Why is it so hard to find a safe trail horse?

[Pocket_Pony]

I do agree that training a horse to be a good trail horse is its own discipline. Being a “trail horse” isn’t a default for every horse that is lame and no longer usable as ______(enter other discipline here).

To the OP, I’d also ask yourself what kind of trail riding do you want to do? Are you aiming for Tevis-type of rides, or do you like to just piddle around the pasture? What kinds of terrain/obstacles/situations will you be in?

I also agree that a lot of the horse’s temperament on the trails depends on the rider’s temperament. If the rider is nervous or scared, the horse is likely to be so also.

Ditto the suggestions of not just looking at ads, but getting in with riding groups and seeing what you can find. Good trail horses are so often sold by word of mouth, not via “sales barns” like you’d find in other disciplines.

I didn’t realize it was so hard to find a good trail horse, and it makes me appreciate my horse even more! Although I give credit to his good brain inside his big ugly mustang head. He started as a pack horse and then I bought him have been doing his u/s training ever since. We ride alone, with others, in front or behind, go through single-track trails in the forest, on the sides of mountains. We experience hikers, bikers, dogs, deer, coyotes, and just the other day a bear! We go through creeks, cross bridges, up hills, down hills, over logs. We go english, western, or bareback. Sometimes bitless, sometimes not. Sometimes we only walk, sometimes we wtc, sometimes I loop my reins over the saddle horn and gallop up the trail with no hands. Our one issue is getting hooked on mares and so I’m trying to work on that by going out with mares more.

I guess I’d say also that a good trail horse should be valued just as a good horse of another discipline. You shouldn’t expect to plop down $500 for a good horse from a CL ad…highly unlikely that it would work out the way you’d hope.

[meupatdoes]

@jody jaffe;7046218

I know several people looking for the same horse that I’m looking for with the same success rate: none. One buddy almost wound up in the hospital because she believed the ad on Dreamhorse.

Why is it so hard to find a horse that won’t bolt and spin when startled on the trail; one that won’t get flustered if other horses pass, one that can stop and steer and most important, one with a known history? There are plenty out there that have been with the current owner for a month or two and are billed as as close to bomb proof as you can find in a horse. Really? How could anyone know that after that short of a time?

The safety or lack thereof of a trail horse is largely due to the skill or lack thereof of the rider.

A skilled enough rider can take pretty much any horse out of an auction, or otherwise obtain a horse at random, correctly assess the horse, address any training issues appropriately, and have a lower probability of coming off than an intermediate rider on a previously trained and experienced “known quantity”.

A less skilled rider meanwhile can miss the opportunity to nip a spook in the bud by redirecting the horse’s attention and create a problem that would not have happened with somebody else. So as far as the good rider has experienced the horse rides fine.

I say this as someone who did 90% of her then 3.5yo’s Oldenburg’s first four months undersaddle on solo trail rides in the snow after installing ‘go steer and stop’ for two weeks and becoming, you know, independent of being led around on the longe line, and who has previously spent time training a weekly revolving door of auction horses into pleasure homes, never having had a single issue with any of them. All those horses were fine because they were ridden well and problems got prevented before they happened. None of my show horses spend any time “training” for trails, they consider trails to be “Relax Time Where We Amble About On A Spaghetti Loop.”

I have also watched a potential buyer of a 14.3 grade horse that had been nothing but sweet, calm and tractable, scream “WHOA WHOA WHOA” and burst into tears when the horse …continued to walk at an ambling pace and they found themselves “unable to stop.” I dunno, stop screaming and pull on the reins, maybe?

