In every issue of Horse & Rider you'll find articles on training by the country's leading experts, the latest on equine health care from top veterinarians, trail riding tips from savvy back country riders, and much more!
Stemming from the desire for more realistic obstacles in a classic trail class about 20 years ago, came extreme mountain trail. With elaborate man-made landscape and obstacles to maneuver, an extreme mountain trail course consists of log crossings, streams, boulders, bridges, water obstacles, a teeter-totter bridge, and just about anything else you can dream of. Over the years, I have hosted and participated in many extreme mountain trail competitions and clinics, and I have seen what it takes to be successful. In this article, I’m going to talk about the fundamentals that a good extreme mountain trail horse and rider need to tackle the challenging obstacles put in front of them. But first, I’m going to tell you how to introduce a new horse to the discipline so that you…
You ride regularly in the arena but riding on a trail feels a bit scary. While your horse is well-trained and ready to perform maneuvers, you’re not sure of his on-the-trail experiences. Without a confined area, it all feels open and new. You want to enjoy the outdoors without fearing a spook or a bolt. How can you make sure that you and your horse enjoy your time on the trail? Here, I’m going to guide you through exercises to make sure your horse is tuned into your cues, and provide you with tips to help you relax and be your horse’s leader as you ride through new territory. With these tools, you’ll gain confidence when you have a plan for riding in the great wide open. Breathing First My…
IS YOUR HORSE AFRAID TO STEP OVER LOGS AND OTHER OBSTACLES ON THE TRAIL? He has good reason. Nature tells him to protect his legs from the unknown, as a lameness-causing injury can separate him from the herd and turn him into a predator’s meal. So, all things considered, he’d rather avoid anything that could involve a possible misstep or stumble. You can, however, condition him away from this fear. With my method, instead of fighting to get him over that log, you’ll use approach-and-retreat, first on the ground and then mounted, to help him realize what you’re asking isn’t going to hurt him, and to make stepping over his idea. A big advantage of this method is that it doesn’t require a lot of space. If you’re ever faced…
