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Discussion on Horse Trail Riding Safety...Product Information
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Member:
pbauer
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Posted on Wednesday, Jul 9, 2008 - 2:32 am:
Dear HA Family,
Wanted you to know about this product...Paul and I are going to purchase it.
The SPOT "Satellite Personal Tracker" also known as the Spot Locator unit has more features and services than other Emergency Handheld GPS Personal Location Beacon units selling for over $1000.00
Never be lost, stranded or be in potentially in life threatening situations in remote areas beyond the range of cellular phones.
Now, with Spot Satellite Messenger you can send a message for help or tell family members, friends or the emergency responders where to find you using GPS accuracy regardless of cellular coverage. Help is just a push button away!
https://www.globalcomsatphone.com/spot/
The following is from: Horse Trail Riding Safety.
You saddle up your horse, throw on a saddlebag with your lunch and head out to enjoy an all day ride. It sounds wonderful, but are you really prepared? There are many unexpected things that can happen on the trail. By planning a safety strategy while you trail ride you will be prepared to handle many situations.
You should pack more then your lunch in the saddlebag. Here is a list of other things you should take:
-A hoof pick for loosening any rocks.
-A knife for cutting any leather or rope.
-A halter and lead rope, to tie your horse or allow him to graze.
-Two bottles of water, one for you and one for your horse.
-An ace bandage for wrapping any cuts.
-A flashlight in case it gets dark.
-A cell phone in case you get lost or need help.
Always tell someone where you are going and when they can expect you back, this will save worry and will be able to provide help if needed.
When trail riding a few rules in regards to your warDrObe will bring you added protection. For maximum protection you should be wearing a helmet. Wear sturdy boots to protect your feet. If you don’t wear gloves while you ride at least bring them to protect your hands if you have to get a bridle out of a thorny bush. Also wear a brightly colored shirt so that you will easily be seen.
You should also be aware of a few riding rules that are there for the safety of the rider and the horse. First, when walking on the road walk facing the oncoming cars, so that you and your horse can see what is coming toward you. If a vehicle is coming from behind, be aware that some drivers honk thinking it best to let you know they are there. If the horse spooks at the noise try to calm him by facing the car as it passes and getting off to stand at his head if needed. Your horse should be accustomed to cars in general before you take him out.
If you are on a narrow trail where four-wheelers, bikes and motorcycles are allowed be especially cautious. When something going faster then you is behind you move to the side, it is courteous and it may save your horse from running away, because he thinks something is chasing him.
If you are going on a long ride be aware of your horse's fitness level and don't over do it. If your horse is only ridden once or twice a week you should probably not do anything but a walk. If the ride is shorter some trotting will probably be okay, but not on the road as this will damage your horse's legs. Even with a very fit horse you should constantly be monitoring him. Make sure he doesn't sweat too much and is not out of breath. Take breaks throughout the day and if possible let him drink a little water. Don't, however let him drink more than a gallon in any half-hour if he is even slightly hot.
If you do run your horse make sure you are familiar with that area of the trail and there are no holes that could put a horrible end to your pleasant ride.
If you follow these riding rules you'll be able to have a worry free ride because you will know you are prepared.
Our Best,
P&T
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Member:
alden
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Posted on Thursday, Jul 10, 2008 - 10:57 pm:
I'm glad to see there are more options on the market, when I decided to buy the ACR below it was the only option. But it wasn't too hard spending the money after riding two hours out of the back country with seven broken ribs! (Thank god for foxtrotters  ) I thought the website was a little light on specific information. I haven't searched the internet for independent testing of the product but I'd want to see some before buying.
I carry this PLB.
https://www.life-raft.com/product.asp?Product_Id=175234&d_id=9858&l1=9858&l2=
It is more expensive (at $428 it's not too bad) and doesn't have messaging or tracking capabilities, but the system has been throughly test by the US military. The system is managed by NOAA now.
Twenty minutes to get a message out is a really long time when you're hurt. The PLB system locate time is about three seconds, most rescues during the trials in Alaska were about 90 minutes. It also transmits a 200Mhz local direction finding signal that I don't see on the SPOT system.
I also carry a 2 mile strobe light/flashlight just in case the lights go out before my ride shows
https://www.life-raft.com/product.asp?Product_Id=47973&d_id=9737&l1=9737&l2=
Just a little comparative shopping info.
Good day,
Alden
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Member:
mrose
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Posted on Friday, Jul 11, 2008 - 12:10 am:
I'm sure this is a really stupid question , but if your cell phone has a GPS built in, will it work if you can't get a cell signal? I always carry my phone, but there are some areas it doesn't work when in the mountains.
