By Patty Wilber
My plan was to synthesize scientific studies discussing the importance of trail riding for show horses, but I only found opinion pieces, not research papers. So, I’ll just add my own two cents to the topic, after I talk about the purple part.
I met my friend Mary Ann S. for a trail ride today, and we were both wearing a lot of purple. I mean, who on earth even owns purple jeans? Well, apparently, both of us.
Me with LT and Mary Ann with Sombra. We are very purple!
Gayle, who rode with us, also was wearing purplish pink. I think that counts, even if she didn’t have purple jeans.
Gayle and MaryAnn.
Then later, I did another trail ride with Colleen and SHE was wearing purple leggings! I do not know what the cosmic significance of all this purple might be, but there must be something!
Colleen in purple leggings on Stella!
And now, a quick list of my opinions about why trial riding is important for show horses.
- Getting out of the arena gives a horse more experiences, which should help them be more relaxed when they encounter new things at shows.
- Drilling on show skills every day is mentally draining. Trail riding can provide a good mental break and keep horses from burning out.
- Drilling on show skills can be physically draining, also. Getting out on hills and rocks uses different muscles and can increase overall fitness while giving the drill-fatigued muscles a break.
- Riding over varied surfaces can increase coordination and focus.
- Wearing purple while riding out on the trail makes every benefit 100x more potent!
Happy Friday!
