Trail Riding Blues....

[PuraVida]

Greetings, all! Long time reader, first time poster here.

I’m trying to find out if I just have bad horse radar or what. Over the span of 5 years…

I bought a “broke trail horse” from a horse dealer w/no advice from anyone. I rode the horse around the property alone. He seemed fine. I bought him, took him to the barn, he freaked out when ridden inside and outside & became dangerous. BO and my instructor were convinced he was drugged when I tried him out. After thousands of dollars in training and vet checks, I was urged to sell him before he hurt someone in the barn (sold w/full disclosure of his behaviors, of course).

Next horse was sold to me as a trail horse. I rode her on property w/no issues. Brought her home (boarding barn), she hated being outside. Turns out she was a vaulting horse in her previous life, so after two years of arena riding w/her, I sold her to a vaulting family. I bought her on the advice from my BO.

Next horse was sold to me as a “broke trail horse” as well w/the blessing of my instructor (not her fault, of course). The horse was, again, fine when we rode on property. I brought him home (where I boarded), and it turned out he was incredibly buddy sour. It was manageable b/c the barn was w/in eyesight all the time. It turns out he was a heck of a great lesson horse as my instructor used him many times each week w/her students, but since I’ve moved him to my house, he’s become dangerously barn sour w/my Haffie (and is becoming nasty as hell toward her).

***NOTE: I can handle spooky, nervous, cranky, bored, and lazy horses. What I don’t have the confidence to handle is dangerous (like my current steed). I’ve taken numerous lessons over the years (and still take them to this day). I know about groundwork, etc. The first two horses were sold to me under false pretenses so I don’t feel too badly about buying them (although I should’ve insisted on further trying out), but the third is just a case of buddy sour that I unfortunately cannot fix alone. I know realize that I need to get a horse on trial here on my property to make sure he’s a good fit.

So… do I just have terrible luck finding one that fits me? Honesty, I don’t have a lot of confidence anymore. I’m 40, and I have a new knee, two small children, and a husband who would like me to survive my hobby. But…am I crazy for wanting a quiet, sane trail horse to just poke around on for a while one or two days a week? Do they exist? My hubby made a joke the other day about how many horses can a person go through before they find the “right” one…and I guess that’s my question as well? Please be honest, but kind. Thank you all in advance!

[Scribbler]

Bad horse radar.

If you want a confirmed trail horse then shop for that. You need a horse that has trail miles and can go out alone or in company.

You also need support. You need a riding and horsemanship coach. Someone that can teach you about ground work as well as riding.

Maybe you should do a lease first.

[myamego]

I agree, bad horse radar. Horse shopping is complicated! I don’t think you should give up, but I think you should learn from your past horse buying mistakes. It sounds like horses 1-3 were obviously a bad fit from the start, but you stuck it out anyways. There’s something to be said for perseverance, but if the horse isn’t a right fit for you, you shouldn’t force it.

Go horse shopping again, but take an experienced horse person with you. Preferably a current or past trainer who knows how you ride and what type of horse you like. If you can’t take a trainer, then take a horsey friend who knows what they’re looking at and isn’t afraid to be brutally honest with you.

Don’t buy a horse without taking it on trial first. That way you can take the horse back to your property and notice behaviors that popped up in horses 1 and 3 without being committed. If the seller won’t allow a trial period, walk.

There is nothing wrong with wanting a dead broke trail horse. They exist, I promise, you just have to be smart in the way you go about trying and buying. Not every horse listed as a “trail horse” is actually good on trail.

Don’t forget to check rescues and ask around your local equestrian community. The perfect horse is out there waiting for you!

[SuzieQNutter]

The problem I see is that you want a trail ride horse with none of the work for making one.

As with your other horses they were Stars when in work with other riders.

There are trail ride horses who can be ridden on trails, then the grass grows and they get full of themselves. They have a couple of weeks off because the rider is sick and that now need to be ridden down to be taken out. Can you do that?

Horses at trail ride places are worked on trail rides several times a week. Can you do that?

If you can not then you are much better renting a horse for several hours at a trail riding place or having lessons to learn to ride on school horses with confidence before buying your own horse. JMHO.

[Scribbler]

There’s another fairly current thread going about buying trail horses. I think on there someone mentions the importance and also the difficulty of getting a trial ride off property. Also horses being very misrepresented and turns out they have never been anywhere.