I'd add a few things to the list of things to carry also:
a first aid kit good for you and your horse which would include vetwrap, betadine soaked pads, duct tape, clean bandage squares, pain killer for both of you, and antihistamine (for the rider.) I also always carry a bandana (use for wash rag, bandage, etc.) an epi-pen for me (I'm allergic to bees)a couple of energy bars, an easy boot, and a space blanket. Of course, what you take depends on where you ride. If I'm going very far, I take wire cutters or a fencing tool and a slicker too.
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Member:
alden
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Posted on Friday, Jul 11, 2008 - 9:14 am:
Not stupid, but the answer is no. The GPS network is transmit only, the satellites transmit a time coded signal that ground receivers decode and triangulate to a lat/lon. The military has been launching a new generation of satellite and I'm not familiar with the capabilities of the new system, but I'm sure there isn't any cell capabilities. The average cell phone has just enough transmit power to reach a cell site a few miles away, not nearly enough power to reach a satellite
This is one question I have with the above SPOT product, the website implies messages are sent through the GPS network. The last I knew this wasn't possible, but maybe this is changing with the new generation sats. I think it's more likely that SPOT has launch their own satellite network with messaging and tracking capabilities, but there again I'm just not up to speed on the next generation GPS satellites.
In this area the cell phones quit working before even getting to the trailheads I carry mine in the truck but that's where it stays.
Good day,
Alden
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Member:
pbauer
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Posted on Friday, Jul 11, 2008 - 3:35 pm:
Dear Alden,
I printed your article on the ACR AquaFix 406; have kept it in the "to do" file. With Paul's accident last year, and the many stories I've read on HA (to include yours...seven broken ribs), Paul and I decided we absolutely need...and want this kind of coverage.
Just recently, a friend of ours had a horse related accident. She was diagnosed with a flail chest and a punctured lung. If she hadn't been riding with a buddy, (had no other means of getting help) she would have died right where she landed.
The SPOT: GEOS Emergency Response Service
The SPOT Satellite Messenger has a life saving feature that many satellite phones do not carry. The SPOT Satellite Messenger has four different functions. One of these functions is the capability to alert a 911 service to your location in a life threatening event. GEOS emergency response services are the providers of this function. Here is how it works. If you are in a life threatening situation you will press and hold the 911 button for 3 seconds. This activates the service and will alert GEOS that you need help immediately. They will try to get in touch with your first and second contact to establish that help is needed. Your longitude and latitude is obtained through Google Maps. If your contacts do not answer the phone or if the second message comes through GEOS will alert the proper authorities to your location. SPOT is accurate within a 20 ft radius. So who gets notified when they are deployed? When a signal is sent from land the local SAR (search and rescue) team, local police, or AFRCC (Air Force Rescue Coordination Center) are deployed. If your signal comes from the sea the Coast Guard is sent to your rescue. While traveling abroad GEOS will contact the US Embassy. No matter who comes to your rescue someone will be coming. "It could be the difference between coming home in coach and coming home in cargo!" Additionally, in everyday conditions it is normal for some messages to be blocked by your environment, such as hills or buildings. That's why the SPOT messenger is scheduled to automatically send multiple messages in every mode- giving you excellent overall reliability. Optional unlimited tracking service will transmit your location to friends and family using Google maps every 10 minutes for a 24 hour period. Tracking can be reactivated by the user of the spot unit by a press of a button.
Since SPOT is more affordable...we wanted to let everyone know about it.
Thank you for your input. We will purchase the Firefly Plus!
Dear Sara,
Thank you for adding to the list of safety items. If anyone has items to add, please do so.
Best,
P&T
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Member:
stevens
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Posted on Friday, Jul 11, 2008 - 8:07 pm:
GPS is not a communications satellite system, it provides position, navigation and timing information. As Alden mentions, it is not a 2-way system. Well, OK technically, the payload ( the GPS part) is not 2-way, but there is telemetry received from the spacecraft itself aka the bus. But we don't get to access that.
As expressed above, SPOT is GPS enabled and is using GPS to determine position then relaying that information, thorough someone's commercial comsats to their centers which are located around the world.
https://www.sea-tech.com/SPOT.htm
Still requires line-of-sight, hence the caveat about blockages. Seems reasonably priced at $150 plus the $100/year service fee.
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Member:
alden
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Posted on Friday, Jul 11, 2008 - 11:56 pm:
Whoa Chris,
I missed the $100/year service fee. Unless you need messaging and tracking features the PLB is a much better value then, even with the higher up front cost. There are not any fees to carry/use a PLB, just buy it and register it with NOAA (free website) and you're in business.
Of course with either system SAR fees may apply, unless your state is like Colorado. There is a $.25 SAR tax on hunting and fishing licenses. So if you go into the back country buying a fishing license is a good investment, even if you don't fish . One helicopter rescue can cost $15,000+ 
Good day,
Alden
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Member:
pbauer
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Posted on Saturday, Jul 12, 2008 - 1:21 am:
Dear HA Family,
We have a great team, and don't want to lose any players! The products above would provide a safe and excellent benefit to any trail ride.
