Is it OK to ride your horse down a steep hill?

Question

Should you get off the horse and walk it down a steep hill or is it OK to ride?

Also, should you ride when the ground is really muddy, like after a big rainstorm or should you get off and walk your horse until finding firm ground?

Answer 1

It depends how steep and how long you mean. Yes, you can, you can even ride vertically if it's small as the horse can jump down. If it isn't too short and fairly steeps the horse will slither down. Lean back and prepare for a trot at the bottom as the speed will pick up as you slide down! Give the horse plenty of reain but have a contact. It needs support! If the hill is fairly steep but more than a metre or two big then it may not be wise as if the horse slides down, there's nothing to stop it as the bottom may be far away. Don't drop the reins as they may get tangled up, even though this seems kind because the horse can stretch down the hill.

Answer 2

Unless the hill is so steep that you think the horse will slip and fall, then sure, ride him downhill. Try to stay as straight in the saddle as you can but you might have to lean back a bit. If your horse is sensible, let him pick and choose his own way down.

Riding in mud can be REALLY hard on the horse -- and it can pull shoes off. I think going around the mud is the best solution. Getting off and walking through it doesn't make much sense -- whether or not you're on his back he still has to walk through it. If it makes you feel better to get off and walk, then go ahead... Personally, I don't ride if the ground is that muddy, besides being bad for the horse, it makes the trails so much worse.

Answer 3

Unless you are an experienced rider you should not ride your horse down a steep hill. There are to many things that you can do wrong (with out realizing it) that could cause injury to both you and your horse. As for riding after a big rainstorm. Again I would have to say no. If you were only walking your horse on fairly flat ground that would be fine, but to ask for speed is to ask for danger and injury.

Answer 4

If you do ride your horse down a steep hill you must ride very slowly and learn back. If it is very slippy and you and quite worried about the steepness of the hill you should get off and walk the horse. But if you never let him ride down it....he'll never get any confidence. Just think carefully and be very sensible with the horse. Falling could seriously hurt the horse and even seriously damage you!

Answer 5

There is always going to be a risk when you ride a horse in any footing. I don't think I've ever gotten off to lead a horse down a hill or through the mud. I think most accidents that occur in these situations happen because the rider gets nervous/scared. There is some pretty rough country out there that lots of cowboys, native americans, and calvary rode up and down and I doubt they got off to lead their horse down a hill.

So my answer is yes it's ok to ride down, but use your best judgement. Also if you don't want to ride down it what makes you think it'll be any better walking down it with a 1000 lb animal right behind you???

Answer 6

yes you can safely ride a horse down a steep incline. just sit back and let your feed go forward and alow the horse to have some head room in the bridle , dont rush him and alowe him to settle in as he goes down. Its fine to rid in mud as long as you are in a safe gaite for the footing of the horse . Running down a steep grade or in mud can cause torn tendons and other leg problems if done improper and too often . In mud a horse will sometimes have a tendency to over reach with his back hooves and clip the front that is why walking or an easy trot is best.

Answer 7

In Mounted Search and Rescue I am in, depending on the grade of the hill and the sure footedness of the horse, will depend if we walk our horse down, ride or horse down or not go down it period as our horse and ourselves should be able to across any environment in search of a person.

However, I judge that based on the hill itself, not just an over all general situation.

If second guess a hill, then it is a sign to not go on the hill until further investigation with out the horse, so horse and yourself won't be injured.

I look at the hill and the steepness. I try to find any area's that I can easily adjust to, turn around on and to move away from incase of an emergancy.

If the hill has a narrow path way, it is muddy, raining and has drop off at the edge, it is wise to not go across.

I have gone down some very steep hills, but I am extremly picky about going up steep hills than going down though. Horse's body weigt in the hind quarters is more adjusted going down, than going up the hill.

I do not like to ride on ground that is very muddy, only for the reasons of slippage that can cause the horse and myself injury if he/she was to slip and fall on me (My mare reared and slip, feel right on top of me), or to break a leg or slide down a hill or embankment.

If it is raining, I ride in sand, as sand soaks up. I do not ride in normal dirt. If I am on trail and starts to rain, I either ride on bike path for better hoof tracktion (as shoes can actually cause more slippage in mud than non shoed horses) or I find a more firmer ground til I am able to go back to the stables/ranch etc. If it is too bad, I stop, get off and wait the rain out til it stops before I continue.

This also goes for snow. I don't ride in thick snow. Too dangerous (Take the Horse Wisper movie for instance as things like that does happen....)

Answer 8

it's ok to ride down the steep hill depending on if u have holes from gophers or not. many goophers reside in steep hills making it unsafe to ride a horse on. i would walk the hill first to make sure it's safe.

and on muddy ground, just be sure that it isn't too bad, like the whole place is covered in water. walk the entire place to make sure there are some places to walk around on your horse.

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Answer 9

actually if you are riding down a steep hill you shouldnt lean back, you should keep your body perpendicular, because if you think about it, your horse is like a see saw and you are the post in the middle...if you are leaning back you are putting extra weight on his hindquarters, and leaning too far forward going uphill puts too much weight on his front end..have someone small sit on your back and go on your hands and knees in your yard if you have small rolling hills available and see what happens when they lean forward or backward. and if the situation allows it, instead of riding straight down the hill, its easier on your horse if you zig zag back and forth down the hill...less stress on their legs and back. take into consideration the footing. if it is really loose soil or gravel then you may want to get off and walk your horse. as for mud, once again consider the footing, if it is unfamiliar to you or your horse you may not want to take a chance, horses are smart!

Answer 10

Who cares what some woman said you horse is not worth more that $500? I watched a few of your different movies, and you already know what, quite a few individuals could be inclined to pay a good sum of money for a risk-free, bombproof horse that may do close to something for themselves or a baby. Ignore this foolish girl who is striking you and your horse down, apart from, she is commonly jealous that you've this kind of best horse and she or he doesn't.