What safety precautions do you take when trail riding alone?

I ride alone far more than I ever ride with someone....like riding with someone else only happens every 10 years or so!

I'm going to answer this from the perspective of going for a day trail ride, not camping in the wilderness with horses, which I also do. I use to live in the Pacific Northwest. A soggy, but relatively temperant climate. I now live in the high mountain deserts of Idaho. In the summer it can be near 100 (F) in the day, and nearly freezing at night.

Equipment:

Fully charged cell phone (possibly extra battery).

Very sharp folding knife, which also has hoof pick

S.O.G. multitool, which gives me pliers (Godsend for a nail in the hoof)

Stubben saddle (17 pounds) custom fit with rings so I can use saddlebags.

Western wool saddleblanket, which unfolds and could keep me warm in an emergency.

Very nice white fuzzy blanket which fits under Stubben perfectly.

That means if I have to, I can take the wool blanket, cut a hole in it, wear it as a very warm ponch, and still have a saddle blanket to protect my horses back.

Good halter, and good leadrope (ever lost a briddle in a ride? I did, in the middle of a swift river. Still had a halter and leadrope to ride my horse with)

My emergency kit, which is ultra lightweight and can fit in a fanny pack:

Unbreakable emergency signal mirror

Two tone emergency plastic whistle (plastic will not freeze to the lips, two tone is VITAL, because it can be heard through the rolled up windows of search vehicles)

cotton balls, soaked in vasaline which I melted. A small "wick" can be pulled from the cotton ball, and lit. They burn HOT for about 20 minutes, and can get a fire started for you even in windy conditions. Keep your vasaline soaked cotton balls wrapped in tinfoil. Tinfoil can double as fishing lures in an extreme emergency.

High test fishing line. You can buy a small spool, or take a small piece of cardboard (the size of a pack of smokes) and wrap the fishing line around it. Secure a few small fishing hooks to the cardboard.

6 ultra heavy duty 6mil thick construction type garbage bags. Get them as long as possible. One can be cut into a completely waterproof ponch for yourself. The longer the bag, the better protected your body is. The others can be cut open and a very servicable shelter can be built for yourself, by placing a small stone on the plastic, tying the fishing line about the stone, wrapped in a corner of the plastic, and then tied between trees. You can use extra bags as sleeping bags, or just to sit on and stay dry. 5 or 6 bags just do not weigh that much. Always good to have an extra, in case the wind takes one away.

Waterproof matches, in a plastic screw cap bottle. You can use an old pill bottle of a size you like. Before you settle on that bottle for sure, stuff a bit of toilet tissue in it, and fill your sink with water, drop in the pill bottle, and check the tissue a few hours later. Still dry? Your matches will be too. Best of all the pill bottle will float if dropped in water. Spray paint pill bottle dayglow orange if your smart.

Something large, light-weight, and hunter orange in color. I use to ride with a sleeping bag that was hunter orange on the inside. You want something large that searchplanes will see. You can get lightweight, cheap fabric from WalMart. It can save your life in more ways than one. You may find yourself in a place where hunters are. In that case, tear large strips, and hang off your horses briddle, saddle, and tail, as well as your hair, head or hat. If you are lost lay it out on the ground, place rocks on the edges so it cannot possibly blow away, and searchplanes will see it. If you are going to attempt to hike out, tear, and blaze your trail, as well as leaving rocks in arrow shape pointing dirrection you are traveling, bellow blazes.

Heavy duty, ultra thick womens Kotex, and ace bandage. I had a horse cut open an artery on her leg during a howling, white out blizzard. Blood was shooting 15 feet into the snow. I was able to COMPLETELY stop her bleeding, until the Vet was able to get down the treacherous road to my farm 2 hours later....I'm only 8 miles from the Vet's office. Needless to say, the Kotex and ace bandage work on humans too!

T.P. that I get at the army surplus store. Very tightly rolled, and no carboard center. Takes up little space, but gives you a lot of T.P.! What can I say, I like the comforts of home! ~lol~

Current bottle of water purification tablets.

This waterbottle (which also filters the water):

http://beprepared.com/product.asp_Q_pn_E_WS%20B055...

Blistex, because my lips chap easily.

Small sunscreen, because I'm a ghost white red-head, and will fry in the sun.

All of this sounds like a lot, but it's not. Everything but the waterbottle will fit very easily in a fanny pack. With this kit, I have fire, shelter, signals, first aid, water, and the potential for both fishing, or snaring wild game.

