or call ahead to reserve your space and to get directions to the trail head.

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Trail Ride Lessons for Green Horses (or Riders!)

I am doing two instructional trail rides at Empire Mine for beginners. You can lead or ride your horse on this leisurely trail, and we will introduce water, bridges and different types of terrain.

Ride 1: Saturday, July 31st
Ride 2: Saturday August 14th
Approximately 2 hours of trail time
$75 per person
Meet at 9am

Please call 530-559-1602 or email equinepartnersinc@gmail.com for directions to the Empire Mine trail head and to reserve your space.

Click here to learn more about instructional trail rides.

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Having fun with Dave on the trail

The trails are so beautiful this time of year. Here are a few photos from a recent instructional trail ride in Loney Meadow. (Click the photos to enlarge.)

There are four more rides in September — and I promise, we don’t always end up in the water.

9/21 Skillman
9/23 Lone Grave
9/28 Empire Mine
9/30 Lone Grave

Cooling off in the lake

Resting in the sun

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September instructional trail ride schedule

Gain confidence for horse and rider as you take to the trails with a small group of natural horsemanship practitioners. (Click here for more information about instructional trail rides.)

We ride in different areas of Nevada County, exploring bridges, creeks, historical buildings, meadows, and — sometimes — lakes:

Lindsey Lake (on Loney Meadow trail)

Each trail ride starts at 9am, lasts about two hours, and includes professional instruction from me before, during, and after the ride.

September Schedule

9/1 Empire Mine
9/3 Loney Meadow
9/9 Lone Grave
9/21 Skillman
9/23 Lone Grave
9/28 Empire Mine
9/30 Lone Grave

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More to trail lessons than just the trail

Yesterday’s instructional trail ride included a lesson in trailer confidence for one of the students. The horse — Parker — was fine, a veteran of many a trailer journey, but the student was shaking at the prospect of driving the loaded trailer to the trail head. However, she worked with “moving closer and staying longer” (the human equivalent of approach and retreat), and met us at the trail head with no incidents and a boost in confidence about driving with a horse in the trailer.

After all that, she had no fear left over for the trail, and she had an excellent ride.

Tamara and Nakota have gone with me on almost all of the instructional trail rides this summer. Here they are having a Zen moment at Lindsey Lake, on our Loney Meadow trail ride last week:

Tamara and Nakota at Lindsey Lake

When Abby gets tired, Nakota is happy to carry double:

Tamara and Abby ride double on Nakota

Tamara and Nakota practiced ponying Rociada, who is learning trail confidence. Her panniers are full, to help her get used to being brushed by branches and brush, and to seeing saddlebags and cargo on her back.

Rociada is a sensitive filly who was reactive, nervous, and flighty when she first arrived here for her colt-start. She now handles trailering, water crossings, and loaded packs without a problem, and enjoys her outings on the trail.

Tamara and Nakota ponying Rociada

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August Instructional Trail Rides Series

I have eight instructional trail rides scheduled for August.

Wednesday, August 5th:  Empire Mine
Friday, August 7: Empire Mine
Monday, August 10: Empire Mine
Thursday, August 13: Lone Grave
Tuesday, August 18: Lone Grave
Thursday, August 20:  Loney Meadow
Monday, August 24: Empire Mine
Thursday, August 27: Skillman

All rides begin at 9am. Email to reserve your space and get specific directions to the meeting site. Rate for instructional ride: $75

Instructional trail rides last about two hours and take place in Nevada County. These rides are designed to build confidence for both horse and rider and are good for someone who has a horse that needs more confidence on the trail, has a young horse, or if it’s the rider who needs confidence. For more information, see instructional trail rides.

I take horses on instructional trail rides too, sometimes on their own and sometimes with the group, depending on how far along the horse is in his or her development. Here is Rociada on her first trail ride, wearing a Western saddle with full panniers so she can get used to things brushing up against her.  This is the Lone Grave trail in Tahoe National Forest. She did great!

Dave and Erin teach Rociada about trails

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Build confidence and have fun with instructional trail ride

Who says lessons always have to take place in the arena? As a natural horsemanship professional, my goal is to help my students get the most out of their relationships with their horses — and you can’t have a complete, well-rounded partnership if you never open the gate.

My instructional trail rides last about 2 hours and take place in Nevada County. These rides are designed to build confidence for both horse and rider and are good for someone who has a horse that needs more confidence on the trail, has a young horse, or if it’s the rider who needs confidence. We mostly walk, although we do trot if everyone is up for it.  It is the Parelli Friendly Game in action.

I provide coaching before, during, and after the ride, and I take every opportunity to help riders and horses meet and overcome challenges posed on the trail. I keep the group small so each participant (human and equine) gets the attention and instruction they need. And since we are all practicing natural horsemanship, you are surrounded by people of like mind, who come to learn and grow in their horsemanship while having a fun adventure out in the world (and in the shade).

Schedule for week of July 13-17, 2009

All rides begin at 9am. Email to reserve your space and get specific directions to the meeting site.

Monday: Skillman

Tuesday: Empire Mine

Wednesday: Skillman

Thursday: Lone Grave

Rate for instructional ride: $75

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