I have a few horse questions.. Heh

[Inexcessivebeauty♥]

I recently got a 7 yo OTTB about a month now, and so far shes been really getting attached to me and is getting respectful. Like, she'll follow me everywhere and if I go and if like.. someone comes near me while I'm hugging her she'll like, neigh at them and its really cute. c: Anyway, I want to take her to a group trail ride with like, two other people in a few more weeks and she absolutely adores other horses. I just need some tips on like... how should I prepare her for her first time on the trails and what should we bring? The trails just go from the backyard to a field, and back to the yard. Its not very long, as my dad and cousin have walked it with me to see what it is.

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1) What do I need to bring?
2) How do I prepare her?
3) What should I do while on the trails?
4) What would I essentially need to bring in case of emergencies such as bandages?
5) Finally, if she gets spooked, how should I calm her?


[Hime]

Just asking for little bit more detail, so I can maybe answer better... ^^
Do you have to trailer your horse to get to the trails?
How long are you riding on the trails, and are you planing on having a brake in the middle?
Does your horse start to race with others if you go faster than walk?
Do you or your horse have any trail experience?
And finally is the trail in common use for normal people?

[Inexcessivebeauty♥]

Just asking for little bit more detail, so I can maybe answer better... ^^
Do you have to trailer your horse to get to the trails?
How long are you riding on the trails, and are you planing on having a brake in the middle?
Does your horse start to race with others if you go faster than walk?
Do you or your horse have any trail experience?
And finally is the trail in common use for normal people?

-The trails are about two houses down from me, and the people welcome horses. c:
-We're gonna ride for like a half hour, and yes, we all need water. c:
-Nope. c
-She doesn't, but I've been on a trail before with a few friends and we rode double.
-The trails are popular, but like.. it depends on the time and day.

[Hime]

Okaayyy, let's see.
1) Assuming you can ride straight to the trails and don't need a trailer, you can't bring much and don't really need to. Halter and rope might be good idea if you plan on stopping for a break, like if you want to horses to graze if there's that possibility. Then water bottle for yourself and maybe some small snack if you wish. Also remember to bring a cellphone that has battery left. Anything that you can fit in a backbag basically, and nothing too heavy as it would be pain to ride with heavy load. That's unless you got saddle bags...
On longer trail where you'd need to take your horse with trailer, water bucket, hay net and possibly a cooler rug(depending on the weather) would be needed.
2) You said it was popular trail so making sure your horse is used to kids, dogs, bikes and other things you migh come across could be usefull. If your horse tends to be bit hot, then riding the day before the trail is a must. Also open space tends to make some horses more forward going, so be prepaired for that.
3) Have fun. (: Depending on the trail you can trot or even canter at some point, but if there's lot of other people then sticking to walk is the best. Also no passing anyone in any other gait than walk.
4) On such short trail that is close by, I'd take nothing. Just each of you should keep cellphone with you and let someone where are you going and about how long you'll be there, before you head out. If you really want to bring something, some basic first aid stuff for you and the horses should be just fine.
5) Spooked as in bolting into full speed gallop: Obviously try to stop her and don't panic, talk with low calm tone(like whoooaa), try turn her into a circle if you have space. Also one rein stop is usefull in that case.
Spooked as in jumps to the side and prancing around: Remain calm and comfident, ask her to move forward gently, talk with calm tone, don't pull the reins constantly as it might make her more tense. If she sees something potentially scary(head goes high and ears perk up, might slow down the walking pace) stopping for little bit and letting her look and maybe sniff the scary thing might help, but othervise keep riding forward and don't pay too much attention to it. Like don't think "omg, she will surely spook at that, help what do I do.", that will only make things worst if the horse is already little tense and scared. So even if you think something might spook her, just stay allert but don't make big deal out of it.