Two added percautions you should add to this...any perscription medication you must take, and the following recipe:

Store this in a ziplock bag, and stuff in your waterbottle:

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon salt

7 Tablespoons sugar

1 packet Sugar-Free Kool-Aid

1/2 teaspoon salt substitute

This is a recipe for homemade pedialyte. It can save your adult life too. What it does it restore the balance of electrolytes in your body. If you become too deydrated, or get diahrea this can save your life. It's lightweight, and CHEAP! Carry the dry ingrediants to mix with water.

Remember onces your fanny pack is set up, this kit really does not have to be messed with much. Everything in this kit will keep basically forever, except the sunscreen, and perscription medications.

What I wear for summer riding:

undergarments

cotton t-shirt

long sleeved cotton, or flannel shirt

jeans

quality socks

leather boots with heels

Brimmed Aussie type hat (I'm very fair skinned, and burn in the sun faster than a vampire does)

Sunglasses, which are also saftey glasses which prevent any possible eye damage.

I take a coat, but I'm not always wearing it. I take the coat that is appropriate for my local weather conditions.

Even if I'm not wearing them, I'll take leather gloves. I can haul wood, climb rocks, and they will keep my hands warmer at night.

I also usually have an extra pair of dry socks.

I also carry a canteen of water, usually snacks or a lunch, munchies that travel well, like raisins, nuts, granola, ect.

If I'm riding a young horse (8 years and under in age) I'll wear a helmet. I prefer a brimmed hat, so I don't toast in the sun.

I also ride with one of my dogs, and a loaded gun. I've been stalked and hunted by cougars twice in my life, in two different states while out riding.

I've been caught in a lightening storm so bad, I dumped the saddle, briddle, halter, and everything off the horse, wrapped a rope about her neck, and found the lowest spot I could take us to stand.....I was afraid lightening was going to find the metal stirrups or her bit.

I've had a horse roll in a rive, because the current was so strong, and he came up with no bridle on. I still had the halter and leadrope to get us home.

I've been 20 miles into true wilderness, and come upon people who were obviously smuggling drugs.

I believe in being as prepaired as possible, without hauling unresonably heavy items, like tents, and messkits.

Because I ride alone, and go very long distances, people often do NOT know where I am...just the general area. My mother was shocked when I was a teenager, when she found I was riding as far as 30-40 miles from the house during all day rides. She would have never though to look that far way for me.

I haven't had to use anything more than a single garbage bag from my kit (the lightening storm) in over 30 years of riding.

The main precaution I use when trail riding alone is common sence. I ride in rugged and wild area, and for very long distances.....I do my very best to keep myself, my horse, and my dog out of danger.

~Garnet

Homesteading/Farming over 20 years

Horse owner over 30 years

You are all going to think I'm a crazy, life-endangering type person, but I do almost none of the things you mentioned.

I live on a farm in rural Canada. I have no one to ride with, ever. My husband is a non-horse person and my children are off to college. I trail ride alone at home all the time, and have never thought anything about it. (Perhaps you'll have made me nervous after this!)

I do not have the opportunity to tell anyone where I'm off to since my husband has his own business and isn't home in daylight hours. So if anything did happen, it would be up to me to take care of myself. That isn't ideal, but that's just the way it is. What am I going to do, phone a neighbor everyday and tell them where I'm going to ride and then phone them when I get back home to say I'm okay? Its a bit of a risk, but that's the only way I can ride, so I take the chance.

Mind you, I am not riding into the deep woods or a remote area. I normally only ride 2-4 miles from home, so if I did get dumped off, I could easily walk back, assuming I wasn't injured. I do not have dangerous animals around, although I do have to deal with those nasty prairie chickens that fly up under your feet, and pesty coyotes that follow behind my horse and dog and bug us. Otherwise there is no dangerous wildlife in my area.

Do I take a cell phone? Nope. I live in an area notrious for bad cell phone reception, so it would probably be useless.

So what do I do for safety precautions? I wear a certified riding helmet, boots with a good heel, and my tack and equipment is in excellent condition. I try to use common sense when riding. Most of my horses are young and don't have alot of trail experience, so I make sure they aren't too silly when we head out - I might not go out of the riding ring if its a nasty windy spooky type of day. I avoid getting too close to the bush if possible, I am not impressed when moose come out in front of me, and neither is my horse. In the open I can see them, in the trees its a different story! I also have a good plan on what to do if I have a problem. My horses are trained to a one rein safety stop so I have a fighting chance to get control if a deer jumps out in front of me! I don't take other foolish chances like I used to as a kid riding alone - I don't jump over huge natural obstacles and open wire gates from horseback anymore (Isn't it amazing how we survive as kids not knowing any better!)