[BarbaricYawp]

[QUOTE=GaitedGloryRider;7046311]

I think the biggest problem a lot of people have buying a trail horse is getting over that “JUST a trail horse” mentality. Not every horse can be a really great trail horse, some simply are not cut out for it. [/QUOTE]

This^^. And also people need to be clear in their definition of ‘trail horse’ – are you looking to do judged rides, limited distance endurance, Sunday afternoon cruises through the park? Who is riding and what is your/your kids/your husbands skill level? Be honest because you can save yourself a lot of time if the seller knows YOUR quirks upfront. If you have a gimpy leg and need something that can stand for the mounting block, say so. If you want something that is forward but controllable for endurance, say that. And never, ever buy a trail horse without taking it on the trail. We breed and train Pasos for the trail and I strongly encourage people to come with their trailer, not because I expect them to take the horse same day, but so when we take them out on the trailride they can see how the horse handles THEIR usual routine with THEIR equipment – does he tie, load, unload, tack and trail the way they expected. Can they ride him away from the group if they plan to ride solo a lot, or can they ride anywhere IN the group if they plan to ride with groups a lot.

I think you have a hard time finding decent trail horses cheap because the number of people who are willing to go through all of that effort to match the horse and rider for $500-1000 is pretty small. At that price point you are more likely to get the ‘say anything’ sellers or horses that will need work or have age/health issues. You just have to decide whether it’s in the budget to buy into something that you can enjoy from the get-go versus have to work with for a while to get it to where you feel comfortable.

[saddleup]

I found my last one on dreamhorse.com by searching for a “ranch horse”. He had worked cattle and mules on a huge ranch in Wyoming, and had camped out in the mountains for the entire summer before I bought him. I took a chance that the sellers weren’t honest, but turned out they were.

He’s the one I trust to pack my 7 year old grandson around. He’s worth his weight in gold. I’ve turned down several offers to buy him, but he’s not going anywhere. When asked why he was for sale they said he was too old. He was 5! But in their business, they’d put a good year’s training in their horses then sell them, so he’d been around an extra year and they had younger ones to put the miles on.

I’d suggest narrowing your search to horses with a ranching background. They’re not spoiled, they usually have good brains, and they’ve been taught patience.

[Fairview_Horse_Cente]

A good horse for other disciplines will often also be a good trail horse. Unfortunately, people don’t want to pay much money to “just do trails”. My warmbloods go out on trails, and are quiet and easy, but that IS what I breed them to be. A few of mine that have been more sensitive for the advanced very talented riders, are actually my “oops” horses, and difficult to sell.

[wendybird]

an 8 year old horse is only just maturing in the head.
I’m wondering just what OP sees as her responsibility in the partnership. A horse will take a lot of confidence from its rider, who needs to show confidence in the horse.
It also takes a few months to get the partnership going, I think it’s a pretty naive rider who thinks that they can leave all the responsibility to the horse.
I’ve got 2 arabs and they are now, at 12 and 14, almost ‘bombproof’, but I wouldn’t expect either of them to not react to something new, or to a complete surprise. And they are always on the alert when in a new neighborhood.

re the horse that is antsy when in the lead: this is because it has the responsibility for the herd. TA DA!!! It is wired to look out for danger. When it can take its turn back in the group, it will relax & let the new lead horse take over.

[China_Doll]

With the horses I have bought that were already trained , I always just showed or trail rode and never gave it any thought. I expected them to behave and they always did. None of this, gotta let them get settled BS, I just treated them like it was just another day and always got along well. My friend who has an excuse for every thing and gives them time to adjust and makes a big deal about everything has bought many horses that were very capable of doing what ever, and has had issues with every horse. So I think most problems are caused by the rider and people making excuses.

[Malda]

[QUOTE=saddleup;7049582]
I found my last one on dreamhorse.com by searching for a “ranch horse”. He had worked cattle and mules on a huge ranch in Wyoming, and had camped out in the mountains for the entire summer before I bought him. I took a chance that the sellers weren’t honest, but turned out they were.

He’s the one I trust to pack my 7 year old grandson around. He’s worth his weight in gold. I’ve turned down several offers to buy him, but he’s not going anywhere. When asked why he was for sale they said he was too old. He was 5! But in their business, they’d put a good year’s training in their horses then sell them, so he’d been around an extra year and they had younger ones to put the miles on.