Thank you, Chris and Alden, for your support!
Again...Our Very Best,
P&T
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Member:
stevens
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Posted on Saturday, Jul 12, 2008 - 9:00 am:
The subscription fee makes good sense to me; how else are they going to pay for the umpteen downlink sites. It's less than $10/month and would outprice the PLB only after 4 years, by which time some other nifty new gadget will probably have come along.
As Alden points out, it would easily pay for itself many times over in one use. One of those low probability of occurence but very high consequence situations. It really all comes down to your personal threshold for risk.
I don't think that average recreational trail riders are the intended market for these devices in general. They appear to be marketed to the remote/back country hikers/riders and sailors.
Personally, I don't trail ride anywhere that remote or often to justify either device.
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Member:
ajudson1
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Posted on Saturday, Jul 12, 2008 - 9:29 am:
Did anyone mention the simple thing here? Keep a whistle around your neck. Take a good dog with you too.
Don't know how big flare guns are, or if you need a permit to carry one, but seems in the movies and in books they always come in handy.
Getting your concealed weapons permit is good too. I don't carry a gun, but my husband does everytime we go out in the woods here.
Guess I trust the old methods over all the new technology. As good as the technology is, weather plays a big factor in whether or not your signal will be picked up with cell phones and GPS. Our cell don't work in the house here most of the time, so I sure wouldn't trust it in the woods!
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Member:
ajudson1
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Posted on Saturday, Jul 12, 2008 - 9:35 am:
Tonya,
Ride on the left hand side of the road when riding? I've never done that, is that how others ride on the road also? I ride with the traffic, preferably in the ditch but on the shoulder of the road as need be. On our road, I'll ride in the middle as there isn't much traffic.
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Member:
jojo15
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Posted on Saturday, Jul 12, 2008 - 9:36 am:
whatever you buy, just make sure you put it on your person and not your horse or saddle bag... I take it these items need your participation to to work? so what happens when you are knocked out from a fall? or too hurt to get to it?
what about all those people you hear about lost in the parks. Then they found them via their cell phone signal?
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Member:
mrose
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Posted on Saturday, Jul 12, 2008 - 10:38 am:
Angie, flare guns can be very dangerous. I wouldn't carry one. In some states horses are considered like cars and need to follow the same rules of the road. I ride in the direction of traffic, but as far off the road as possible. I ride on roads as little as possible, and not on weekends around here. DON'T wear MP3 player earplugs while riding!! Unless, of course, you are in an arena working on your free style. I've seen bike riders doing this, also, and think it's very dangerous.Years ago Lonnie bought me a "Camel Back" to take out when riding. Now I won't go for longer than an hour without it. If you aren't familiar with them, they are small, light packs that have a water bladder inside with a small tube that runs from the bladder which you can drink out of.The tube has a valve on it to keep the water from dripping. They also have some pockets for items like cell phones, keys, sun screen, etc."Sun Screen" there's a good thing to use and carry. Those little tubes are easy to throw in your saddle bags. I like having a few of the fly wipes with me, too, and use them on both me and the horse's face. And, I carry a few hand wipe so I can wipe off my face and hands before eating my snacks (yeah, I always carry a snack, too) It all sounds like a lot of "junk" to carry, but I go through my saddle bags each spring and replace stuff, then I only have to add the snacks and clean water before I go. All this sounds I'm sure sounds like "over-kill" to a lot of you, but if you ride in the areas some of us regularly ride in, you can be quite a ways from other people/help, and a lot of us live in areas with very changable weather, so need to be prepared for that also.
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Member:
mrose
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Posted on Saturday, Jul 12, 2008 - 10:43 am:
I just read Alden's post, and something you might want to check into is your health insurance. Some policies will cover helicopter evacuations, and other's won't. If you ride in the back country, or fish, hunt, or hike there, you should try and make sure you have that coverage. I think you can get it added on some policies under "accident coverage."
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Member:
pbauer
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Posted on Friday, Jul 18, 2008 - 9:23 pm:
Dear Angie and All,
Here in the wild west ...Colorado (hee, hee) one can ride facing traffic. I've ridden with and against traffic depending on the variables.
I did find some interesting websites you might want to take a gander at:
https://www.myhorse.com/on_trail/tips/your_day_trail_riding_guide.aspx#top
https://www.myhorse.com/gear/tack/saddle_bags.aspx?ht=#top
https://www.myhorse.com/on_trail/tips/safety_savvy.aspx?ht=#top
Paul and I will take our SPOT (and Sara's items) with us any time we head out for a trail ride...no matter how far; just to make sure we're prepared for even the most unlikely situation.
Enjoy Your Weekend!
P&T
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