Trail Riding: Train, Prepare, Pack Up & Hit the Trail [Paperback]

Rhonda Massingham Hart (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 1, 2005

Hitting the open trail on horseback is the ultimate dream vacation for many people. And for the vast majority of established riders who do not compete or show horses, trail riding brings the greatest pleasure, whether on a three-mile loop around an open field or a twenty-mile trek up a rugged mountainside. A dependable, well-trained horse is the key to a fulfilling trail experience.

In Trail Riding, author Rhonda Hart Poe offers fundamental instruction and detailed advice on every aspect of preparing for and executing a pleasurable trail ride. This begins with selecting the most appropriate horse for the task and goes on to cover training, conditioning, trailering the horse, and selecting tack and gear with an eye on safety.

No other book delves into such depth on how to prepare for and handle different types of terrain and potential obstacles and tricky situations, such as turning around on a narrow trail, stepping over fallen logs, side passing, and dealing with unpredictable distractions.

Whether a rider is interested in a quiet afternoon ride or a five-day backwoods endurance event, Trail Riding is essential reading. Promoting the whole adventure, from start to finish, Poe also includes amazing trail stories from riders across North America, as well as a resource listing great trail rides.

Editorial Reviews

Review

“This is a very readable book that is straightforward and easily understood.”

– The Gaited Horse

 

“…wonderfully informative…” – The Gaited Horse

 

About the Author

Rhonda Massingham Hart is a master gardener and the author of Vertical Vegetables & Fruit, The Dirt-Cheap Green Thumb, Deerproofing Your Yard & Garden, and Squirrel Proofing Your Home & Garden. She has written articles for a variety of magazines, including Flower & Garden, Woman’s Day, and Fine Gardening. She writes extensively on organic gardening techniques and lives in Washington State.

Product Details

• Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: Storey Publishing, LLC; First Edition edition (April 1, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1580175600
• ISBN-13: 978-1580175609
• Product Dimensions: 10.8 x 8.5 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #785,367 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Real Trail Rider's Guide, February 1, 2007

By 

Mike H. (Caliente, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Trail Riding: Train, Prepare, Pack Up & Hit the Trail (Paperback)

Trail Riding by Rhonda hart Poe is more then just what the title indicates.

She takes you from getting ready to ride through the Trail Rider's Survival Guide and much more in the process. With only five years involved with horses and a few hundred miles on trails she leads you through every phase of trail horsemanship.

There is not adequate space here to pass along how much I learned and will use in the future "on the trail". Ms Poe covers everything from tack and gear for the trail to preparing you and your horse, whether you ride for pleasure or in competition.

Married to a true "Horse-Lady" with more then 20,000 miles on trails I suspected it was my inexperience until after she read the book. She enjoyed it and indicated that she had picked up a lot of tips that she had never thought of. That's from a woman who has a bookshelf full of books on trail riding.

The book was very educational and fun to read with a lot of information for beginners and experienced riders alike. I have no doubt that I will be a better trail riders after my first read and intend to read it a few more times. I would highly recommend it for anyone who wants to be a better horseman, whether on trails or around the pasture.

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An in-depth compendium and guidebook especially for horse owners and horse riders, September 5, 2005

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Trail Riding: Train, Prepare, Pack Up & Hit the Trail (Paperback)

Trail Riding: Train, Prepare, Pack Up & Hit The Trail is an in-depth compendium and guidebook especially for horse owners and horse riders. Written by horse owner and "The Gated Horse" magazine editor Rhonda Hart Poe, Trail Riding covers everything from how to use necessary trail tack and gear, to proper training, vices to avoid (in both rider and animal), survival tips for worst-case scenarios, advice for performing well in competitive trail riding, and much more. Black-and-white illustrations and numerous sidebars filled with tips, tricks and techniques round out Trail Riding, a definitive guide, which is enthusiastically recommended for riders of all skill and experience levels.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic BOOK, February 12, 2009

By 

N. Luther "Horse Lover" (North Pole, Alaska) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Trail Riding: Train, Prepare, Pack Up & Hit the Trail (Paperback)

This book is excellent. It is very comprehensive, laid out clearly with lots of practical information and guidance on how to teach your horse (and you) new skills. This is one of the best horse books I own.