Questions to ask would include what local trails horse has done, how often, what kind of terrain, what kind of stamina, if he loads easily in a trailer, ties at the trail head, has he been camping, high lined, hobbled. What obstacles props etc he’s been exposed to, what things like traffic tractors water crossings, tarps, umbrellas, dogs, bikes, ATVs, bears, etc.

If a horse is unsound for jumping he gets sold as a dressage prospect, and if he is unsound for dressage he gets sold as a trail horse. But unless someone has put trail miles on him, one outing to the park doesn’t make a trail horse.

Green horses also get sold as trail horses if they are fairly calm. No arena skills = trail horse. But you want a trail horse to have lots of lateral maneuverability and good response to the aids.

[PuraVida]

Scribbler- aside from the horse bought from the horse dealer, I had professional horse people with me giving me their opinions & blessings on the purchases . Thank you for your kind words regarding the current trend in trail horses. I needed them!

[PuraVida]

Myamego- thank you for the kind words! I’m not in any hurry to find a good trail horse, and I appreciate your thoughts & advice!

[PuraVida]

SusieQNutter- you are completely right in the fact that I don’t want to do any of the work to make a trail horse

[PuraVida]

SusieQNutter - I edited my post to address your thoughts (and add addtl details).

[tabula_rashah]

When you try the horses are you trying them on the trail or just in the ring? If you were my client, first we’d go see the horse at home- have the owner ride, then me, then you. Then I’d ask for at least a second visit, horse hauled somewhere off property to be ridden on the trail first by the owner and then by you.

[PuraVida]

Tabula rashah- I tried them all on the trail, but I’m thinking that because there were other horses around/they were familiar with the property that none of us noticed any red flags The next horse I look at will have a trial period at my place before I purchase. Thx for your input!

[CFFarm]

Good trail horses are hard to find. I second the trial period. And any horse (unless they are turned out in a group) will carry on when his pasture buddy is taken away.

[PuraVida]

CFFarm - thanks for the input!

[PuraVida]

Scribbler - if you see that thread regarding trail horses, can you post it for me? I’d like to read it…

[Foxglove]

I think SusieQnutter has a thought you might consider --you want a trail horse but don’t mention the work involved to train or maintain a trail horse. I am sure there are horse that exist that one can keep and not ride for long periods of time,then saddle, bridle and have a perfect horse on the trail (or show ring). But I think those horses are rare --it is my opinion that horses need work to be good citizens. Ideally, daily work, certainly work 2-3 times a week. And by work, I don’t mean trail ride the horse --although that would be better than leaving it in the barn. Buddy Sour is a vice that can be successfully addressed with training. But training that is consistent and frequent --not just now and then.

Being old and far from instructors, I content myself with using DVDs --training series for horses --there are a number of them available, and I think some are specific for trail horses. I watch a lesson, then go out and work with my horse. And I do that 3-5 times a week. He’s a solid citizen --but if I let him sit for a month --it takes me 4-5 days to remind him he’s a horse and has a job to do. I can’t just “hop on and go ride.” IF I do, I get all the attitude you’ve mentioned.

Example --a woman used to ride with me (and still does occasionally, although I try to avoid riding with her) who insists that her horse doesn’t need to be ridden. “I can ride her once a year and she’d PERFECT!” --Well, if you call fussing while being saddled, bucking., strong on the bit, unresponsive, and generally a PIA to ride --yep, the mare is perfect. The woman frankly doesn’t have the time to ride her horse. So, she sets her standards really low, expects nothing of the horse, and gets nothing. On the other hand, she says “Your horse is like a big dog.” --not sure that’s a compliment, but he is very, very quiet and well-behaved. But trust me, that’s due to lots and lots of work at home.

If you really want to buy a good trail horse, join a local trail riding group. Some how get yourself on a few organized trail rides by borrowing or leasing a horse. Meet people whose horses you admire. Ask how those horses got that way. MTRA has a web site (Michigan Trail Riders Association) where people post horses for sale. By meeting people, you will soon learn whom you can trust. MTRA members are proud of their horses. I wouldn’t buy a trail horse unless the seller was willing to take horse and me on a trail ride, off property.