I’d suggest narrowing your search to horses with a ranching background. They’re not spoiled, they usually have good brains, and they’ve been taught patience.[/QUOTE]

This is a good idea. I’ve known a couple of people to buy ranch horses and were really happy with them. Completely broke and knew how to take care of themselves on the trail.

[Sacred_Petra]

While there are a lot of good ranch horses out there, I wouldn’t necessarily pick one for a good trail horse, especially straight off a ranch. I deal with a lot of ranch horses and trail horses, and the ranch horses can be great, IF they have a confident, work-minded rider. There are always exceptions, but I often see the ranch horses get nervous and pushy if the rider second-guesses anything or doesn’t maintain a leader mentality 100% of the time.

[equinelaundry]

Have you had a looksie at the TB’s on New Vocation’s site? They have children riding on OTTB’s in beautiful settings so maybe your “one” is there right now.

[rideon]

A do it yourself project will pay off

What a challenge. Many trail riders have instilled bad habits into their animals. Example, running up hills, hurrying through mud, becoming anxious when passinging other animals. They take short cuts or really accept substandard behavior from their animals for the sake of a ride. So it is all about the training.

Rather than buy a lunk headed horse, suggest you make the investment into a horse with potential and train him to your needs. That may include being selective with who ride with until your horse is totally trained and connected to your needs.

Here’s my exprience. I took a young horse out and my friends wanted to run up hills and race through water crossing for the thrill of it. I was finding my horse was becoming unsafe, and bucking up hills. I had to ride separte from them and reschool. It was worth it. It seemed at that time like the solution was to sell him and look for one of this “trail proven” horses.

The bottom line is this. Trail riding horses are probsbly one of the most undervalued of disciplines because many trail riders are sloppy about their habits.

[Flash44]

Horses need jobs

A good young trail horse, just like a good young anything else horse, needs to go down the trail on a regular basis to really be on it’s best behavior all the time. It’s natural for a horse to spook at really strange things and act like horses. I can’t bet mad at a young healthy horse that acts like a horse. Now I can expect something better from that young healthy horse IF I take the time to exercise (and desensitize) the horse regularly. But if I let that horse sit and eat for 5+ days and expect it to act like a deadhead plug, that may not be realistic.

I would opt for an older (teen or older) horse with a history of few owners and regular work, preferably a stock type breed such as qh.

My son’s trainer has dozens of lesson horses and ponies, with the young ones being in their teens. Many of the horses are in their twenties. BUT they are safe and reliable and the kids can learn to ride safely and confidently. Once the kids are better riders, they usually buy their own horses or get reassigned to the occasional younger horse that comes through the barn. The trainer says, “Age makes them stop and think rather than spin and run.” And if they don’t get ridden for a while, it’s no big deal.

[sunridge1]

[QUOTE=mzpeepers;7046345]
Because training and making a good trail horse, a REALLY good trail horse, the kind that is just about bombproof, quiet, fun to ride etc., etc., takes time. A horse like that would be priced on the high end of the spectrum, yet most people don’t want to pay good money because it’s “just for trail riding”.
Also, I have two that are exactly what you’re looking for. I put years into them and wouldn’t part from them for the world. Paople that have those kind of horses tend to hang on to them.[/QUOTE]

This. If I were to sell my best trail horse to the tune of what great show horses bring, he would be 5 figures. No one would ever pay that, but considering the amount of training he’s had over the years, along with his breeding and his extreme ability on the trail that’s what it take for me to sell him. I take that back, he would need to be pried from my dead fingers.

From what I have seen as an avid trail rider nearly everyone MAKES their own trail horse, they will never pay for the value of the training and they rarely sell their good ones. Personally since I’ve done both, IMO it is much more difficult to ‘make’ a good trail horse then it is to ‘make’ a good show horse. ( I have hot horses with hot pedigrees.)

