Ride Safety — Desert Caballeros

BY JOHN “DUCK” LEES

Seven years on the ride. Each of these has happened at least once.

We have full medical support on the ride — paramedics, EMTs, helicopter-evacuation insurance, and Yavapai County Sheriff’s deputies who volunteer with us each year. The goal is to never have to use any of it.

Read these rules before the ride. Walk through them with your camp. Ask the long-time riders what they’d add.

THE NINE RULES

Read them. Then ride.

Your cinch and equipment.
It’s your responsibility. Check it frequently.
WHAT COULD POSSIBLY GO WRONG
The wrangler got the cinch tight in camp, but an hour later your horse has let the air out of his belly and it’s loose. Your saddle slides under your horse.
Mounting 101.
On the trail, point your horse back up the trail away from the direction of travel. Ask another cowboy to block or hold your horse. Mount quickly.
WHAT COULD POSSIBLY GO WRONG
As you swing up, your horse steps out to follow horses coming by, you lose your balance, maybe pull the saddle sideways.
Mounting 102.
Grab the mane, not the horn.
WHAT COULD POSSIBLY GO WRONG
The horn is attached to the saddle — pull on it and the saddle comes to you. If the cinch is loose, you’ve got a rodeo before getting on.
Steep hills 101.
Wait. Leave more space than you think necessary.
WHAT COULD POSSIBLY GO WRONG
Halfway up, the horse in front loses footing and topples into you.
Steep hills 102.
Stay vertical. Lean forward going up, lean back going down. If your legs aren’t feeling it in the stirrups, you ain’t doing it.
WHAT COULD POSSIBLY GO WRONG
Lean the wrong direction and your weight pulls the saddle off the horse’s back at the worst possible moment.
Tying up 101.
Use your lead rope, not the reins.
WHAT COULD POSSIBLY GO WRONG
Yanking the bit hurts — that’s the point of the bit. The horse startles, yanks, feels the pain, and makes a bad situation much worse.
Tying up 102.
Don’t tie to a branch that could break. If there’s no strong branch, hold the lead rope or tuck it “quick release” in your belt.
WHAT COULD POSSIBLY GO WRONG
The branch breaks. Your horse runs off with the branch dragging behind, spooking everything in its path.
Wind and gusts.
Tighten your stampede strap.
WHAT COULD POSSIBLY GO WRONG
You lose your hat. The hat spooks every horse it tumbles past, including your own.
Ask for help.
Talk about safety. There are no stupid safety questions. Every camp has riders who’ve been doing this for decades and want you to come home in one piece.
WHAT COULD POSSIBLY GO WRONG
You guess. You don’t ask. The thing you guessed wrong about is the thing that hurts you.

WATCH

Safety on video.

Short clips from the ride. Worth ten minutes before you load the trailer.

Safety First.
The fundamentals — start here before you watch the rest.
Saddlebag essentials for the trail.
What to carry on your horse for a long day in the saddle.
Prepare for cholla cactus on the trail.
How to spot it, how to avoid it, and what to do if you or your horse picks one up.
Health and wellness.
Hydration, sun, layers, and looking after yourself across five days on horseback.

BEFORE YOU LOAD UP

Pull up the packing list.

Packing list See the itinerary

Don’t duck safety.

Seven years on the ride. Each of these has happened at least once.

Safety First.

Saddlebag essentials for the trail.

Prepare for cholla cactus on the trail.

Health and wellness.

Pull up the packing list.