Horsemanship Day 3 - Trailriding

Day three of Horsemanship one! After getting comfortable with their mighty steeds, the campers are ready for their first trail ride around Homeplace ranch under rancher Mac!

Before we all go riding, Mac has a lesson for us about what goes in the horse’s mouth, specifically ‘bits’. We all got a useful lesson on the difference between ‘snaffle’ and ‘curb’ bits, and what purpose either bit serves. In order to demonstrate this, Mac used real bridles on a horse skull. Mac also had the jaws from both a male and female horse to show the differences, as males have 40 teeth, with the females only having 36.

After Mac’s lesson, brushing of the horses, and some warming up, everyone was ready to hit the trails! Mac led the way, snaking around the vast fields and wooded areas, getting everyone familiar with their surroundings. The birds were chirping, the wind was flowing, and our caravan of riders were moving along smoothly, taking in everything around them.

After the ride, everyone was ready to head on back to the stables and feed the horses for working so well out on the open trail. For our mighty riders, today was all about getting comfortable with their steeds and the equipment they use. Sinching up and removing saddles, tying knots, and getting their bridles in place for riding. According to Mac, the rule of the west is, “You take care of your horse first, and yourself second.” Making sure your horse is happy, comfortable, and well fed is important for when you’re out on the trail.