Riding in Open Fields

Riding in wide open fields can be either a moment of glory or a terrifying hell. Galloping across a field is one of the most amazing feelings but it can quickly feel like you’re riding a freight train with no breaks. And if you’re riding with a group it can turn into a stampede.

Some advice for open field riding:

1. Know your terrain

Is the field level? Are there holes? Where are the muddy spots? Slipping, tripping and a horse falling isn’t a joke.

2. Develop a halting routine.

Because my horses ride with so many strangers they have gotten into the routine of stopping not only in specific locations but also under certain conditions:

• We always slow down or come to a walk for corners to avoid issues of centripetal force and lead changes
• We always exit fields at a walk so horses know to slow down before the end of a field
• We always regroup at the top of the hill. Whenever we canter up a hill the horses instinctually know they will be stopping at the top and usually putter out before they crown the crest
• We avoid riding directly side by side. Side by side riding spurs on a horse’s race instinct. Instead follow or flank (think of the “Mighty Duck formation)
• And passing just makes everything worse so COMMUNICATE with your ride partners.

3. Know your direction.

Know if you’re heading away from home or towards it. I always plan my routes so that we are heading up hill away from home so that we are more routinely cantering away without a homing beacon issue. Then the return is downhill where my horses are conditioned to walk downhills. It also works great for a cool down so that I don’t have a sweaty horse when I get back.

4. Train a one-rein stop.

So every horse will pretty much stop on a one rein stop but the question of training is whether the horse is going to circle off and then spin and spin before it stops, or actually stop without all of that spinning. Horses can lean into two reins but they can’t on one. Think of a swing set. You can’t sit if the swing is only hanging by one rope.

5. Don’t always run.

You can enjoy the view just as well at other speeds! We love the wind in our hair but barging through every open field creates problems. It’s not going to be less fun if you walk or trot some of those wide open spaces.

Trotting in particular is a fantastic gait as it gives the rider plenty of control while being able to tinker around with speed and rhythm. You cover ground while also discouraging the routine of the grand hurrah.

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