I know this is largely dependent on the individual. But I thought I would ask out of curiousity.
- I do long trails and mountain riding, so I need somthing sound and sane.
-I also ride with begginer/ intermediate riders , so I need something steady so I can help them if needed or lead the rides.
-On the other hand, My regular riding partners are on arabs and long legged thoroughbreds, so I need somthing that can get out and move, and keep up with a faster paced ride.
So what are your favorite trail horses? Do you have a specific breed you prefer?
I know a lot of people around here go to Tennessee Walking Horses or Spotted Saddle Horses for trails. They tend to be super mellow and forgiving. They're also a smooth ride and can keep up a good steady pace.
I have Tennessee Walkers - love them, but (IMO) the popular train breeds all have their strengths and weaknesses.
All of the TWHs I've known have sound minds and huge hearts. There does tend to be different "types" of TWH's - some are a smaller or leaner build, others are taller and more "stocky." It's really just a matter of personal preference.
If you do have a gaited horse and ride with a group of non-gaited horses, there is always a chance you may run into problems matching speed with the others.
Gaited horses are meant to cover ground with a swift, smooth-riding movement. While it's not always the case, the other horses may have to jog, trot, or even lope or canter to keep pace with a gaited horse. The alternative would be constantly having to hold your gaited horse back to what's often called a "dog walk."
There are very strong opinions in both camps when it comes to gaited and non-gaited trail riders. Non-gaited riders often accuse gaited riders of being speed-freaks who just burn up the trails, and say we go too fast to enjoy the scenery. On the flip side, many gaited riders say that non-gaited riders just don't get to see as much in one ride because it takes them so long to get anywhere.:lol:
Gaited horses are meant to cover ground with a swift, smooth-riding movement. While it's not always the case, the other horses may have to jog, trot, or even lope or canter to keep pace with a gaited horse.
I don't see that as a problem at all. I doubt TWHs expend less energy to maintain a given speed compared to a non-gaited horse at the same speed.
A working trot is the trot that a well conditioned horse can maintain for mile after mile and averages 8 - 10 mph, which pretty much matches the speed of the typical TWH running walk (6 - 12 mph based on what I have found online).
The problem is that most riders associate trail riding with a lazy walk with the reins on the buckle.
two types of horses on the trails, Tennessee Walking Horses, and the ones other less informed people are riding.
I was less informed at one time. So cant be to hard on people.
two types of horses on the trails, Tennessee Walking Horses, and the ones other less informed people are riding.
I was less informed at one time. So can't be to hard on people
I've never ridden one, so I don't know. Rode a gaited appy mare, but her gait was the same pace as a thoroughbreds trot. I find the thoroghbreds and arabs like to get out and cover alot of ground but are not known for being steady and solid. When i'm not with begginers i like to cover alot of ground. i'm alittle worried about going gaited when i only ride with non gaited. I've ridden morgans and they seem to be nice horses in general, but the last one I was riding was such a jerk it turned me off the breed a little.
I have ridden Arabs for many years and covered many miles. They have all been solid and steady. Different breeds and horses within their breed can vary. A lot of it is the rider and how that the horse was raised and trained. It bothers me when horses are stereo typed so much. It's a "horse." :wink:
I ride all stock horse breeds. I think you can't go wrong with a Quarter horse. Research the bloodlines and get a horse that is performance or ranch bred and conformed to be a good traveler. Don't get a tightly bred 14 hand cutting horse and expect to keep up with 17 hand Tbs or arabs. I have 15 hand QHs and an Appy the same size and they can walk with just about anything and do it all day long.
LOL, JoeD--guess we know where YOUR heart is!!
IMO the most important things are: 1) Your horse is sound 2) Your horse can carry your weight 3) You'll HATE it if one person is riding a gaited horse and you are NOT!!
"Tyke" was a QH/TWH cross, and when our family was on trail riding vacations Tyke would do a running walk when we were road-trotting, which is neither a comfortable trot or fast enough to canter, and canter will wear your horse out faster than trotting. 4) Please get your horse in shape before you take him/her on any really long trail rides.
+1 for Kevinshorses. I have a 15 hh performance bred quarter horse that I love trail riding with. Our trails are hilly, sandy, steep, narrow, twisty and rocky.
After riding on these conditions for only a short period of time, I would like to answer your question this way:
Don't focus on breed, but focus on heart. My Sam had to literally pull himself (with me on top) up a very steep embankment during one ride.
