What are the top three to five qualities you look for in a casual (non-competitive) trail horse?
Prefer to train your own or buy a “made” horse? Why?
Thanks for your help. I’m starting a research project and would love input.
- Brains.
- Temperament.
- Soundness.
- Sure-footed. Relates to #3, and it doesn’t do to have a stumbly horse on a steep mountainside.
- Conformation- not show quality but fundamentally sound.
Don’t care whether I make it or buy a made one, though the former it typically less expensive.
- A good sense of self-preservation
- Intelligence
- Reasonably good conformation (as good as the budget will allow)
- Training that results in what I call “habitual calmness”, even if the horse is very well-conditioned and of hot blood breeding (not high-strung when handled properly)
- Training that results in a confident, forward horse (without numerous bad habits), and the horse knows what NO means and STAND
- Training that results in a horse that will stop if you fall off
OK, so that’s six.
Prefer to train my own if I have the time. Otherwise , get them fairly young and work from there.
ETA: assumed it was sound. Wouldn’t want an unsound trail horse.
Brave
Independent; alpha: doesn’t need others for company or to follow
Very Smart
A good walk. Most trail riding is done at a walk
Clever
I prefer mares. A good mare will give you her heart.
Hmmmm, I just described my old chestnut TB mare. Too bad she’s retired at 31. She was (is) the best!
I prefer to make my own. He must be handy, meaning nothing frightens him, he refuses nothing and moves with economy of effort and is completely obedient. He must ground tie, hobble, tie extremely well , ride double, know gates, backing sidepassing and stand like he is rooted when stopped.
He must ride at the back or at the front equally docile. Be completely safe around traffic, trailer well, cross any water asked to and work around cattle.
It takes me about 2 years to create a horse from green to the one above. I spend 1 hour plus each and every day for those 2 years.
Forgot he must know leads and be handy at flying changes.
Shadow was made in about 1 1/2 years but he was quicker then most to learn.
Good topic. 
Others have covered important traits in a good trail horse so I’ll only say that I MUCH prefer to train my own from scratch. I enjoy training and somehow I never get that close soul to soul bond with horses already finished as I do with ones I train myself. You know the kind where you know what the other is thinking? Just how it is for me.
Overall balance.
Easy to teach a balanced horse collection and extension and to be surefooted but the potential needs to be there.
Brave/confident in uncertain situations; trusts his rider
Sure-footed on different terrain and footing
Aware of surroundings (traffic, people, dogs, kids on bikes), but not scared to death of everything
Independent; able to ride in front, middle, or back or a group OR alone
FUN!!! I want a horse with some personality (not so brain-dead, bomb-proof, that he just plods along)
- Brave
- Sure-footed
- Happy anywhere in the lineup
- Will drink anywhere, anytime
- Prefer ranch-bred stock horse background – they know how to work and how to take a break when it’s offered.
I like a trail horse that (in no particular order):
is small enough to re-mount easily
intelligent
willing/ tries hard
forward and responsive
good conformation
bold (alpha), happy to go out alone
good sense of direction
good sense of self-preservation
patient when needing to stand and wait somewhere
respectful of the aids
not easily frightened by animals, vehicles, etc.
pays attention to me and trusts my judgement
good sense of balance
good use of body (athleticism/flexibility)
comfortable gaits
Some of these are inborn physical or mental tendencies, some of them can be trained in. I’d like as many of them to be there already as possible, though I don’t mind tuning up the training a little.
I prefer to make my own. Thats half the fun!
Sound is a given for any riding horse. So, I guess my three would be good conformation which should result in smooth efficient gaitsand on going soundness,sensible mind, and willing personality. I prefer mares, and I like to make up my own. My current horse went from being a spooky show horse to the horse all my friends want to be around if their horse is acting up or they’re on a greenie. She hauls well, ties with no problems, is willing to go where I point her, is interested in her surroundings without getting freaked out about stuff. She adapts to new surroundings/situations without any fuss. She can lead or follow, get left behind by other horses with no fuss. She will drink readily on the trail and is easy to keep fit.
hmmm
as some one mentioned, some of this is a no brainer. Sound is a given.
