Coming out on Top Of Competitive Trail Riding

Competitive Trail Riding is usually called CTR. It\’s an equine event where riders cover distances of between 15 and 40 miles a day over rough country. Lots of participants give up after the 1st day, but others stick fast to it for three days. The contest aims to assess functional coordination between rider and their pony, and to judge the physical fitness of the riders and their horses at the end of the competition. The event can be physically demanding, and riders and their horses are subjected to thorough physical examination before and on completion of the event. Since there is a factor of risk to riders and their horses, these events adhere to high safety standards; there\’s a panel of vets on the spot and all judges are experienced veterans.

It\’s very clear that the fittest pony and rider team wins the event. It is easy to say that all of the tough work is performed by the horse, but that assumption would be unfair to the rider, who is also subject to a great deal of strain and wear and tear. Every horse-rider pair is accompanied by a team of trainers, diet gurus, horse handlers and carers and others. They are united in their common goal of maintaining the pony in top condition. The rider\’s role obviously is mostly directing and controlling and taking the simplest routes, such as would subject the pony to minimum hardship. You cannot achieve success in events like this without fully focused commitment. In all facets of mental and physical health, the pair must be at the top of their capabilities.

When competing in these events, remember that:

- horses are naturally scared animals. As prey animals, they tend to see potential danger in lots of things. Therefore, the more your pony is desensitised to objects around, the better he will behave in the event. This suggests predicting all possible objects that could spook your pony and getting your pony accustomed to these objects. Obviously, this involves convincing him the objects are in no way dangerous to him by exposing him to them continuously and in non threatening cir***stances. All this is often done in a safe setting like an arena;

- you ought to be fully acquainted with your pony and his needs and moods. You should be able to read every nuance of his body language like an open book. You should also be very mindful of old injuries and situations where the pony was frightened. Point them out to the judges of the event because if you don\’t the judges will negatively mark them at the end of the event. You are answerable for intimate understanding of your pony and everything needed to keep him secure and in the very best of health;

- while the horse\’s fitness is of ultimate concern, you as the rider will additionally need to face lots of difficulty and therefore you should stay fit. When you\’re fit and at ideal weight, you are less of a strain for the pony. Make sure you are following regular diet and exercise programs;

- when at the event, you need to ensure you are dressed appropriately and in conformity with relevant rules imposed by the event organizers;

- keeping your horse snug and free from irritations is of supreme concern. Give him the best kit and gear available. Maintain all gear and tack in spotless working condition. Leave no stone unturned in terms of guaranteeing your horse\’s perfect health and comfort;

- proper pre-event training is critical. You need to work your pony up to the event slowly and with a proper plan. Proper training will keep both of your horse and you at the apex of your abilities. While you do need to train hard and regularly, make sure you do not over exert your pony or yourself. Start by covering five to seven miles of increasingly rugged terrain 5 week days;

- while training your pony, you should make sure he is able to alter his footing as required and attune to varying terrain conditions;

- while training, you must also get your pony used to vicinity and constant physical contact with humans. He will be touched and examined continually while at the event. You need to make sure that doesn\’t distress him;

- while coaching, you should get your horse accustomed to both running and still water of diverse tastes and compositions. Your horse will have to be given food and water at regular intervals thru the day, and it is essential that he"s given training to ignore horses? Natural disinclination to drink water from unfamiliar sources.

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Coming out on Top Of Competitive Trail Riding