[Countrywood]

Interesting posts…the riders who train/make their own trail horses are skilled riders. If after all that training, said horse can be handed off to a beginner or unskilled rider and still be well behaved is a question mark (since few, as they admit part with these horses)

A nearly bombproof horse that goes along without spooking or dumping rider when rider is a clod/beginner/timid etc…they are out there…sort of…some of them so weak from poor nutrition or over use as lesson/trail mounts they really can’t do much…and or see them bitted up with such severe bits and tie downs they are also unable to do much…the severe bit has such harsh consequences that not much can be done on the horses’s part…half these horses are semi lame and couldn’t go forward if they wanted to. It’s sad.

Kids more or less can be light weight passengers and an old or very quiet horse can do well with them in the right circumstances.

[rainechyldes]

Well lets also remember like any horse discipline.
You have packers - aka school masters
you have ammy friendly and you can potentially have pro-ride trail horses.

Not all my horses are packers. They are all highly experienced trail horses - since I raise/train/compete endurance horses but in my herd I’ve definitely got the gamut of a packer who can take a 4 year old out of a trail ride right through to a pro-ride level endurance horse.

On the trail they all have a solid education and skill set - but imo a packer (schoolmaster) is definitely worth his weight in gold - and most people who want a trail horse - don’t wish to pay that.

[LAZ]

I know some folks that do a LOT of trail riding horses–they start young horses as well & do a great job. All the horses get ridden out on the trail daily & they’re honest folks. Wea Valley Ranch in Lafayette, IN. If you tell them what you’re looking for they can let you know if they find it, and their prices are very reasonable. I have no affliation with these folks, other than they’ve started a couple of babies for me & I’ve been impressed with their good old fashioned horse sense.

[starrunner]

I am another advocate of finding a camp type horse. I have worked hard in the past placing some through a non profit I know and their new owners have been more than pleased.

Literally thousands of hours of riding, etc. Quirks are known along with general history. Horses that have been ridden by novices, more advanced kids, bare back through a galloping herd, around sail boats, etc. Most end up pretty quiet!

Downside is often they are body sore from carrying unbalanced individuals but I have found that easy enough to fix.

Our camp does a free lease in the off season and some of the best horses have been sold that way. Owner knows what they are getting and horse gets a great home.

Win, win.

If you were closer, I would have you look at a few that might enjoy a new life.

Best of luck.

[monalisa]

Jody
You are looking for the horse with the great brain and there are not that many of them, sad to say. You cannot train that part. When you find one like that the last thing you will ever do is sell it unless faced with a distress situation.

Recall many years ago there were a handful of old but VERY trustworthy ponies that were sent from one somewhat big name trainer to the other. These ponies never ever hit the market - same goes for the versatile horse with the great brain.

I own one of these horses and she will never leave my barn.

[mountainhorse]

[QUOTE=Sacred_Petra;7059681]
While there are a lot of good ranch horses out there, I wouldn’t necessarily pick one for a good trail horse, especially straight off a ranch. I deal with a lot of ranch horses and trail horses, and the ranch horses can be great, IF they have a confident, work-minded rider. There are always exceptions, but I often see the ranch horses get nervous and pushy if the rider second-guesses anything or doesn’t maintain a leader mentality 100% of the time.[/QUOTE]
Exactly. Just as well to remember that unless you are looking for a horse to do extensive work on, not the ambling trail horse ridden 1-2x a week, walk or jog only,…these horses will get bored. you do have to keep in mind they are hard working horses, just like a competition horse, have to be “on” for extended amounts of time with a job. To throw them into a leisurely life isn’t what all ranch working horses are ok with! Depends on the horse, of course.

[alex-equest]

I guess it also depends on where you live as well and what people tend to do in those areas. We bought our horses and just threw them out of them trails not expecting any problems and never have had any. But they are very leveled headed.
Both of our current horses are drafts a Haflinger and a Percheron.

When I sent my current show horse out to be backed for riding I sent her to a guy that all he does is some arena work but from day 1 those horses are being ponied on the trail. If you are interested in finding something trail safe I would recommend his horses if you live on the Eastern Shore of the US around Delmarva.