Um I am partial to DIY but will work with others.
Decent confirmation.
Arab or arab cross or of other reliable breeding- mutts or otherwise (ie mustangs)
potential for jump/basic dressage work/endurance/cavalary games general baffooneray. 
Don’t care so much if they are brave/trusting I feel thats a training issue. must have some sort of work ethic.
And smallish… nothing really over 15 hands.
Generally I pass on the mares, but I’ll take a good one if I see one!
Trippers are a no go… if they are chronic trippers b/c they are lazy or what not I’ll pass. Shoes are fixable but if it is just how they go NO way… Lookie lous I’ll pass(not starter/stare kind the ones that just swing their heads constantly, no go) I want a horse to be focused on the job of moving down the trail.
All else side pass lead hobble etc etc… thats all built in after time, not something I need in a purchase questionaire if you will
I guess I’m not that picky anymore, now that I’ve sort of run the gamut of trail horses (OTTB to QH to TWH). I’m willing to forgive a lot for a horse with a good mind who loves the trail. So here are my top three…
A good, sane mind.
Happy and interested to be out and moving out.
Sound.
If I had the room for one more horse right now, I would add versatility as an essential trait. Would love to have a horse I can ride out on trail, and tinker with in dressage, jumping, at whatever else we (me and the horse) get the impulse to do.
Our last purchase, my TWH, I went 100% on these three traits alone. And he’s turning out the be the horse for me. He has horrible conformation, and odd sense of balance, is bigger than ideal, and has a victim complex that makes him fussy about his position in the group (we’re working on it!). But I don’t care. He loves the trail, is bold and curious, forward but not hot, has great manners and just about the goofiest personality I’ve ever seen in a horse. He’s perfect for me.
We like to buy “made” horses, since we tend to look for horses between the ages of 8 and 12. We have no problem with working on issues, re-training for problems, or learning a new discipline together, but like to have all the basic training already in them.
Just need you and the horse to be a good team
Since you mentioned casual and non-competitive, I’m with the folks who list qualities like basic sanity, reasonable agility (because your horse has to be able to handle the unexpected, even if that just means a quick halt or a quick recovery from a stumble), a general happiness to be out exploring the trails with their person, and soundness for the work that’s required. My horse has occasional moments of nutbagness or wuss-ness, but I’m not perfect either. We have different strengths that serve “the team” at different times, and if we have a problem we figure it out as we go. That’s good enough for the type of trail riding we do.
I would, however, advocate staying away from Arab mares unless you welcome opinionated comments from below. Last Fall I was riding in breeches that were… ahem… too tight. I could not mount from the ground, and even from a large rock, it was pretty touch and go. My horse turned her head around and gave me a look that said it all. Now, if I ever don’t get the mount-up perfectly smooth, I swear she’s thinking, “Oh, good grief; someone buy the woman a decent pair of riding tights!”
I’m an amateur; fortunately my horse is not. Many of these older horses are solid gold for pleasure trail riding – thanks to someone who had the training expertise that I’ll never have.
Sorry can’t choose only 5:sadsmile: But here goes.
- Must have good feet
- under 15 hands - I’m only 5’ tall
- willing to go anywhere I go
- decent conformation - I’ve just learned how much of a pain saddle fit is. I didn’t realize how great I had it until I got a free mare with a low back and high withers.
- RESPECTFUL - 'nuff said
- Pays attention to it’s feet and where it puts them
- Decent walk or at least the potential for it
- Goes alone or in company or anywhere in the group, just because I said so
I’m sure I forgot some important things but y’all got the idea. I prefer to get horses that are already broke as long as the don’t have too much baggage. That way I can hit the trails faster (the fact that I don’t have access to a decent piece of ground to school on or a ground person to pick me up put me back on my unruly mount does sway my decision a little:winkgrin:)
Forward! I hate a sluggish horse. And brave.
