©Les sabots de vénus
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Equestrian tourism is an outdoors activity, available to everyone. This hobby can be carried out alone, with friends or family. Whether you are a beginner or advanced rider, there is always a path to take.
A fun activity indeed, however, there are some basic rules that must be known for the safety and wellbeing of everybody. Plan stop points for a break and also watering places for your horse. Your outfit and your horse's must also be adapted to the weather.
Every activity should be practiced gradually: don't go on a 50km long hike if you have a new horse or if are an unexperimented rider: make sure the horse and the rider have the necessary experience for the planned itinerary..
You wish to share with us other concepts depending on your country, do not hesitate to communicate them to us. After study and validation by our services we will add them.
©Les sabots de vénus
If you on your own, remain reachable by phone and prevent other persons that you are going on a ride alone and inform them of your route.
Always carry a small amount of money, you never know what is going to happen. A map, a roadbook, and a charged cellphone are required. It is better if you can also take with you a string, a whistle, and a hoof pick. Make sure to carry with you a first-aid kit for yourself and your horse.
The Highway Code applies, so be sure to respect it, as well as the markings for horse and carriage. It is highly recommended to go on a walk with identifications, for both rider and horse.
Riders are invited to avoid any private properties and cultivated lands.
Common courtesy is required even while on a horse. Go back to a slow walk and keep some distance when meeting riders coming the other way. Greeting and asking if you can pass the rider is always appreciated.
If you go on a walk with other riders, inform them that your horse can be unpredictable.
It is strongly recommended to wear reflective strip (for riders and horses) to be seen at night. A headlamp is also very useful to see and be seen.
with the British Horse Society
©Nick Fewings
It's important to know which plants can make him sick, so that he doesn't eat them. Although horses can learn to avoid a food that makes them sick, this is only possible if the undesirable symptoms appear directly after the food has been taken. Beyond half an hour, the link between the plant consumed and the illness is not established. As a result, equines cannot learn to avoid a chronically intoxicating food, which occurs through prolonged consumption and accumulation of toxins. Beware: for other plants, intoxication can be acute and rapid, as in the case of yew, where a few grams are enough to kill a horse.
©Eric Minodier
When performing an important effort, large veins on the surface swell, especially those on the neckline. This a natural reaction as blood cools better when veins are bulging.
At rest, the average breathing of the horse is between 8 and 12 cycles per minute: one cycle corresponds to one inhalation AND one exhalation.
If your horse doesn’t urinate like the others, its urine being brown or darker than usual, you should immediately warn your guide: it indicates that its urine contains blood from injured muscle fibre.
You should always check that your horse isn’t injured when brushing him, especially on the girth path and withers location. You shouldn’t ride him before its injury is treated.
It is important to check that your horse’s tendons are not swollen. A persistent swelling means that your horse is working too much or is having tendons issues.
Especially while on a long walk, your horse should be offered water at every opportunity. A horse refusing water when others are drinking is not a good sign.
