Florida horse trail riding adventures begin in the hushed pine forests of the Florida Panhandle, wend through deeply shaded oak hammocks in Ocala National Forrest and lead to the moss draped swamp lands of the Florida Everglades. Florida's trail riding lets you experience the diverse ecological tapestry that is Florida from the back of your horse.
Here you will find an extensive directory of Florida trail riding locations in State Parks, the Florida Greenway, National Parks and many Florida county parks. Gather you riding buddies this weekend and head out for an instant getaway Florida Trail Riding.
The Florida horseback riding trails described below offer Florida horseback riding trails for experienced riders with their own horses. To find guided horseback trail rides with horses provided, horse rentals or beach horseback riding, click here.
Camping with horse is another way to enjoy the outdoors but requires a bit more prepartation than just a day ride. You will need to train your horses to the hobble or a picket line so they will be safe and secure while you sleep. Start with this video about how to set up a high line for horses.
And don't forget your trail supplies from water bottles to saddle bags and rain gear at the Trail Riding Store.
Trail Riding Tips
May 16, 2012
Julie Goodnight: Curing a Horse From Being Tense on the Trail Starts with the Rider
Trail Riding
Does your horse ever act tense and fearful on the trail? Julie Goodnight answers one reader’s question about what to do, and the answer, below, may surprise you (hint: this may be more of a rider issue than a horse issue). She also offers some specific things you can do with your horse to calm him down.
More info...
May 14, 2012
Can you work a gate while horseback?As an avid trail rider, you likely have run across closed gates. When you learn to open and close a gate from horseback, you'll save time and energy. You'll also teach your horse to willingly obey your precise cues.
Here, top clinician/trainer Julie Goodnight demonstrates the proper gate-opening procedure. She notes that gate openings should be smooth and methodical, not rushed and disorganized.
To learn more from top trainer/clinician Julie Goodnight, download a FREE guide—Julie Goodnight’s Tips for Riding a Horse: How to Ride a Horse at the Canter.
Your horse needs to follow your commands and move deliberately, in case you're handling a tricky gate. If done incorrectly, your horse may bang his legs (or your knees) on the gate - or you may be tempted to lean dangerously out of the saddle. If your horse hits his legs, he may become anxious about future gate openings, and even learn to balk at gates. More info...
May 10, 2012
A Trail Rider Takes a Poetic Tact About Keeping a Senior Horse on Track
Chelsee Smith
What do you get when you cross a life-long equestrian with a love of poetry?
Poems about horses, of course.
Chelsee Smith of Arkansas is 30 and has two boys, Gus, age 4, and Boone, age 2, and is expecting a third child in October.
Her family says Chelsee was riding before she could walk. Today, she and her husband Pat love to trail ride, so trail riding is often a topic of Chelsee’s poems. One of them is below. More info...
