FOOD FOR THOUGHT
HAPPY TRAILS
Written by Lois Schwartz... on the trail
Do you manage enough pleasure riding while you train your racehorses? Did
you know how many state and national forests with trails there are across
the country? I didn't, until Janet appeared one day with a copy of Trail Riding
magazine. The magazine opened the door to a new pleasure in my life. How can
trail riding fit into your backyard racehorse program? Take your pony horses
out for a relaxing day on the trails. Or better yet, take them on a vacation.
They are sure to enjoy it and so will you.
There is actually a directory. The Nationwide Overnight Stabling Directory and Equestrian Vacation Guide lists farms that welcome transients across the country. If you are interested in offering your facilities, seriously consider doing so and contact them by phone at 316-442-8131 or by fax at 316-442-8215. Everyone we met on the first leg of our journey was extremely helpful and kind. They all seemed to enjoy meeting other horsemen and sharing horse talk.
Also inquire about forests or parks in your area. A friend gallops her race horses on the trails in nearby Withlacoochee National Forest here. Her off-day relaxation is riding the trails on her pony horse - often with a group of friends. For the Sunday ride everyone brings food and a wonderful potluck picnic ensues.
The trail riding concept seemed like so much fun, it has lured me West.A used horse trailer with living quarters was easy to come by. My friend Jim, a farrier by profession, had a suitable truck, so we are off to visit friends and parks across the country.
The first leg of our trip was Florida to New Jersey. Our plan was to leave Florida on a Monday. However, due to a transmission fluid leak we finally hit the road Tuesday at the crack of 5:30 P.M. [That's not a typo. It WAS 5:30 P.M.] We drove until midnight at which time we were welcomed by Sandy Hill Stables in Perry, Georgia. I can't say enough about the wonderful people we met along the way. We planned to ride in the Great Smoky and Pigsah National Forests in North Carolina. However, the day we arrived, it began raining - a Spring rain with no end in sight - so we continued North. Darn that transmission leak! You can only laugh at such things and make them part of the adventure.
The horses traveled remarkably well. There were no problems with their legs, digestion or water changes. We carried 200 lbs. of their feed and plenty of hay. They seemed to prefer the local hay purchased as we headed North and quietly munched it while they traveled. They even stayed calm when we spent 2 hours and 20 minutes transversing 15 miles on Washington's beltway on a rainy Friday afternoon. At least the rain and cloudy weather kept the trailer cool. It was another experience to laugh about.
The horses are now with friends near Monmouth, New Jersey for the Summer. The next leg of the journey is scheduled for September. About August we plan to start some serious riding in the Poconos to begin the conditioning program. Our itinerary heads West on Routes 80 and 90 to the Dakotas and works its way down through Wyoming and Colorado, heading for Arizona and New Mexico as it gets colder. There is no set schedule. We'll head back to Florida on Route 10 when we get tired or cold or both.
The logistics of our trip do not seem that difficult. We carry plenty of feed and hay. Our quarters are adequate.There is lots of outdoor room under the awning on the side of the trailer. The horses load well and seem to travel quite comfortably in the slant load configuration. No doubt the biggest challenge will be conditioning them to higher altitudes. We figure this will have to be done slowly; constantly monitoring breathing and legs and steadily increasing the duration of the rides. Suggestions are welcome. My ideas are based on my years in South America traveling up and down the Andes and working with polo ponies born in farms at sea level and then taken to stables at 8,5000 ft. above sea level.
If any of you have information or suggestions about places we might enjoy visiting, be sure to contact Janet. A copy of our mailing list with all your addresses and phone numbers is securely stowed in the trailer. Don't be surprised if we suddenly appear on your barnstep!
Look for updates on the trip and perhaps suggestions for hauling in our next issues. Our first suggestion? It's much easier to clean the trailer stalls if you put some shavings down.
Numbers two, three and four are... be flexible, keep things in perspective, and enjoy those Happy Trails in your backyard.
Gosh Lois - you make me want to throw in my horse and tag along! We wish you well and know you and Jim will have a GREAT ADVENTURE. Now we know what to do with retired race horses. Come back fresh so we can work on the fourth edition of the book with new "bags of tricks" that we can apply to racing! Editor