My riding partners, who were at the top watching, called down to me to give him the reins. I was riding in one continuous rein and dropped it and grabbed onto his mane.
They said they saw him looking at the embankment and choosing his footing and that he dug his front hooves in before lunging up. It took him three good heaves and were were up on top.
His actions were described to me as heart. He didn't panic. He didn't make unnecessary movements and he thought his actions out.
Now, maybe I am humanizing it a bit, but he did carry us through. I dropped the reins and closed my eyes.
Sam has performance breeding in him and I can tell he enjoys the challenging trails. I'm not sure if that has anything to do with him being a QH, his specific breeding, or just his spirit. I doubt his spirit is unique to quarter horses.
This spirit will be the measure to which I judge future trail riding horses.
I guess what I am trying to say is that since generalizing breeds can lead to disappointment, maybe what you should seek is a set of proven behaviors in a horse, regardless of his breeding.
Trails, don't bash horses, yet. I've been looking at mule riders for a couple of decades, now. Mules, as an animal do not guarantee a good trail animal. In my experience for every well behaved mule, I have witnessed 2 unruly ones.
Two years ago we camped with a newlywed couple with her family's mules. 4 days in, she was in the hospital bc her mule panicked and dragged her back to camp.
They need to be trained JUST LIKE our trail horses do. I'd like some mule people to chime in about the differences in training a horse vs. a mule.
While I have never owned one nor been around one, I had a girlfriend in college who only road mules. She was from Alaska and she said they were the only equine sane enough to not totally FREAK OUT when she came across a grizzly bear! That was her opinion, not mine, but I don't really have one never been around one, just my two cents.
Sarge and Biscuit are both performance/ranch bred horses. Both are Quarter Horses. Sarge has the slowest smoothest lope of any horse I have ever seen - he is always the subject of much admiration when we take him anywhere. He is not a dead head - got tons of bottom and get up and go. Will go anywhere my husband points him. And on top of that, is a total love bug.
Biscuit is making a terrific trail horse - and I have trained him behind my friend's little Tennessee Walker. Biscuit can slow jog/trot to keep up just fine with a TW.
I ride with a variety of horses - the people I ride with the most are riding: several Arabians, a Paint/Arab, Tennessee Walkers, QH's, Friesan/Morgan cross and occasionally we ride with people that are on Rocky Mountain and Spotted Mountain horses.
They are all terrific horses. I don't hesitate to ride with any of them and my horse keeps up and is sane.
Every horse is different. They all have their good points. I think it depends on the individual horse. Barry's horse is a doll but I know his thought bubble says "trail rides with lots of people going slow is a DRAG". He prefers to go a little faster/farther/steeper/higher or be in front. Biscuit will go the speed I put him at and is pretty much a happy camper.
If I didn't have Biscuit anymore and was going to strictly trail ride, I would consider a gaited horse or an Arabian or Arabian cross. Arabian's are amazing. They can go like no other horse I have ever seen!
I've been riding Arabs for years and they have never let me down. Truth be told, breed doesn't reall matter all that much. As long as the horse can stay sound, and has the stamina to go on long hauls you're good to go. I used to ride a mutt of a horse who had the best of everything. He was standardbred x QH x small draft and he had over 3000 endurance miles under his cinch. Posted via Mobile Device
I love my haflinger for trail riding - especially in the rough terrain. That seems to be when he is most engaged and doing his best. He moves out well and can have a very smooth trot.
I was riding with gaited horses on rough terrain and he kept up. Even had some ask if he was gaited because his jog is so smooth. Not all haflingers move out so well, but they are out there. And they are a breed created in the mountains so they are sure footed and handle the terrain wonderfully.
I know you really need to judge every horse individualy, but if i see every horse with trail potential in my budget I'm gonna be out there a long time. I have done compeditive trail/endurance. If that was strictly what I was going for I would keep my arab cross, but I also need somthing versitile enough to take the beginners out. I used to ride a little arab that was amazing. since then I have ridden a mare that spooked at everything no matter how fast you were riding and a very unpredictable gelding that would be perfect one day and a bronc the next.
Of all the ottbs I've ridden on the trail, probably 2 were willing to slow down and take it easy. The rest of them loved to get going and move down the trail, waiting for begginers was not fun. Some of them were bad at understanding footing, instead of taking it easy through the unknown they want to run through it.
