Riding Alone....anyone else think that's an oxymoron??

[tcgelec]

Sure it could be dismissed as semantics...but what I really mean is that when I'm riding without other human companionship, I never consider myself alone....I'm with my horse!
Not trying to be the word police here...just trying to see how many others feel the same way. Don't get me wrong, I am a fairly social guy....and I love to talk about horses and riding with fellow horsepeople. But I'd just as soon talk about it AFTER my ride. I have a trainer that I trailer out to and look forward to our weekly training sessions. However I really value the times when I can give my event horse DannyBoy my undivided attention. I feel that it has cemented the bond between us. And as mischievous as he can get sometimes, I've never once felt that he wanted anything other than for us to succeed at whatever we attempt.
So, I don't lose sleep over it or anything.....but it's always irked me just slightly whenever I come back from trailering out somewhere and I'm asked..."you went ALONE???!" Uh, noo...I was with DannyBoy!
Am I weird?

[JollyBadger]

LOL, I used to get the same reaction from people at my barn when I'd go out on solo trail rides. . .often for several hours at a time. They couldn't believe that a person could spend that much time riding without the need to have other people around.

Truth is, I needed those rides as away to get away from other people for a while, but never once considered myself "alone" out there. I have Badger with me. :)

Eventually the people at the barn got used to it, so last summer when I rode the 32-mile loop around the perimeter trail of the local park on my own, not too many were surprised by it.

Happy trails!

[rainechyldes]

It's just semantics. I say I ride alone and I do- meaning I don't ride with other people.
I think it's fairly obvious my horse was with me, and I don't need to say 'I went riding with no other people, but I did take my horse"
Riding alone - two words. much easier to say and pretty self explanatory.

[MikeP]

I normally trail ride alone (well, me and my horse) about twice a week. Sometimes I'll be out there for three or four hours without seeing another human. Sometimes I pack a lunch and stay gone most of the day in an area with no cell phone service.

People ask me if it's not dangerous, and my favorite reply is "there would be worse ways to die".

[Simbalism]

My horse buddies think I am weird because I frequently go camping or to rides by myself. This spring I went to a Poker ride and although I did know some people there I ended up riding by myself.They were all on TWH's so I told them to go on. My TB mare was fine and although we did see some other people on the trail in passing, we completed the majority of the ride by ourselves. Didn't win anything, but had a great ride. I'm frequently the only person at the barn where I board when I ride. No biggy. If I always had to wait for someone I wouldn't get in much riding.

[Huntertwo]

I always trail ride alone.

In fact my barn is mostly trail riders and we all know that everyone likes to go out by themselves and their horse.

I find it very peaceful not to have to carry on a conversation, keep stopping or slowing down for another rider and horse.

[avezan]

I almost always ride alone. This has happened to me a few times: I'm telling someone else about my ride, and I say, "We did this.. we went here and there..." and they say, oh, who did you ride with? Well, my horse, of course! Who did you think "we" referred to!?! ha.

[SMF11]

I tell people I won't ride "alone", because I want someone with opposable thumbs who can dial 911 if I have an accident (see "Weenie Riders" thread). :D

[4whitefeet]

I LOVE to ride alone. For me it's better than Prozac. After getting such shocked reactions from people about the "horrors" of riding alone, I stopped telling anyone. So now I just say that I am going riding with a "girlfriend' which of course just happens to have a mane, tail and 4 white feet. :lol:

I do inform the dh about where "we" are riding, including times we left, when we will return, always carry my cell phone strapped to my arm and dog tags around my neck so that they can ID my body.....:winkgrin:

I don't think riding alone is anymore dangerous than fishing, hiking or jumping out of a perfectly good air-o-plane...

[Holly Jeanne]

I think there's a difference between riding without a human companion when there is someone who knows you did not arrive back home and riding alone when, if something happened, no one would know for a few days. :eek:

[MoonWitch]

I ride alone
With no body else
You know when I ride alone
I prefer to be by myself

Isn't there a song about that? Ohhhhhh, right - that's "drink" alone. :cool:

I LOVE to go out with just me & my boy. I babble, he listens, snickers politely under his breath, rolls his eyes and we have a blast! I come back ready to face the world again - until somebody comes along to screw it up!:lol:

[laskiblue]

Ah, MoonWitch, thanks for the earworm! :-)

I love it when my mare get to ride and do other things alone. She's darn fine company -- much better than some people I've known!

