Wild Horses Now vs. In the Past
Horses are used much differently today than what they were used for in the past, regardless of if they are domesticated or wild. Because of today’s changes in technology and transportation, horses are no longer needed to pull wagons or ride like they were during pioneering journeys. The distance a horse is able to travel is largely dependent on its endurance, and since they are not used as frequently for endurance-heavy activities nowadays as they once were, their ability to travel greater distances has been impacted. Horses in the past used to frequently travel up to 35 miles per day, but now they are rarely able to go more than 25 miles in one day. It is important to note, however, that a horse kept in good shape can travel up to 50 miles in a day.
How Horses Are Built
As a flight animal, a horse will gallop or canter away for a short distance from danger. When they need to get out of immediate danger, horses will trot longer distances. The average horse cannot gallop for more than a couple miles before getting tired. This is why they may gallop to get away from immediate danger, but will switch to a slower gait (such as a trot or canter) when traveling longer distances. Historically, the Pony Express horses were only able to travel about 10-15 miles at a canter or trot before a rider would stop to switch to a “fresh” horse.
How Far Can A Horse Travel In A Day
There are many factors that go into how far a horse can travel in a single day. Some of the main factors are how fit your horse is, their skills, and how well you take care of your horse. Other factors are what equipment is used on the horse and the severity of the weather and terrain. Having proper rest, plenty of clean water, and being well-fed is going to greatly help the distance in which your horse can travel in a day.
How Far Can a Horse Travel at Each Gait?
How many miles per day a horse can travel depends on the gait at which it is traveling, as well as the terrain that they are covering the distance over. At a steady walking pace, a horse can travel 25 to 35 miles per day. When traveling at a trot, a horse can go about twenty miles. A cantering horse moves at about 10-17 miles per hour, which means a very fit horse can travel about seven miles; however, the more average horse will not be able to travel nearly as far. Finally, when galloping, the average horse cannot travel more than two miles before becoming fatigued.
How Fast Can a Horse Travel at Each Gait?
There are four gaits at which a horse can travel. A walking horse is moving about 4 miles per hour. When urged to a trot, a horse’s speed goes up to about 8 to 12 miles per hour. The next gait is a canter, where horses are clocked at going anywhere from 10 to 17 miles per hour. The fastest gait, called a gallop, is where a horse travels 25 to 30 miles per hour.
How a Horse’s Health and Fitness Impacts Distance
A horse’s overall health and fitness impacts just how much distance in a given day it can cover without an issue. Typically, your more endurance-trained horses can cover up to 100 miles per day. An average trail horse can cover upwards of 50 miles within a day. Mostly, either type of horse can not go more than a few consecutive days at this distance without a few days of rest and recovery in between.
How Weather and Terrain Impact Distance
Depending on the terrain and weather, horses will not cover the same distance over tougher terrain than smooth terrain. Unknown terrains, like rocky areas and hills and mountains, will naturally slow a horse down as they carefully navigate through them. These tough terrains also put more strain on a horse’s cardiovascular system.
Going over various types of terrain will also put different types of loads on the horse’s joints and hooves. Avoid injuries by taking things slow, which will increase the overall travel time. Hoof protection is an option for those wanting to give their horse’s a bit of a barrier between their hooves and the terrain in which they will be covering.
When the weather is a concerning factor, make sure to keep an eye on it where you are and where you will be traveling. Do not go out in extreme hot or extreme cold weather. Most horses are able to travel the best at the optimal temperatures of 70 to 90 degrees Farenheit (21 to 32 degrees Celsius). With rain, no horse or rider particularly wants to be out riding, especially since rain can cause the ground to become muddy and make it difficult for the horse to safely move. After a few short miles, try to find shelter to wait out the storm.
Extreme weather can cause injury and illness in horses. In too hot of weather, horses can lose electrolytes through sweat, even if there is low humidity that causes the sweat to quickly evaporate. On the other side of the spectrum, too cold weather can cause muscles to freeze or tense up, and the hard ground can negatively impact a horse’s hooves and joints.
Feed, Water, And Rest The Horse
Sufficient rest, water, and food will allow a horse to recover from a trip faster. Allowing your horse to rest and have access to clean water throughout the trail will ensure a better journey overall, as this will help it be able to safely travel longer distances. It is a good idea to check ahead of time and make sure there is plenty of water along the route which you plan to ride your horse when traveling longer distances.
Tack & Equipment
As with any riding, proper fitting tack is essential. Equipment that is ill-fitting can and will influence the distance of travel you do in a day. One precautionary step that you can also take is making sure that your horse’s shoes are not at the end of a cycle, as well as that the nails are not loose. Keeping a hoof boot or two in a saddle bag in case of emergency will be a savior in case a shoe comes off mid-journey.
Rider’s Skills And Fitness
As a rider, do not overdo a journey or long trip that is out of your capability. To check your own personal stamina over distance, take multiple shorter-mile trips prior to the long trip. If your riding skills are not able to maneuver through tough terrains, such as rocky areas, puddles, and rivers, it would be best to plan a different route. You do not want to end up stuck in the middle of nowhere!
How to Condition Your Horse for Long-Distance Travel
Conditioning your horse for long-distance travel is similar to that of a marathon runner. You wouldn’t take your horse out and ride as far and long as possible on the first day. Building up both fitness and stamina by starting out with shorter, small day-trail outings is essential to keeping your horse healthy while preparing it to travel long distances. As you and the horse get fitter and are able to more easily travel the shorter, smaller distances, you can gradually increase the mileage.
Gradually increasing travel distances is not the only way to condition your horse for long journies. Riding over various terrains will also help both you and your horse learn how to navigate a long ride. Not only does it allow the horse to adjust to carrying its weight differently over the various terrains, but you will also become aware of how the horse feels when it adjusts itself.
FAQs
How fast can a horse run?
A horse can run 25 to 30 miles per hour at a gallop.
What is the fastest a horse traveled 100 miles?
The fastest 100-mile record is an endurance horse that covered the distance in 5 hours, 45 minutes, and 44 seconds.
How many miles can a horse travel in an hour?
How many miles a horse can travel in an hour is dependent on its gait.
How far can a mule travel in a day?
Mules can travel up to 20 miles a day. They typically have more stamina than a horse, and also tend to be steadier over rougher terrain due to the fact that they can see where they put their hind feet, which a horse cannot do.
How far can a horse gallop?
On average, a horse can not travel more than 2 miles at a gallop before becoming fatigued.
How far can a horse trot?
A horse can continuously trot 20 miles.
How long would it take a horse to travel 100 miles?
Unless you are on a fit endurance equine athlete, most trail horses in good shape can cover 50 miles in a day.
How far can a horse travel in 5 days?
If on average a horse can travel 25 – 50 miles a day, in five days a horse can travel 125 – 250 miles.
How far can a horse travel in 8 hours?
At a comfortable walking pace, a horse can travel 32 miles in 8 hours.