I have a very negitive oppinion of quarter horses which I need to get over. I have known too many crazy miserable bronky ones. The last one on the farm got spoiled by his owner, put her in hospital, then bronced 4 people off, including 2 trainers. He was also miserable with other horses.
I don't want to judge a breed by a few individuals, but I'm trying to use some of my experience to narrow it down.
I know you really need to judge every horse individualy, but if i see every horse with trail potential in my budget I'm gonna be out there a long time. I have done compeditive trail/endurance. If that was strictly what I was going for I would keep my arab cross, but I also need somthing versitile enough to take the beginners out.
I've ridden trails on QH, Appys, Arabs, Mixes, TWH, Warmbloods, Morgans, and Rocky Mountain Horses. All had their strengths and weaknessess.
I do like gaited breeds for trails and there are plenty of breeds to choose from beyond TWH, although I owned a TWH before and like them just fine.
Perhaps, it might be better to try and aquire an experienced schooling, lesson horse, or seasoned trail horse that has been specifically trained for trail.
Or, look for horses that really need to be bomb proof in whatever they are doing currently and how that will be beneficial in what you are hoping to accomplish.
We have had several TWH and MFTs and both are great horses. We started with the TWHs and transitioned to MFTs over the years. For us the change was mostly due to the type of country we ride in. We ride lots of rough trails when we are even on a trail. Our TWH's were wonderful and had great smooth gaits, but they couldn't gait very well in rough county. On a dirt road or smooth trail they could really fly. In fact our fastest TWHs were faster than our fastest MFTs.
What sold us on the MFTs is that they can do their gait in rough country much better than the TWH can. In rough country we found the TWH's had trouble keeping up. Both generally have great temperments, are sure footed, great stamina, and have good fast flat walks.
You can find nice heavy boned stout horses in both breeds as well, so it really came down to which breed could perform the best in rough country day after day. We have a few TWH's we have held onto because they are exceptional individuals but generally the MFT's out perform the TWH's in the rough country we ride. We have also found them to be a bit more versatile all round horses.
For most applications I think anybody would be happy with either breed. If I lived in the flat lands and planned on purely trail riding I would possibly lean towards a TWH. Where I live/ride in the mountains I prefer the MFT. Both are great to ride and truth be told you may be best off finding the horse that best fits your riding level/desires regardless of breed as both are exceptional.
Mildot - I have kept the Biscuit at a 7 mph trot for 5 miles only slowing down to step over some trees. It was going around a 2 mile loop riding by myself. Biscuit stopped when I asked him to but a well conditioned horse can go for quiet a while at that speed. It is a fun ride! Lots of times though - people do want to meander along. I enjoy both types of rides - faster with just a few people and slower the more people there are!
We own a TWH and an Icelandic, and both are very nice trail horses, we also have an arab that is an amazing trail horse (certified search and rescue), but my Morgan/QH cross out-walks them all, by a LOT, and is comfortable to ride while doing it!
Hunt, I second exactly what you just said. I've transitioned over to MFT. They are a great mountain horse. I've still got a Arab/Saddlebred gelding that will out travel any of my Foxtrotters. But not as smoothly.
My gaited horses can dog walk just as slow as any quarter horse out there, If I ask them to walk. Any rider should be able to rate the speed of their horse. I once had some friends suggest I shouldn't be invited on ride because my foxtrotters was so much faster than their quarter horses and that they didn't want to bounce the entire ride trying to keep up. I was reluctantly invited and I made sure I brought up the rear all day long to show that my horse would mind and that I could move at what ever speed they elected to ride at.
My gaited horses can dog walk just as slow as any quarter horse out there, If I ask them to walk. Any rider should be able to rate the speed of their horse. I once had some friends suggest I shouldn't be invited on ride because my foxtrotters was so much faster than their quarter horses and that they didn't want to bounce the entire ride trying to keep up. I was reluctantly invited and I made sure I brought up the rear all day long to show that my horse would mind and that I could move at what ever speed they elected to ride at.
A good horse - regardless of breed - will be able (and willing) to go the speed you ask of them.
Personally, I am an ayrab person all the way. My mare can and has taken beginners around at a walk so slow I felt like we were going backwards. Hell, she's given pony rides to small children in the parking lot of the mall's Applebee's once when the truck broke down and we were waiting for repairs.
If you close off your search based just on breed, you may be missing out on your ideal horse.
the walker WTC thing,
A walkers trail gait is faster than a walk, but slower than a trot, So with the Walker out front. The person on the QH ends up, walk/ trot, walk trot, walk trot, gets really old..
