Take a collapsible bucket or light weight container to water your horse. The Desert Environment There are some specific hazards you need to be aware of when riding on desert trails. Cactus can be a problem if you ride off of the designated trail or are riding through an area with many cactus. The last thing you want is to have your horse run into some cactus and get injured. If your horse gets scared you may get bucked of or fall off into a cactus and get seriously injured.
Cactus needles can be difficult as well as painful to remove.
A friend of mine was traveling in the desert alone, and accidentally backed into a Cholla cactus. She was unable to pull the needles out of her leg and had to flag down some campers passing by who helped her remove the needles with a pliers. Most experienced desert travelers recommend carrying a fine tooth plastic comb which can be used to pull out most of the cactus needles. Some of the larger cactus needles may require a pliers or similar tool for removal. Another hazard to watch out for in the desert are venomous creatures such as rattlesnakes, bees, wasps, and stinging insects.