Pleasure Rides

Mahoganybay

Mahoganybay

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I have never been on a pleasure ride, my riding club is organising one and was wondering whether i might give it a go?

Is it a 'free for all'? What's everyone's experiences, the lad is good to hack but can get abit 'bucky' when excited, don't mind the small bucks but he has had me off a few times on the 'bronks' and i have been gaining confidence recently, so don't really want to lose it again.

Probably being cocky by thinking of us going but the pleasure ride that is being organised sounds great and i am tempted.

So what's everyone'e experiences?
 
I love them, but not being a speed merchant, I am always one of the last to leave, most people are polite in my experience, just give him chance to look around before setting off, my lad gets noisy coming off the trailer but soon settles
 
I try and do all the pleasure rides in my area as they are great for getting youngsters used to getting out and behaving in company without the pressure of competition. They are also an effective way of de-sensitising an excitable horse as by the end they have usually calmed down enough to start paying attention and enjoying themselves.

People should have manners and not overtake you too close or fast, the organisers are usually pretty hot on that for safety's sake and there is likely to be room to get out of the way and circle if your horse finds things too exciting.
 
Pleasure rides are a great way to get out and see the world, but you need to appreciate there will be more novice, horse/riders than at more advanced level. Personally i like to arrive early and "crack on", as there is less chance of out of control over takers. Have fun.
 
If you've not done one before you could maybe find some people who want to ride it at a similar speed to you so you can ride as a group
 
Have just taken my 5 yo on two local fun rides, the first at the end of June was with my son on his older but green mare, it was the first fun ride for both horses. They loved it - we hardly saw anybody all the way round, but we did see enough for them to get used to it for the second one on Sunday where we had a group of five of us (three 5 yo's) and a lot bigger attendance- we had to pass people from both directions and were overtaken by others. It was a really good day out and the horses were well behaved. Personally I would opt for one sensible companion first time out though! They cannot help but get a bit more excited in a group.
 
You either need to go out first and get a move on so you are not overtaken, or better, go at the very end when no one is going come charging past you. Better if you can go with a steady companion too, to give the horse some lessons in manners!

Most people are considerate and give you room, but you will always have the odd one or two that charge past having fun and leaving young/novice/nervous horse and riders bobbing in their wake.
 
Orangehorse said:
You either need to go out first and get a move on so you are not overtaken, or better, go at the very end when no one is going come charging past you. Better if you can go with a steady companion too, to give the horse some lessons in manners!

Most people are considerate and give you room, but you will always have the odd one or two that charge past having fun and leaving young/novice/nervous horse and riders bobbing in their wake.
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Definitely agree with this - my horse couldn't cope with being overtaken so I always went out first - announcing rather grandly at one which didn't give times, just turn up and go, that I had to go first or I would die :)

The first ride I ever did on him blew his brains and he was a nightmare to hack after, so if your riding club is organising it have a word and ask if you can either go half hour before the official start time as unless you really crack on people will soon catch you up, or ask to go at the end and offer to help clear up.
 
I have just started taking my 5 yr old to some rides this season. We tend to go early and try to keep a nice steady pace. He was not keen on people over taking at first ( the noise of horses coming up behind made him a bit jumpy) after a few rides he started to settle. I can ride out at home and he is fine so these rides are great for his education. I always put a green and red ribbon in his tail and have found people very considerate when passing.
 
They can vary, most rides are great with a nice atmosphere and considerate fellow riders. I've only ever been on one that was a bit crazy in places, mainly due to a group of 5 riders riding as though they owned the place and not caring a toss whether cantering up very close behind/overtaking and jumping right in front of our noses, would upset mine or my friend's horse. It took about 2 miles before we shook them off.

My horse gets jumpy if horses come up at speed behind her (like a lot of horses) so I always keep my wits about me as to what's going on behind and pull over to let them overtake if they are going at a faster pace.

My advice would be to choose a late start time and enjoy yourself ..................... it's a pleasure ride remember!!
 
Riders should call to ask before overtaking and should not overtake faster than trot. If in doubt slap a green ribbon in your horse's tail.
 
Check if it's a staggered or mass start... Most pleasure rides send people off at say ten minute intervals, but a few are mass starts. One near us had a few years ago had a slow, medium or fast route, the slow route went off en masse straight down a jump lane, a friend told me it was, ahem, interesting!
 
I find most fun rides are free for alls and i refuse to take both of mine to most of them, bar the ex racer who is more accomodating to joy riders who charge their horses into or past him with little or no control!
The youngster will not be put at risk!
This year ive been taking him on lots of pleasure rides organised by endurance groups. They are fab, all give a call out before they come up behind you and ask if ok to overtake! An utterly safe and highly organised ride.
go on endurance gb and the ride schedule.
all the rides are listed are national and competitive rides but they also have PR listed which you can enter. Find the local club as they often have a second day of rides which are purely for pleasure or training rides.
Distances from 12 to 30 km for pleasure :)

Dont forget to wear ribbons in his tail, but ive found most joy riders dont care to check them either!
 
Just be aware: my horse is a totally relaxed saint 95% of the time, but I took him on his first fun ride & seeing horses riding in the distance all around us made him really tense (he's never usually a tense horse) & when we were over taken (in a totally polite way, but they did canter off after they'd over taken us) it blew his brains & he reared on me. Totally out of character. By the end he was chilled out & I hope to get him to another one as I'm sure he'll get used to it, but if they've never hunted or anything I think it can take them a while to get accustomed to the experience & it can be very exciting for them. So just be aware! But we had a great day otherwise & had no issues with other riders, everyone was very polite.
 
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