[arabhorse2]

Conny and I used to go out alone together, and I miss that. It somehow always seemed a much more perfect and bonding time, than when we rode out with others.

Casper's not yet ready for just him and I, and I don't want to rush him. He'll get there eventually, and I'm looking forward to the day. :yes:

Oh, and it's just semantics. I've never considered myself "alone" when I have animals for company.

[cnvh]

I've ridden out alone but I prefer to go out in a group, just for the safety-in-numbers part... even though my OTTB is usually quieter when it's just us. BUT, whenever I DO go out in a group, I'm usually inside my own head and I forget to participate in conversations; I'm too busy enjoying the scenery and I forget to talk. :)

[JSwan]

I'm always by myself when I ride but I'm never alone. :winkgrin:

Unfortunately, my horse cannot dial 911 and my dogs aren't called Lassie.

[LexInVA]

I'm always by myself when I ride but I'm never alone. :winkgrin:

Unfortunately, my horse cannot dial 911 and my dogs aren't called Lassie.

But the spirit of Kevin Bacon watches over you! :lol:

[harveyhorses]

My guy is better company than a lot of people. I don't have to worry about the sometimes stupid actions of other riders.
(being told I 'have to' make my horse go through belly deep mud and muck, ill mannered horses and riders)
I found I was coming back from rides more annoyed than happy, so we go solo now.

[kewpalace]

My horse and I go out alone ALOT and I prefer it. But I don't mind a human companion, but if I waited until one was available, I'd be waiting a LONG time. Plus we like to go out for LONG periods and do a little "off roading" :lol: which many people don't like to do. So it's us, riding alone. :)

[tcgelec]

Thanks for the replies. I'm interested in knowing how everyone feels about riding without a human companion, but I'm also interested in knowing if you feel like you're riding with a companion when it's just you and your horse, or do you feel...alone??

Like, if I were hiking, on foot, in the woods by myself, I would feel as if I were alone (not that there's anything wrong with that). But when I'm out hacking in the woods...I have a completely different feeling when it's me and my horse....

I first experienced this feeling when I was just building my barn. My barn is in a far corner of my property, and when I would go down there at night because I left my cell phone or something there during the day, it was kinda, a little...spooky...forboding....you know what I mean.

But I make at least three trips a day down there now, two in the dark if it's winter, and I never have that feeling now that the barn is full of horses...I feel as if I'm going to hang with my buddies.

If I go out hacking with just my horse (which is normal) I almost feel it is a "dis" to him to say I went out alone. OK, NOW you think I'm weird, for sure.....

[marta]

in fact, prefer it that way.
nothing weird about it in my opinion. we go out for hours. i love her company and i love our time alone.
just me, my mare, and the trails - that makes for a perfect day :)

[kewpalace]

Thanks for the replies. I'm interested in knowing how everyone feels about riding without a human companion, but I'm also interested in knowing if you feel like you're riding with a companion when it's just you and your horse, or do you feel...alone??

If I go out hacking with just my horse (which is normal) I almost feel it is a "dis" to him to say I went out alone. OK, NOW you think I'm weird, for sure.....No, I don't feel like I'm alone - as with most of the responders, I'm with my horse, so I'm not alone! We look to each other to handle the trail and trials (:lol:), whereas if I were on my own, it'd only be me (no 2nd opinion, LOL). Just like if I'm hiking with my dogs and no human companion - I'm NOT alone, I'm with the dogs! :yes:

[nightsong]

I ALWAYS ride alone. Whether it's in the ring or out. I've NEVER gotten the criticism the O.P. has; probably because i hang with other SERIOUS riders.

[TikiSoo]

I am usually the only person at the barn and we ride "alone". I prefer it when schooling in the ring, but not when we hit the trail.

I think my greenie is more skittish on the trail because she feels alone without another horse!;)