Secondly you could broaden your search to Working Ranch Horses. Horses that have done that kind of work are well suited to trail riding. I have two former Ranch horses. One did 250 Mile Shore to Shore two years ago. When someone like you has had a wonderful first horse, years ago, it is hard to find a second horse as great. Might be the first horse was flawed, but youth and time have minimized those memories.

[cutter99]

May I ask what your price range is on these horses?

I don’t want to come off the wrong way because there is a specific reason I ask.

Also, what attracted you to the horses you did buy?

[drafting_dots]

my first thought is similar to the above, what is your price range? a lot of horses get lumped into the trail horse pot in a certain price range just because they have no training or people just don’t know what to do with them. might be a stereotype but when i see ads for cheap trail horses their owners seem like yahoos.

in my experience, a good natured horse can become a good trail horse. maybe your next trail horse is advertised as a low level hunter or dressage horse. these types will likely have more solid basic training on them, which translates well to trail work if they have the correct disposition.

maybe look for something like a little QH with some good training that’s just too small to be a hunter so has a lower price tag. i see a lot of these around here and some have also been out hilltopping etc. depends on where you live though…

[AKB]

My current trail horse is a 9 year old Connemara cross. He evented for several years, but was a bit lazy and often had stops XC. I am in my 60’s and am a timid rider. This horse has been a delight. We have trail ridden alone and with friends in many parks in several states. Good trail horses do exist! Ride your prospective horse in many situations before you buy. Have a professional ride the horse once a week for you so he stays fit and obedient after you own him.

[Guilherme]

If you are going to buy a dressage horse you try the horse out with dressage in mind (examination, PPE, work in dressage venue, do dressage maneuvers, etc.). You have somebody video you on the horse so you can see what you were feeling. Then you go home, review the video, think about it, and try the horse again, doing same thing you did before (including the video part). Then you go home and compare the two videos. Now you can make an informed decision.

Complicated? Ayup. Drive the seller nuts? Probably. But you’ve got money, they’ve got a horse, and before you make the swap you make sure that swap is right for YOU.

Substitute any discipline you want for “dressage” and you get the same process.

The trail horse is done the same way, except that the second trail ride is not the same route as the first trail ride. Otherwise, no difference. You can, and should, have some video from on the trail as you want to see movement. Of course you’ll likely be testing the horse in an arena of some sort so you get that video, too.

As you have learned from experience not all horse sellers are honest. They are, in fact, the sires and dams of used car sellers. Remember that and you’ll save yourself some grief!!!

Temperament is a big deal with trail horses and that can be difficult to determine unless you put the horse in a milieau where variations will become apparent.

The hard truth is you’re going to have to kiss a lot frogs before you find your prince. There are no short cuts. That’s just the nature of the beast.

Good luck as you go forward.

G.

[Scribbler]

Since I got my horse trailer last year, I have been putting some thought and effort into making trail horses.

First, they all go better down the trail with a buddy. One other rider is my preference, I don’t like accommodating groups. You want to start out with a buddy who won’t exceed your comfort zone and has good safety standards.

​​​​Second you do need to take into account the horse’s stamina both physical and emotional. You don’t want them coming home foot sore or backsore, or mentally fried by too much new stimuli. That will make them unhappy about the next outing.

We are lucky to have a small network of easy trails next to our barn. All the horses I’ve taken out have been pretty good on them. But any horse with holes in his training (most horses!) will show those holes under stress, whether that’s balk or barn sour or fussy or hot or spooky. It’s interesting watching these holes surface and dealing with them.

Finally you will never get back the horse of your youth that did everything for you. Almost all of us have that first horse love in our past, and realize only in hindsight how good we were together.

You can however remember what it felt like and then take small incremental steps towards getting there. Ground work and obstacle work is great. This summer I ended up on some pretty rough mountain trails, like I hadn’t ridden since I was 18. Maresy was fantastic, and I credit that to all our liberty agility work with circus boxes and teeter trotters. Despite being a flatlander she knew how to step down a short drop and carry on.

​​​​​So don’t buy a horse with the assumption you can ride out alone on an unfamiliar trail the first week and have everything go smooth. It is an exceptional and experienced horse that will do a totally new trail alone. I took it for granted as a teen exploring, but also I rode with other kids a lot at the start.