Packing for Peace: How Trail Riding Prepares Your Horse, Deepens Your Faith, and Builds Lasting Confidence
When the Trail Feels Too Big to Brave
Trail riding can stir up more than dust—it stirs up doubts.
What if your horse bolts?
What if you fall?
What if you’re alone out there and something goes wrong?
If you’ve ever felt nervous before a trail ride, you’re not alone. The unpredictability of the trail can be intimidating. But with preparation, patience, and purpose, you can turn every trail ride into a confidence-building, faith-deepening journey—for you and your horse.
This guide is your go-to resource for not just surviving the trail, but thriving on it. You’ll learn what to pack, how to prepare, and how to use every ride as an opportunity to build trust, sharpen skills, and strengthen your bond.
The Confidence Crisis: Why So Many Riders Avoid the Trail
Let’s be honest—trail riding feels risky when you’re not sure your horse will listen.
When you don’t know the terrain.
When you aren’t sure what to do if something goes wrong.
It’s not a lack of desire—it’s a lack of confidence, clarity, and preparation.
That’s where this process begins. Not with saddlebags and snacks, but with a new mindset: one that says, "I can do this—but I won’t do it unprepared."
Because when you pack for peace, confidence follows.
First Things First: Is Your Horse Really Ready?
Before we talk packing lists and scenic routes, let’s talk about readiness—the kind that keeps both you and your horse safe. Amy teaches that every trail ride starts long before your boots hit the stirrups.
Here’s what to check first:
✅ Has your horse passed the Pre-Ride Safety Checklist? (Think: desensitizing, soft yielding, attention cues.)
✅ Is your horse mentally and physically conditioned for new terrain?
✅ Have you practiced mounting and dismounting in nontraditional settings?
✅ Can your horse handle pressure—movement, noise, bumping, distractions—without losing control?
"We’re not looking for perfection. We’re looking for connection."
A trail ride is not the place to hope your horse will behave. It’s the place to test what you’ve already built—and gently build more as you go.
Practical Prep That Builds Confidence
The trail tests everything you’ve taught your horse: emotional control, responsiveness, and focus. But it also gives you the chance to reinforce all those things in real-world settings.
Start with groundwork. Every ride—even trail rides—should begin with:
Flexing and bending
Yielding the front and hind
A connection check (Is your horse mentally with you?)
A physical warmup (Don’t expect your horse to go from pasture nap to 7-mile loop!)
And remember, your horse isn’t the only one who needs to warm up. Prepare yourself too—with breathwork, prayer, and a moment of quiet focus.
Desensitizing: The Trail’s Best Friend
Every rustle in the brush, every flick of a squirrel tail, every sudden gust of wind is an opportunity—or a potential wreck.
That’s why desensitizing isn’t optional. It’s essential.
Build trail-readiness with these tools:
Cowboy curtain: Teaches your horse to tolerate visual and tactile surprises
Flag work and obstacles: Help simulate trail chaos in a controlled environment
Desensitizing in motion: Because most accidents happen when your horse is moving, not standing
Bumping and clanking: Mimic the sounds of real-world riding—saddlebags, trees, trail noise
Repetition and consistency are your friends here. The goal is never to erase your horse’s instincts—it’s to rewrite the response.
"All horses will startle. But we teach them not to overreact."
What to Pack: Gear That Keeps You Safe and Secure
Let’s talk saddlebags. Here’s Amy’s time-tested list of must-haves:
On Your Horse:
Hoof pick
Fly mask and bug spray
Extra saddle strings or leather ties
Pocketknife or multi-tool
Water + collapsible bucket or bottle
Lightweight snacks for you and your horse
Easy-catch halter and backup lead rope
Map (laminated and tied to your horn if possible)
On Your Person:
Charged phone
ID and emergency contact info (yours and your horse’s)
Chewable Benadryl, Tylenol, antibiotic ointment, bandaids
Vet contact list for the area
Tip: Put your contact info on your person, not just your horse. If you’re separated, your horse can’t call for help.
For the Trailer:
Extra feed and hay
Vet box: wound care, bandages, electrolytes, thermometer, Banamine/Butte (vet-approved only)
Tools: duct tape, flashlight, tire iron, trailer aid, power bank
Camp gear: chair, water station (Amy’s detergent jug trick is genius)
Don’t pack for perfection—pack for preparedness.
Trail Planning 101: Because Getting Lost Isn’t a Confidence Booster
If you’re directionally challenged (Amy once got lost in her doctor’s office), don’t wing it.
Print maps ahead of time and study your route
Check terrain, trail types (rocky, sandy?), incline levels, and distance
Look up park gate closing times (seriously—don’t get locked out)
Call ahead to confirm trail conditions, weather impact, or closures
Apps like Avenza can help—but don’t rely solely on digital. Cell service is spotty in the woods. And that five-mile loop? It can double in difficulty if it’s uphill or technical.
Faith in the Saddle: Why Trail Time Is Holy Ground
One of the most beautiful parts of trail riding is the way it slows you down. Not just physically, but spiritually.
Amy doesn’t mount up without first pausing to pray:
“I thank God for the opportunity to be there. I pray for our safety. I pray I’ll lead my horse with love.”
It’s more than safety—it’s stewardship. It’s seeing your horse not as a tool, but as a gift. It’s letting the rhythm of the ride become a rhythm of worship.
And in that space, fear begins to fade.
What If Something Goes Wrong?
Even with the best prep, things happen.
If your horse:
Gets antsy? → Use a pattern interrupt: move the front end, back up, redirect the energy.
Spooks? → Stay calm, redirect with something familiar. Don’t feed the fear.
Wants to bolt forward? → Don’t pull. Redirect. Move feet with purpose.
Above all, don’t try to battle your horse into compliance. It’s a leadership issue, not a control issue.
The same applies to trail anxiety. If you feel overwhelmed, dismount. Breathe. Pray. Reconnect.
Training Opportunities Hiding in Plain Sight
Trail riding isn’t a break from training—it’s a test of it. Use what you encounter:
Squeeze between trees = trailer loading reinforcement
Creek crossing = obstacle confidence
Horse separation = herd-bound test
Loose dogs or hikers = real-world desensitization
Make it fun. Don’t force it. This is the most natural place to build a soft, responsive horse who trusts your leadership.
Start Small. Grow Steady. Let the Trail Do Its Work.
If you’re just getting started, don’t feel pressured to do four-hour loops. A short trail is a big win. Go slow. Stop often. Give yourself and your horse time.
Your goal isn’t mileage. It’s mindfulness.
Trail riding is where preparation meets peace. It’s where your horse learns to lean into you instead of away from fear. And it’s where you, the rider, begin to find your strength not in avoiding problems—but in being equipped to handle them.
Because confidence isn’t something you’re born with. It’s something you pack for.
Ready for a Breakthrough?
You don’t have to live with fear in the saddle.
Learn the simple, proven process to build confidence and stay safe with your horse—starting today.
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