WomenHunters, Inc.

Many hunting areas are made more accessible to us by horseback. Areas that are remote or have rough terrain or even restrictions against motorized vehicles are the prime areas to use horses. Many outfitters use horses or mules to transport hunters and pack out game. Lucky are the hunters/huntresses that get to see the world from horseback. There is just something nostalgic if not mystical about the whole experience.

What is not so magical are the sore muscles and bruised derriere that follow. Many hunters/huntresses might even think twice about a trek by horseback because of inexperience. It was this trepidation that gave me an idea. I am a lifetime equestrian and was giving riding lessons to several ladies whose husbands were hunters. I decided to offer a series of lessons for hunters to develop some equestrian skills to help them feel more confident and comfortable during and after riding. The results were wonderful! They came back with a whole parcel of hunting stories, not so much about the game they took but the about their mounts and the adventures they had together.

My suggestion to anyone who wants to embark on a horseback hunt would of course be to seek out a riding academy or instructor that could give you some lessons. Explain to them your purpose for wanting lessons and that you would require some ground/handling lessons also. Instructors can sometimes be found in the yellow page listings; but a great place to start would be a local saddle shop where many instructors advertise and frequent. Usually the folks that work in the shop can give you suggestions on which instructors might be able to accommodate you.

Western is the riding style that most outfitters offer their clients. It offers more security for the rider, and the saddle is designed to affix packs and supplies that you will need. You don’t need to become an expert rider, just become comfortable around the animal, learn how to safely handle the horse from the ground, mount, dismount, and guide the horse effectively.

The best way to keep your muscles from getting sore is to stretch every day until your trip. Stretching will become essential while you are on your hunting trip to relieve that "day after" stiffness. Even experienced riders get a little stiff when they spend all day in the saddle. Simple runner’s stretches are good place to start. Add an inside thigh stretch and really challenge yourself to become more limber. The other most important thing you can do for yourself and your mount is to keep your spine relaxed while riding. Not only does this absorb shock for you, it also relieves the impact on the horse’s back.