Have you ever been out on a trail ride and out of the blue a deer, turkey, or maybe the small but oh so frightening squirrel scares the…well you know what, out of you and your horse? These creatures couldn’t have picked a more perfect time to rustle in the leaves sending you and your horse’s heart racing. At NLH^TM trail riding is a significant part of a horse’s training and as soon as we have basic control and steering it’s out to the great unknown. My personal suggestion to help you deal with these wild life encounters, and to give you piece of mind is to take your other best friend, your dog with you. My dog, Patch, is not only my companion, but he also provides every horse I take out, a sense of security and even better he is a GREAT desensitizer. Seriously, have you ever considered how your dog’s movements, sounds and approach can potentially impact your horse’s reaction to other so called ‘predators’ ? Having a dog along on the trail can settle your horse’s nerves to many things. I’m not saying I want the horse I’m riding to stop to greet a bear! But I do want him to at least take the time to decide if it’s worth spooking over and distinguish between danger and nature’s harmless activities.
On the other end of the spectrum, our horses impact my dog’s behavior every day and he has learned to respect their strength and flight instincts. I really believe giving your animals a chance to interact on trail rides really creates a connection maybe even a partnership, whether it’s because of you or an understanding in their own language, and it does not hurt (if anything it’s beneficial) to let your animals spend time together. I can say this because I’m lucky enough to witness these moments everyday with Patch and the horses. These two animals learn to read and accept each other through different situations. I’ve found that every time I lay a horse down as a part of trick training (with a horse that’s learning) or as a reward at the end of a lesson (with a horse that knows the drill), Patch is right there beside us, showing concern for the horse and waits like a security guard until it’s time to get back on all four hooves, before he moves. We all have different pet memories and share different stories with our beloved animals, but I hope everyone can at least relate to a bond between you, your horse and dog (not to forget cats!). Don’t be afraid to go out together on trail and watch the relationship between your pets grow – it’s quite interesting! Happy tails and trails!