Hi, I am looking to send my 10-year-old gelding to a trail-riding trainer this spring/summer… I’m looking for someone who can teach him to self-load, trail ride alone or anywhere in a group and cross obstacles with confidence. He’s got the right attitude for it, I just don’t have the time. I’ve had him since he was a yearling and he was so be my eventing partner, but he had a pasture accident when he was four. I’ve been training him in lower-level dressage, but what he really loves is hacking about outside, and I just need someone to give him the experience and the mileage. I’m located in SE Michigan and willing to ship him regionally for training. Does anyone have recommendations?
Note: I do not know this person, but maybe you need to find a trainer like him (he is somewhere in the PNW, WA I think) that specializes in competitive outdoor trail (AKA Mountain Trail) http://www.bolenderhorsepark.com/
Can highly recommend Ann Bennett of Windrush Hill Farm in Mt. Pleasant, Iowa. Trains in the Dorrance/Hunt/Brannaman style and “makes” amazing and super well-behaved (trail) horses.
Anne Wyland of Ancan Morgans in Davison, Michigan does great trail training. She’s a Morgan breeder but works with horses of all breeds, and is super-nice. If I had the wherewithal, I would take my Morgan mare out there for a trails brush-up!
We have a great set-up for this, and take horses for short-term training for all types fo reasons. We are located in Ohio, and while advertise as a h/J facility we are horsemen first. www.frogspringfarm.com
Mnhorsetrainingacademy.com
Its a big sales pitch for the program, but I have seen a couple of the horses from there and they were solidly trained (best training I’ve come across in a trail horse so far). Sound methods, lots of rewards. Plus you learn right along with the horse. It’s way out by Minneapolis.
