One of the great joys of horseback riding is to be able to leave the
beaten path for such purposes as hunting, fishing or camping, or simply
for the pure pleasure of being out in nature. To ensure that you and
your horse are enjoying the tail in the safest and most efficient ways,
101 Trail Riding Tips presents a broad palette of advice, including
selecting a good trail and/or pack horse, training for safety and
responsiveness, choosing tack and other gear, and coping with a wide
variety of terrains. For example: Add tapaderos--Valued by the
cavalrymen and vaqueros of the past, and still standard equipment for
field trial aficionados, who follow their dogs through brush and
bramble, tapaderos are all too neglected by today's trail riders. Taps
protect your feet from rain and snow and prevent their being snagged and
scratched by branches. More important, tapaderos prevent that most
horrifying accident, a foot slipping all the way through the stirrup and
the rider being dragged after a fall. Tapaderos with oversized stirrups
allow you to wear bulky cold weather boots during winter. They'll
protect your feet from splash when you ford a stream and your exuberant
horse makes things worse by pawing in the water. Extremely valuable for
all riders, tapaderos should be mandatory equipment on any child's
saddle. Here's a guide that's sure to increase the enjoyment of any
trail ride, anytime and anywhere.
