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  • Gaited Articles
    • What is a Gaited Horse?
    • ​Mistakes With Gaited Horses
    • ​Naturally Gaited - What Does This Really Mean?
    • Breeds of Trotting Horses That Can Gait
    • The Gaits - Description and How To Ride It
    • The Flat Walk
    • How To Help Your Horse Gait
    • Stifle Issues with the Gaited Horse
    • Stifle Rehab
    • Western Riders and Gaited Horses Don't Always Go Well
    • 5 Rookie Mistakes With Gaited Horses
    • What is Gaited Horsemanship?
    • ​3 Basic Riding Positions To Help Your Gaited Horse Gait
    • How To Use Your Seat
    • What Does Feel Mean In The Gaited Horse
    • ​What Does Timing Mean in a Gaited Horse?
    • ​Teach Your Gaited Horse To Give To The Bit and Be Soft
    • Teach Your Gaited Horse to Be Supple
    • Did You Know You Need To Condition Your Horse to Gait?
    • ​Work Up The Trippy Gaited Horse
    • Don't Sacrifice Gait for Speed
    • Bits
    • Two Hands or One
    • Half Halt Helps You Gait
    • Rein Contact with The Gaited Horse
    • Do You Know How To Use Your Reins
    • What Frame for What Gait?
    • Why I Teach My Gaited Horses The One Rein Stop
    • Arena Routine
    • Maneuvers To Help You on the Trail
    • Lateral Movements Part 1
    • Lateral Movements Part 2
    • Parking Out
    • Multiple Riders and Gaited Horses
    • The Most Misunderstood Horse - The Tennessee Walking Horse
    • Different Types Of Tennessee Walking Horses - Heritage vs WGC
    • ​Is My Tennessee Walker Sleep Walking?
    • ​My Tennessee Walker Slides On Trail
    • Why Your Vet and Friends, Think Your Tennessee Walking Horse is Neurologic
    • Why I Use a Dressage Whip
    • How To Use Spurs
    • Anxious Gaited Horse
    • Do You and Your Gaited Horse Need a Trainer?
    • ​Which Gait Is Your Horse Doing?
    • ​What Does A Camel Walk Mean In The Gaited Horse?
    • What Breed is My Favorite Gaited Breed?
    • ​Can Gaited Horses Buck and Rear?
    • The Good and Bad about Gaited Horses
    • How to Gait
    • ​How Hills Affect Your Gaited Horse
    • ​Different Terrains Can Affect How Your Horse Gaits
    • ​Does Your Horse Gait Better On Trail vs The Arena?
    • ​10 Ways to Fix The Trotty Gaited Horse
    • Why I Love The Pace
    • ​Teach Your Pacey Horse To Trot
    • Steps To Fixing Pace Part 1
    • Steps To Fixing Pace Part 2
    • Cure The Pace
    • 8 Ways to Fix the Pacing Horse
    • Step Pace vs Saddle Gait (Slow Rack)
    • Running Walk vs Rack
    • Step Pace vs Fox Trot
    • Cantering
    • Shoeing
    • Traction for Horseshoes
    • Tripping
    • Action Devices
    • Educate Your Veterinarian About Gaited Horses
    • Is Your Horse Gaited or Neurologic?
    • EPM
    • Wobbler Disease
  • Training Articles
    • Build Trust Not Fear
    • ​Why You Should Not Spoil Your Horse
    • Food is Not Love
    • 10 Ways to avoid horse accicents
    • To Desensitize or To Sensitize
    • Instincts
    • Look in the Mirror
    • Pay Attention
    • Success in Riding
    • Trail Riding Stables
    • Tighten your Girth
    • Defensive Riding
    • How to Tell the Age of a Horse
    • How Horses See
    • Blinkers
    • To Lead Or To Follow
    • Horse Behavior
    • Mare Vs. Gelding
    • Adjusting to a New Home
    • Bikes and Horses
    • Good Horse Gone Bad
    • Making a Good Trail Horse
    • How to Improve Your Trail Horse
    • Horse and Cows
    • Riding with Cows and Bulls
    • Gullys
    • Water
    • What to look for when buying trail horse
    • Vet Checks on Older Horses
    • Buying a Horse
  • Kentucky Mountain Horse
  • Missouri Fox Trotter
  • Rocky Mountain Horse
  • Tennessee Walking Horse
  • Standardbreds
  • Location - Gaited Pleasure Horse Ranch - Royal Oaks
  • Contact
  • Testimonials
MAJESTIC RIDER
CannazALLâ„¢ CBD Full Spectrum Special Formula Tinctures
Ever hear of defensive riding? 

Most likely not but that's what I would like to talk about. Trail riding is just like driving, you need to be aware of your surroundings and know what is going on around you. Trail riding can be very dangerous, there are no fences to stop your horses and there is constant stimulus. 
​
To prevent issues, the more you are aware of something the sooner you can react. I see over and over again, people riding on a totally loose rein chatting with their friends totally unaware of their surroundings. A bike flying down the trail, a leaf blower, a biker leaning over their bike fixing a tire, a loose dog, the list go on. Remember your horse does not see like you do and things moving fast or hunching over looks like a predator to them. Horses are prey animals and they react first then think later that's how they have survived all these years, but you can guide them on what to do. 

On the trail you should be aware and pay attention, just like driving. When you see your horses head come up and ears go toward the object, this is a sign to do something and not just sit there. Its like seeing everyone hit their car breaks and not breaking. Of course you are going to crash because you didn't do anything, to slow your car down.
​
Your horses head up and ears forward tells you he sees something and he is worried. If his tail comes up you better react fast because now he is highly alert and ready to run. 

