By Stan Walchuk, Jr.

A few weeks ago I had the opportunity to visit a friend in Mackenzie, British Columbia. Several local saddle club members had horses that needed some trimming and shoeing so it was an opportunity to help out and visit with some fine people and horses. In the general realm of humanity, I believe that people who take the time to ride the trails and keep horses are good people. However, it was surprising to see that many of the horse owners there did not ride their horses. It is a trend that I have thought about in the past, and from my observations I am beginning to believe that the number of horse owners who had planned to use their horses, but don’t, actually outnumber the horse owners who regularly ride. Now don’t get me wrong: I have nothing against keeping pets; there is great benefit to that practice in itself. The issue is that these horse owners really did plan on riding when they bought the horse, but things just did not turn out that way. I’ve done some investigating, and am convinced that misguided emotions lead well intentioned, prospective trail riders into making poor choices.

The reasons vary: fear of falling off or getting hurt, and fear of the horse itself: the horse is too tall, too big, too pushy, nervous or spooky, or it kicks. Or, the reasons may involve certain issues: I can’t catch my horse; the horse doesn’t like me; the horse doesn’t listen; I want to train him but I don’t know how; I don’t have the time. Regardless of the reason, many owners still claim to “see something” in their horses — and many claim that once they find a good trainer, then  it will become a great horse.

Think about it. We are in a society where we have dreams, make plans, and have expectations. We not only expect some bang for our buck but get downright frustrated and even hostile when what we purchase does not suit our expectations. Welcome to the world of horses where what you get is rarely what you expect. If you are lucky, your horse may turn out to be more than you had hoped for; more often, the new owner and the new horse mesh like the gears from two different tractors, the horse becomes a money drain, and the owner becomes a master of excuses.

Choosing the right trail partner will ensure an enjoyable future for you both. Photo: Robin Duncan Photography

Why does this happen? Ask yourself some questions. Was your purchase based on common sense and a gathering of information, or was emotion a motivating factor? Sure, having emotions makes us human and makes life worth living, but keep a rein on your emotions until after the purchase and after the horse has earned your trust and admiration. That is not to say that you cannot have a hands-on relationship with your horse and show affection, but if you get emotional beforehand you might end up basing your purchase on superficial qualities like colour, bloodlines, or pretty movement. A trail ride is not a beauty contest: you need a horse with durability and a calm and forgiving nature. You need a horse that likes work, with few or no vices.

When purchasing a new horse, or evaluating your current horse, make yourself a sensible checklist to decide whether or not the horse meets your needs. Be honest with yourself: it is a matter of safety and a matter of an enjoyable future with your trail horse. So put your emotions aside. If you have made a poor choice in the past, then swallow your pride, shovel the frustration out of your system, make that checklist, and stand by it when making a decision on your future trail buddy.

A good trail horse should have a few basic qualities:

• Likes people and is easy to catch (being friendly and easy to catch does not mean respectful and obedient, but it’s a start);
• Forgiving and calm nature; does not overreact when faced with stressful, excitable, or confusing situations;
• Accepts touching and rubbing willingly. Even a young horse with little training will soon settle down and accept gentle touch if it has a steady disposition;
• The horse shows a degree of “softness”; he gives his face willingly and responds to pressure, to the extent you would expect when compared with its training. This can even be determined with a young horse with little or no training;
• The horse shows a good degree of calmness and does not show a persistent nervous behaviour when standing tied;
• Leads willingly, and does not pull back.

It is absolutely true that a horse that does not display the above qualities can be improved upon with training and use. Trainers make a living dealing with horse and people problems. But do not exaggerate your ability, or that of your trainer, to take a horse with problems and make it into that trustworthy pal you can rely on. There are countless two and three-year-old horses out there that show desirable qualities with only a few hours training, but these can easily become one of those horses with many hours of training that still will not make good trail horses. These horses often end up eating grass and prancing around pastures with owners who are reluctant to ride them. You need to be honest about your time, what you really need, and what you truly enjoy. You enjoy trail riding, not struggling with a horse’s vices. You have a busy schedule and you do not need a type A personality horse that needs to be reminded of proper respect and behaviour just because you had no time to ride him last week. You are not getting any younger and you don’t bounce as softly as you used to. Choose your trail horse accordingly.

This simple test is a good indicator of how well trained your trail horse really is. At this point the rider has clucked and softly bumped the rope. Photo: Stan Walchuk, Jr.  

Test Your Horse

Finally, if you think you have a well trained trail horse you will know it if he performs this simple test perfectly (and I mean perfectly!). Think about it, and then try it! If your horse fails the test but has a calm, forgiving nature, go back to basics, back to the round pen or the lunge line and get the results you need!

1. Stand in front of your horse and attach a 15 foot rope to his halter. Say “whoa” when the horse’s face is straight forward (it should stay straight until step 3).

2. Leave the rope slack on the halter, take the free end, and as the horse stands perfectly still, walk around the side of the horse, behind his back end, to the off side, and let the rope touch the back of his legs above knee level. Be sure that you are clear around the horse before the rope contacts the back of his legs, in case he kicks. The horse should not move or step in any direction after the rope makes contact. His head should remain straight forward.

3. Wait 30 seconds, then cluck or kiss to move the horse forward. Tug or pulse very lightly on the rope as the horse steps out. The horse should move smoothly, without hesitation, toward the rope in a complete arc.

4. As you gently reel in the rope, the horse will turn to face you. When he faces you at arm’s length, say “whoa” and he should stop perfectly, facing you straight on, waiting for your next command.

Good response in the round pen is one of many factors that determine the value of a trail horse. Photo: Courtesy of Stan Walchuk, Jr.  

Sounds simple? This is what this evaluation shows:

• If the horse stands with the command “whoa” and waits patiently for further commands, he is ground-tied. 
• If he can keep his head straight as you walk around him, he will be more likely to ride a straight line and ride “between the reins” later. 
• If he feels the rope around his hind end and does not move, he is desensitized to things moving around his legs. 
• When he stands for a few moments and you have not given him any commands, you know that he is waiting for your command before he acts, which means he is listening and respects you as boss.
• When you finally cluck and he walks out immediately, he has shown he will listen immediately to your commands. 
• When he follows the arc smoothly around to face you, then he is responding softly to the directional pressure of the rope and will likely rein softly. 
• When you say “whoa” and he stops promptly on command, he is listening to your voice. Nice horse!

Once you are sure you have the right trail horse, there are no more excuses. You can go out riding confidently, and do exactly what you planned when you purchased your horse: have fun on the trails! Good luck with your summer rides!

To read more by Stan Walchuk on this site, click here.

Main photo: A calm mind and forgiving nature are necessary ingredients in a good trail horse. Photo Stan Walchuk, Jr.