The 10 Commandments of Trail Riding
September 18, 2008
Follow these rules and have more fun on the trail.
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Thou shalt not kill the spirit of the ride.
- Thou shalt not litter.
- Thou shalt not steal around another horse and rider upon the trail. Ask permission, then pass at a moderate pace.
- Blessed are the hikers and bikers, though they fear horse manure, for they will be allies in trail legislation.
- Thou shalt not have false expectations of the trail: Expect flies, expect mud, expect obstacles along the way and preparest accordingly. (And don’t complain about acts of you-know-who.)
- Thou shalt hold the health and safety of your horse and others above all personal desire for fun, adventure or being first back to the trailer.
- Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor’s truck and trailer, nor park your horse where he might ding them.
- ‘Tis better to tie a single red ribbon in your horse’s tail than to curse the person who rides into the kick zone.
- Thou shalt not assume that other riders need or want your assistance or advice.
- Honor thy horse’s natural instincts above your own, forsaking gimmickry and false training.
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Log Your Hours
AQHA’s Horseback Riding Program is designed to reward AQHA and AQHYA members who spend time riding their horses. You don’t even have to own an American Quarter Horse to participate! So start logging your hours toward great awards.
It’s simple:
- AQHA, AQHYA and amateur members enroll in either the American Quarter Horse or the all-breeds division of the Horseback Riding Program (you may enroll in both divisions)
- Pay the one-time enrollment fee
- Log the hours you spend in the saddle
- Return the log sheets to AQHA or enter your hours online before December 31
- Earn great prizes.
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Comments
8 Comments on “The 10 Commandments of Trail Riding”
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September 24th, 2008 at 7:57 am
Very clever! I have saved these to use when I teach adults trail riding safety and manners!
September 24th, 2008 at 12:38 pm
Please provide a link so that this (and other) articles can be emailed to friends. Thanks.
September 24th, 2008 at 1:26 pm
I loved the Ten Commandments. I was disappointed you cited God as “you know who”.
September 26th, 2008 at 11:13 am
i also loved the Ten Commandments. But too was disapointed GOD was put in as “you know who” as with most riders and Rodeo riders God makes a difference. That is why there is a prayer before the rodeo starts and alot of horse shows also have a prayer before the show starts to have God watch over us and the horses.
September 27th, 2008 at 11:28 am
Given the context of the sentence and the light-heartedness of the commandments I feel “you know who” was appropriately used. I didn’t feel any slight on God was intended nor inferred it just fit the text. Besides I don’t think this article was intend to evangelize, but to provide us with some humor while instructing us with some trail etiquette. Loved It.
May 6th, 2009 at 6:16 am
#8 should be changed to….Have a trusting relationship with your horse, so she doesn’t feel the need to “take over”. It is the rider’s responsibility to be in control of your horse’s feet. It is not your companion’s responsibility to “watch out” for your horse’s feet. Red ribbons are a sure sign of a lack of confidence in the rider. Could you ever picture Ray Hunt riding with a red ribbon in his horse’s tail? We should all ride more like him.
September 11th, 2009 at 7:46 am
Loved it… But I do disagree with the comment about the 8TH commandment.. Yes it is true that the rider should ride with confidence, and be in control, however if you have ever ridden a horse that will kick riders behind them. You would know it isn’t always possible to correct before it happens … Sometimes you may only have the opportunity to correct after the fact. So out of respect for others and to avoid all possibility of someone or a horse getting injured. Everyone that has a potential kicker should tie a red ribbon around the tail as a warning that there horse could be a possible kicker, before they get a change to stop it. And then ride with confidence.
August 30th, 2010 at 12:07 pm
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