By Nicole Fava
Just like we train our horses for arena performance, a horse also needs to be trained to be a successful trail horse. More often than not, horses are not “natural” trail horses. With trail training comes encouraging a horse to trust his rider rather than letting his powerful herd or flight instincts take over.
Training the Trail Horse that Doesn’t Follow Well
Horses that are leaders in a herd setting are more likely to have a tantrum when being forced to follow other horses. They may speed up, jig, or bolt to get to the front of the line.
Solutions: Pony the horse off of a horse that is steady and will not kick. Here, you are taking away the added anxiety of a rider and are letting the horse work himself out, while the horse you pony off of adds a sense of security.
Training the Trail Horse That Doesn’t Lead Well
Horses that don’t lead a group well are usually lower on the totem pole in a herd setting. He may have a more timid personality and lacks confidence.
Solutions: Try ground driving! Ground driving is beneficial because your horse is in a leadership position, but you, as the rider are still encouraging from behind.
A horse that doesn’t lead well often just needs more practice in that position. You can try having a friend ride at the front of the group next to you, assuming the trail is wide enough for two horses. That way, your horse can see the sights of a lead horse, but has some added security and encouragement on the side.
Training the Spooky Trail Horse
A horse that spooks on trail rides likely has a fear of unfamiliar territory. Or perhaps there is a sudden rustling in the bushes that might indicate the presence of a predator, and your horse takes to his flight response before looking to you for guidance.
Solutions: Sit deep in your tack and do what you can to stick the initial spook. Do not yell or yank on the reins in anger, as you might cause a further reaction from your horse. Let your horse look at what is spooking him and assess the situation. Ask him to step forward and take the pressure off when he does so. If your horse wants to spin around, continue placing him in the direction of the scary object and sending him forward.
Once a horse gets a better look at what initially spooked him, he will often realize that there is nothing to be afraid of. Staying calm and confident through this process will encourage your horse to do the same.
If you notice your horse spooks at the same objects over and over, try desensitizing him at home before hitting the trails. For example, my horse used to spook at boulders on the sides of trails. I ended up buying plastic boulders and putting them in our arena to ride around. Worked wonders!
Training the Horse that Fears Water
A horse that is unwilling to cross water may have trouble perceiving the depth of it. He may not trust the sinking sand or mud at the edges of the shore. In addition, water is an area where predators are known to hunt, so a horse’s flight instinct might be activated. Think about the videos you’ve seen of lions hunting zebras at watering holes.
Solutions: When your horse refuses to enter water, keep him directly between your leg and rein and send him forward. It may help to have a confident buddy horse lead the way. At home, practice riding your horse over tarps, through liverpools, or through puddles after it rains. Start with smaller, narrower obstacles and then gradually increase their width.
While trail riding is meant to be fun and more casual for those of us that don’t compete in it, it’s still something that you will need to train your horse to be successful in. Skipping proper trail training and problem solving can create a horse that is dangerous out and about. While we may not be able to completely suppress our horse’s herd and flight instincts, we can help our horse manage his responses and trust us as his rider.