If I was trail riding into a remote area I would not take such big risks. I would not go riding alone in an area I was unfamiliar with, or that was isolated. I'm assuming that's what your question was really talking about - in that case I'd be taking a cell phone, leaving a description of where we went, and packing along a wire cutting tool of some sort, as well as dressing appropriately and making sure my tack was sturdy and fit us both well. But for my little tiny local trail rides I just try to use common sense and have my horse's well trained and excercised before we leave home.

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Well.....I've not got to put it in practice, since dear hubby thinks I'm incapable of riding by myself...(OMG....how did I possibly survive growing up and the years before I met him, when I actually DID go ride by myself????) Anyway, we've discussed a "plan" since he is unable to ride right now due to an injury, so that I can still get out and put miles on my two even if I can't find someone/anyone to go with me. I'm going to give him a very detailed explanation of the route I'm taking, leave a note in the truck with what time I'm leaving out on the trail, and give him an approximate ETA of when he should start to worry and come look for me. I usually take my cell phone because he insists, but I'd be sure to have it if I were going alone....and my saddle bags are usually stocked with a limited supply of "emergency" things....a vetrap, gauze squares, ID, leatherman, hoof pick/knife combo....extra water and munchies. Never have had a chance to put the plan to the test, so far I have always found someone willing to go when I say "Hey...the trailer's hooked up...wanna go ride???"

Keep my cell phone on me and not the saddle, keep my id on me, have a id tag on the horses bridle and saddle. Let my husband know the area I'm going and call him about every hr just so he knows all is well, and when I'm heading back I'll call and say if you don't see me in 1/2 hr come looking. Also I keep Orange one the breast color and back of saddle on horse and a light weight orange vest. I SHOULD wear a helmet but don't. I also carry an extra rein, and leather pieces.

Black Bunny:

I used to bring my dog with me til he found a foot trap, and I didn't have enough strenght to hold him, dig it out, and open it. That poor dog wait about 1/2 hr til my husband could get there. I felt soooo bad, I wish I could take him back with me but that once was enough and what about the pistol what do you tell DNR, I would love to carry mine I'm also in Mountain Lion, Bear, Bobcat and wolf area.

LOL.... Sorry my area it's the Department of Natural Res. and they shouldn't have been trapping by me either but they did and do.. The DNR has more power than the police here!

Think horses hate us??? I don't and don't know anyone that does that owns horses. I trust my girl but she's still a horse and I know better to jump when someone says BOO but I still tend to, I'm only humane.

Rebel Bites off Troll Heads:

Wear a helmet. Have some form of ID. Let someone know where you are going. Carry a cell phone if you get service in your area. I also pack vet wrap, a hoof pick, and some small snack foods. I think the helmet and the phone are the top two though in case you get hurt and can't get home on your own....I had the girl that leases my horse have this just yesterday. Lucky for her she wasn't far and she wasn't alone. The horse saw a snake and reared over backwards and landed on her leg.

I tell someone when I leave, how long I'll be gone and where I'm going. I also bring my cellphone along. If I'm going on an all day trail where I have to trailer my horse away to, I bring a first-aid kit for my horse and me. I also pack a long a halter incase your bridle breaks and you need contain your horse. Wearing a belt is also a good idea in a case like that.

I would always look to ride with a partner. But, you can always take a pocket knife and a gun if you have a license to carry one. Always ride with a helmet and bring a set of rain gear. Also bring a saddle bag to carry your things in. Don't forget to keep water around. The most important part, don't forget to bring horse cookies. Don't forget about a little something for yourself. Double check your stuff before you go. Have fun and be safe.

First off, I always always always ride with a helmet.

I let someone know where we are going and when I expect to be back.

If my horse gets really spooky or scared on the trail, I will dismount and walk with him. This seems to help him be less scared and I can avoid any fall that might have occurred if he should really lose it. I can always re-mount when things get better.

Carrying a cell phone or radio so you can call for help is also probably a good idea.

Carry a cell phone on my person, let someone know where we've gone and when to expect us back. Double check my tack to make sure everything's in good shape, attach a tag with name, address, phone info to the saddle in case we're separated. Take a small first aid kit. Check the weather and dress appropriately, take water & a snack and always wear my helmet.

I only ride alone i have no one to ride with. so I dont get to trail ride cant get any safer then that,lol--But take a cell phone with you and let someone no were you are going and about how long you will be gone.happy trails.