Immediately get his head back down, they are calmer with the head down and you will have better control. Shorten your reins quickly and give him something to think about besides the scary thing coming up. Put his feet to work and give him a job to think about. Leg yield, serpentine, shoulder in, hindquarters in anything to get his attention. DO NOT JUST SIT THERE! 
​
If your horse puts his head up and ears forward and you sit there being a passenger with loose floppy reins waiting to see how he reacts. then you have no one to blame but yourself for what happens next. Be a defensive rider, help your horse to know he is safe and help yourself to stay safe. Horses run from whatever they feel is dangerous, this is a fact but they will stay calm if they feel safe. Be a defensive rider and your horse will thank you for it.

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  • Home
  • Colorado Clinic
  • About Gaye Derusso
  • Donations To Help Support My Sites
  • Deposits for Sale Horses
  • Need Help Selling Your Horse?
  • Mangalarga Marchador For Sale
  • Liability Waiver
  • Ways to Learn With Gaye
  • Prepurchase Evaluations
  • Lessons On Site
  • Online Lessons
  • Lessons at Your Facility
  • Training for Your Horse
  • Consultations
  • Clinics
  • Camp Majestic Rider
  • Free Training
  • Blog
  • Gaited Training Videos for Sale
  • Gaited Horse Questions and Answers
  • Gaited Articles
    • What is a Gaited Horse?
    • ​Mistakes With Gaited Horses
    • ​Naturally Gaited - What Does This Really Mean?
    • Breeds of Trotting Horses That Can Gait
    • The Gaits - Description and How To Ride It
    • The Flat Walk
    • How To Help Your Horse Gait
    • Stifle Issues with the Gaited Horse
    • Stifle Rehab
    • Western Riders and Gaited Horses Don't Always Go Well
    • 5 Rookie Mistakes With Gaited Horses
    • What is Gaited Horsemanship?
    • ​3 Basic Riding Positions To Help Your Gaited Horse Gait
    • How To Use Your Seat
    • What Does Feel Mean In The Gaited Horse
    • ​What Does Timing Mean in a Gaited Horse?
    • ​Teach Your Gaited Horse To Give To The Bit and Be Soft
    • Teach Your Gaited Horse to Be Supple
    • Did You Know You Need To Condition Your Horse to Gait?
    • ​Work Up The Trippy Gaited Horse
    • Don't Sacrifice Gait for Speed
    • Bits
    • Two Hands or One
    • Half Halt Helps You Gait
    • Rein Contact with The Gaited Horse
    • Do You Know How To Use Your Reins
    • What Frame for What Gait?
    • Why I Teach My Gaited Horses The One Rein Stop
    • Arena Routine
    • Maneuvers To Help You on the Trail
    • Lateral Movements Part 1
    • Lateral Movements Part 2
    • Parking Out
    • Multiple Riders and Gaited Horses
    • The Most Misunderstood Horse - The Tennessee Walking Horse
    • Different Types Of Tennessee Walking Horses - Heritage vs WGC
    • ​Is My Tennessee Walker Sleep Walking?
    • ​My Tennessee Walker Slides On Trail
    • Why Your Vet and Friends, Think Your Tennessee Walking Horse is Neurologic
    • Why I Use a Dressage Whip
    • How To Use Spurs
    • Anxious Gaited Horse
    • Do You and Your Gaited Horse Need a Trainer?
    • ​Which Gait Is Your Horse Doing?
    • ​What Does A Camel Walk Mean In The Gaited Horse?
    • What Breed is My Favorite Gaited Breed?
    • ​Can Gaited Horses Buck and Rear?
    • The Good and Bad about Gaited Horses
    • How to Gait
    • ​How Hills Affect Your Gaited Horse
    • ​Different Terrains Can Affect How Your Horse Gaits
    • ​Does Your Horse Gait Better On Trail vs The Arena?
    • ​10 Ways to Fix The Trotty Gaited Horse
    • Why I Love The Pace
    • ​Teach Your Pacey Horse To Trot
    • Steps To Fixing Pace Part 1
    • Steps To Fixing Pace Part 2
    • Cure The Pace
    • 8 Ways to Fix the Pacing Horse
    • Step Pace vs Saddle Gait (Slow Rack)
    • Running Walk vs Rack
    • Step Pace vs Fox Trot
    • Cantering
    • Shoeing
    • Traction for Horseshoes
    • Tripping
    • Action Devices
    • Educate Your Veterinarian About Gaited Horses
    • Is Your Horse Gaited or Neurologic?
    • EPM
    • Wobbler Disease
  • Training Articles
    • Build Trust Not Fear
    • ​Why You Should Not Spoil Your Horse
    • Food is Not Love
    • 10 Ways to avoid horse accicents
    • To Desensitize or To Sensitize
    • Instincts
    • Look in the Mirror
    • Pay Attention
    • Success in Riding
    • Trail Riding Stables
    • Tighten your Girth
    • Defensive Riding
    • How to Tell the Age of a Horse
    • How Horses See
    • Blinkers
    • To Lead Or To Follow
    • Horse Behavior
    • Mare Vs. Gelding
    • Adjusting to a New Home
    • Bikes and Horses
    • Good Horse Gone Bad
    • Making a Good Trail Horse
    • How to Improve Your Trail Horse
    • Horse and Cows
    • Riding with Cows and Bulls
    • Gullys
    • Water
    • What to look for when buying trail horse
    • Vet Checks on Older Horses
    • Buying a Horse
  • Kentucky Mountain Horse
  • Missouri Fox Trotter
  • Rocky Mountain Horse
  • Tennessee Walking Horse
  • Standardbreds
  • Location - Gaited Pleasure Horse Ranch - Royal Oaks
  • Contact
  • Testimonials