The the walker's run walk is faster than a trot, up around 8-10. So if you let the trotter up front you keep running up on his butt. Some gaited horses do well at any speed. SOme like mine cant. He has a couple comfortable speeds he likes to get into.
Not sure about you a horse may be able to do a working trot for mile after mile, but danged if I'd want to be sitting in the saddle.
the walker WTC thing,
A walkers trail gait is faster than a walk, but slower than a trot, So with the Walker out front. The person on the QH ends up, walk/ trot, walk trot, walk trot, gets really old..
Sounds like a training issue to me. Rode with quite a few gaited horses - TWHs, paso finos, spotted saddle, etc and never had a problem with either the gaited or the trotters being able to rate their speed unless it was one of the greener horses out that was still being trained.
The problem with a mixed group of gaited/trotters is that people actually have to ride their horses and pay attention. The rider can't just let their minds wander and let the horses pick the speed because the horse will fall into what is most comfortable for them. Its the rider job to ask the horse what speed to move at and keep them there.
I agree with previous posters that I would not be quick to judge the breed and miss out on a good horse.
I grew up with MFTs and now have only Paints. I ride with mostly all QH and APHA and there is a vast difference in speed and gaits, even within our similar stock type horses. My main gelding that I ride will outwalk them all if I do not rate the ride. Which is ok with me, because he has learned that he goes the speed I want him to, not whatever he feels like doing. And on the other hand, there are horses we ride with that are slower than molasses if not nudged along.
I agree emphatically that you are responsible for your horses speed. I never let my horses decide to do anything that I didn't suggest. Or, atleast I try not to.
pretty happy sitting perfectly level and riding past trotters bouncing up and down or posting, Been there done that, got the t shirt. Thanks but no thanks.
I go down the trail to go down the trail , I see no reason not to let my horse pic a speed he's comfortable with and just relax and enjoy the sceneery. I'm not out there to fight a horse.
Last year I went on a girl's trip to McKinney Roughs. My buddies were riding an Arab mare and a Tennessee Walker gelding. We went quiet aways with the other two cantering and Biscuit was doing a long trot at darn near 12 mph according to my Garmin. And he held that for a long time. LOL He did tire out before they did but he wasn't in the shape he is in now.
He can trot extremely fast...my buddies were rolling that he was keeping up with their canters!
He can also jog super slow - he has several trot speeds and he is pretty darn smooth. I love to trot The Biscuit - it is a blast!
Some of the best trail trail horses I've ever ridden were QHs. Quiet horses, generally. I like their slow, smooth jog for covering ground and a slow lope is fun to ride. The very heavily built ones tend to get sore and overheat on long riders when not conditioned more so than lighter horses.
As far as gaited horses, I've ridden a decent lot of SSH. It isn't really a breed; more a registery of horses that fit into a broad type. You see horses with TWH (a lot of show bred horses are spotted TWH), standardbred, old gaited mutt, gaited pony, fox trotter (sometimes), ect.
There are two kinds, broadly speaking: the "foundation" horses and the "show bred" horses. Foundation horses are usually the shorter, stouter, and calmer horses. They were bred to be trail horses. I've found that they tend to be more often trotty than pacey, but generally have a smooth gait that is easy to keep them in. They take naturally to the trails like ducks to water.
Show bred horses are a bit hotter. They're leaner built, taller. They tend to be pacey, since many are bred to gait well in weighted shoes. It takes a little gaited horse knowledge to keep them smooth. They are nice trail horses as well, but take a little time and always have more "go" than "whoa."
When selecting trail horses, it's a lot up to the particular horse. Horses don't read their papers and some are nothing like their kin (that being a good or bad thing!)
My wife rides a quarter horse, and it's walk, trot, walk, canter, etc.
My SSH in the flat walk, forces the quarter horse to trot and in a running walk, he has to canter.
My SSH doesn't lolly gag around but rather walks with a purpose and most non gaited horses struggle to keep up.
You might as well "Ride With Pride" on a Tennessee Walking Horse or Spotted Saddle Horse.
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Related Threads
?
?
?
?
?
The Horse Forum
3.4M posts
92.6K members
Since 2006
A forum community dedicated to horse owners and enthusiasts. Come join the discussion about breeding, grooming, reviews, health, behavior, housing, adopting, care, classifieds, and more!