The Ultimate Summer Trail Riding Packing List
Long summer evenings are made for the trail. Whether you're heading into the woods for an hour or hauling out for the day, a little prep keeps it safe and fun for you and your horse. Here's what we pack, and what's worth checking before you head out.
A morning ride down a shady creek trail and an all-day haul into open country ask for different gear -- but the basics don't change. Start with the quick pre-ride checklist below, then work through the five things worth packing for your horse and for you.
Before You Hit the Trail
- Tell someone your route and when you'll be back
- Check the weather and the footing -- skip the trail after heavy rain
- Pack water for you and your horse
- Fly spray for your horse, bug spray for you -- a fly mask helps too
- A hoof pick and basic first aid in your saddle bag (and a fuller kit at the trailer)
- Sun protection if the trail's open -- a sun shirt, sunglasses, and sunscreen
- Always wear your helmet
Bugs & Sun, Handled
Summer bugs can turn a good ride into a fight. A fly mask with ears, a quick spray-down before you load up, and sun protection for you both keep your horse focused on the trail instead of the gnats.
Keep the bugs and sun off
- Spray your horse down before you load up, and tuck a roll-on in your bag for touch-ups on the trail
- A fly mask with ears keeps gnats out of your horse's eyes and ears on shady, wooded trails
- Cover your own skin too -- a lightweight sun shirt, sunscreen, and bug spray go a long way
- On open, sunny trails, keep an eye on a light-skinned or pink-nosed horse for sunburn
Pack for the What-Ifs
A compact first-aid kit lives in our saddle bag year-round, and a bigger one stays at the trailer. You hope you never need them -- and you're glad they're there when a hoof catches a rock or a leg picks up a scrape miles from home.
Be ready before you need to be
- Keep a small kit on the saddle: vet wrap, gauze, a hoof pick, and a multi-tool
- Stash the fuller kit at the trailer -- wraps, wound care, a thermometer, and cold packs
- Learn to wrap a leg before you have to; practice at home when nobody's hurt
- Save your vet's number and a hauling buddy's where you can find them with no signal
Water for the Long Haul
Always take water with you. If the ride's short, leave your horse's water at the trailer and offer it before and after. Out all day? Scout the trail for creeks and rivers, or pack a collapsible bucket so your horse can drink along the way.
Keep your horse drinking
- Offer your horse water before you head out, and again the minute you're back
- On long rides, plan your route around a creek or river your horse can drink from
- Pack a flatback or collapsible bucket so you can water your horse anywhere
- Bring plenty for yourself too -- you'll both work up a thirst in the summer heat
A Bag Built for the Trail
Keep water, snacks, your phone, and a hoof pick within reach without weighing yourself down. Our insulated horn bags and cantle bags are made to carry it all, mile after mile.
Carry it right
- Size the bag to your ride -- an hour on the trail needs less than a full day out
- Keep the essentials in the same spot every time so you can grab them one-handed
- Balance the weight side to side so the bag doesn't shift your saddle
- A step stool at the trailer makes mounting easy on you and on your horse's back
Hooves Over Hard or Wet Ground
Trails throw everything at your horse's feet -- rock-hard dirt one mile, deep mud the next. Some horses do best in hoof boots over rough ground; others just want bell boots for a little extra protection.
Protect every step
- Pick out your horse's feet before and after every ride
- Hoof boots protect bare or tender feet over gravel, rock, and hardpan
- Bell boots guard against overreaching and pulled shoes in mud and uneven footing
- Feel for heat or a strong digital pulse after a hard ride -- early signs of a bruise or abscess
Everything for a good day out.
Bugs, sun, water, a bag to carry it, and boots for the footing -- the riders who enjoy the trail most are the ones set up before they load up. Start here:
Quick answers
Offer water before and after every ride, and more often in the heat. On short rides your horse's water can wait at the trailer; on long ones, plan your route around a creek or pack a collapsible bucket. A horse can drink 5 to 10 gallons a day, and a lot more when it's hot and working hard.
For the saddle: vet wrap, gauze, a wound spray, a hoof pick, and a multi-tool. Keep a fuller kit at the trailer with standing wraps, cold packs, a thermometer, and your vet's number. The goal is to stabilize a small problem until you're back and can call for help.
It depends on your horse's feet and your footing. Barefoot or tender-footed horses are much more comfortable in hoof boots over gravel and rock. Shod horses often do fine, but many riders add bell boots in mud and uneven ground to prevent overreaching and pulled shoes.
Spray your horse down before you load up, tuck a roll-on in your bag for touch-ups, and add a fly mask with ears for wooded trails. Cover your own skin too -- the bugs bite riders just as happily.
Not sure what your horse needs for a day on the trail? Reach out to our team -- we'll help you sort out sizing, fit, and what actually works for your horse and your trails. Family-owned and horse-obsessed since 1948.