Good Trail Horse

Essentials of a Good Trail Horse
By Russ Barnett

Anyone who regularly rides trail on horseback will tell you that a good trail horse is worth his weight in gold. A common misconception is that if the horse isn’t good enough for any other sport, he will still be fine for the trail. This is not necessarily the case. A good trail horse is born and trained as much as any other performance horse.

Traits of a Good Trail Horse

While most of the qualities that make a good trail horse are trained, there are a few conformational and personality traits that I feel are essential. I ride in the Rocky Mountains and, more often than not, I am leading a pack string. So I look for:

• A calm disposition
• Ability to get along with other horses
• Good feet – healthy and in proportion to his body
• Pronounced set of withers
• Good traveler – will walk about 4 mph alone, but can slow down to 3 mph if we are leading a pack string
• Stands tied patiently without pulling back
• A good dose of “horse sense"

Additional Training

Once I have a horse with these traits, I begin to work on other training that will make him an excellent trail horse. Without question, I require that my trail horses are able to:

• Load and unload without fuss
• Stand tied patiently without pawing
• Cross water, mud and bridges
• Walk down the trail without falling off
• Ride away alone from other horses without argument
• Turn around on a narrow trail
• Stand quietly on the highline
• Wear hobbles

People who ride in different terrains may have different sets of criteria. Consequently, I think it is very important to identify your particular needs before you go looking for a trail horse.

Age vs. Experience