On Trails with Horses- A Rider's Experience

1 hour ago
4 min read

Author Lily Kun INSTAGRAM @ride_outside_

I’ve always felt the most connected to the wilderness when I’m seeing it through a pair of ears. In 2025, I explored over 1,100 trail miles on horseback. From meandering down misty singletrack paths on the California coastline, to galloping through Nevada’s sagebrush sea and scrambling up slick rock in Utah, every moment on trail with my equine companions left me with a deeper sense of appreciation and understanding for the places we’ve been together. The logistics of traveling on horseback are complicated, but getting to experience the world alongside my animals is completely worthwhile.

When I’m on horseback, I can catch a glimpse of what it would be like to simply exist in nature.

When I’m in the wilderness on foot, I feel like a guest passing through. I can see the trail as my horse sees it. Lush alpine meadows become sources of sustenance, rushing snowmelt streams are places to stop and rest. Sitting at a higher vantage point, I have more time to take in the terrain around me than when I’m hiking or running, head down and focused on the trail. The natural sounds of my horses’ hooves on the ground and their deep animal breaths blend in with the wild, and I always find more wildlife when I’m riding that I surely would’ve spooked with my clunky human footsteps.

It’s extra special to be sharing these moments with my personal horses, who I’ve spent years

caring for, training, and building up a relationship with. All the “horse-girl” stereotypes rang true for me as a kid (and still probably do…) If I could go back and tell my second grade self that in my early twenties my important life decisions would revolve around finding a way to afford to own horses, I wouldn’t have been surprised, but I would’ve been excited. I first got interested in long distance trails through endurance riding, an organized competitive sport where horses and riders navigate remote courses ranging from 25-100 miles.

I learned how to gauge horses’ fitness and built my gear kit based on what kept my animals and I comfortable, rather than on a cowboy aesthetic. I prefer to ride in leggings and hiking boots rather than jeans, and my horses have lightweight, durable tack that can withstand the elements and is custom fit to their bodies. I love the freedom that I have on trail to use clothing and gear that actually works for me, rather than being constrained by the tradition that dominates other equestrian sport disciplines.

I’ve loved watching their skill and confidence grow the more time they spend in the backcountry

I move around a lot working as an onsite ranch hand, which is how I’ve had the opportunity to

ride my horses in so many different places in the past couple years, but let me tell you, taking your own horses on trail is NOT as simple as showing up for a guided ride at a dude ranch. One of the most frequent questions I get when I share that I ride long distances on horseback is “What’s the big deal? Aren’t you just sitting there while the horse does all the work?” A fair enough question, if you haven't spent seventeen consecutive hours in the saddle- yes, I’ve done this, and my entire body felt like Jello the day after.

Not only does riding a horse properly engage just about every muscle in your core and legs, being responsible for equines on trail is also a massive mental workout. When I have my horses with me, my risk calculation has to be way more accurate than when I’m alone, because I’m a lot more willing to put myself into sketchy situations than I am to risk their welfare. Anyone who spends time in the mountains knows that accidents can happen fast, so I have to be extra aware of weather and trail conditions when I’m heading out. A trail that’s passable for people might not be for a 1000lb animal, especially if there’s a lot of downed trees or erosion.

Just like any other mountain sport, you can spend time training and conditioning your horse at

home, but there’s no way to fully replicate the types of stimuli they’ll experience on trail in a controlled environment, and even a seasoned trail horse can have a flight response. People often forget that horses, though domesticated, are still prey animals who have a natural tendency to fear anything they could perceive as a threat. This is why you can’t expect an inexperienced horse to be able to safely navigate crowded trails and why I like to take my time building mutual trust with my animals. I trust them to carry me through rough terrain, and they trust me not to lead them into situations where they could be attacked by a terrifying predator- AKA a human hiding behind a tree in a flapping rain poncho.

Most hikers haven’t had experience around horses and don’t realize that their well-meaning efforts to scurry out of the way can seem like a camouflaged animal preparing to attack through a horse’s eyes. Riders need to be able to communicate their needs effectively (and politely!) to people they encounter on trail. One of my personal goals is to help facilitate more dialogue between equestrians and the wider outdoor community, in order to help people share multi-use trails and to come together to advocate for public land

stewardship.

Being in the mountains on horseback means slowing down, tuning into your animals’ needs, and getting a taste of what it would be like to be fully at home in the wild.

As a rider, I share a lot in common with hikers and other trail users. I too am trying to find the

most ultralight saddle to get my horse’s base weight down. I too spend hours mapping out routes and try my best to score permits to those bucket list backcountry campsites. What makes my time on trail with horses unique is that my experience of the wilderness is dictated by that of my animals’. If they’re having a hard day, then so am I, but equally, it’s impossible for me to feel disappointed that we had to turn around before reaching the summit if I’m watching my horses enjoy nibbling on a patch of sweet grass.

To follow Lily's adventures, visit her INSTAGRAM @ride_outside_