The most useful things you can teach a trail horse
It would be nice to have a list of useful things we can teach our trail horses, to make trail riding easier and more pleasant! Please pitch in some ideas!
I'll start:
1) Standing still while mounting
2) Standing still after mounting
3) Positioning for mounting
4) Standing still on the trail while I try to look at my phone or map
5) Allowing me to play with halter/bridle while in the saddle (readjusting, removing a lead rope etc.)
6) Side passing
7) opening gaits
I'll start:
1) Standing still while mounting
2) Standing still after mounting
3) Positioning for mounting
4) Standing still on the trail while I try to look at my phone or map
5) Allowing me to play with halter/bridle while in the saddle (readjusting, removing a lead rope etc.)
6) Side passing
7) opening gaits
21 - 40 of 43 Posts
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They ought to tolerate gunfire.
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138 Posts
I don't see this poem posted, but both Tom Dorrance and Buck Brannaman have recited it at clinics.
Slicker Break A Bronco
When you're breakin' out a bronc,
better get him slicker broke
For you'll have to try it sometime
when it isn't any joke
When the wind begins a blowin'
till it snaps his mane and tail
And a big black cloud's a comin'
full o' lightnin', rain and hail
You know if you get off him
he will likely pull away
So you try it in the saddle
and you're hopin' that you stay
But your horse starts a buckin'
When you get it halfway on
While your arms and sleeves are tangled
then he throws you and he's gone
Your slicker's torn and busted
and the wind has took your hat
And you see your horse and saddle
go a-driftin' down the flat
Bout that time you get an idea
and you don't forget it, pal:
Better slicker-break a bronco
in a mighty good corral
-Bruce Kiskaddon
Slicker Break A Bronco
When you're breakin' out a bronc,
better get him slicker broke
For you'll have to try it sometime
when it isn't any joke
When the wind begins a blowin'
till it snaps his mane and tail
And a big black cloud's a comin'
full o' lightnin', rain and hail
You know if you get off him
he will likely pull away
So you try it in the saddle
and you're hopin' that you stay
But your horse starts a buckin'
When you get it halfway on
While your arms and sleeves are tangled
then he throws you and he's gone
Your slicker's torn and busted
and the wind has took your hat
And you see your horse and saddle
go a-driftin' down the flat
Bout that time you get an idea
and you don't forget it, pal:
Better slicker-break a bronco
in a mighty good corral
-Bruce Kiskaddon
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1,025 Posts
Sometimes it feels like that's how long it's gong to take!
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55 Posts
Many times it does.
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961 Posts
Horse has to be able to walk 4 mph all day. I don’t want to ride when I can get ther faster on foot, and I don’t want to have to trot to keep up with a trail ride.
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Oooo, spook in place... I did not know that could be thought. Thank you
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8,682 Posts
The only way to teach all these fantastic ideas to your horse is to ride him. And ride him on trails; not in an arena. Miles and miles and miles and miles. It is a good idea to start out with shorter rides so that if he dumps you off, you won't have so far to walk.
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8,682 Posts
I have not trained mine to wait for me if I fall off. (Last time I fell off, my horse went on home without me.) But one of my friends teaches hers by dismounting quickly and laying on the ground. Then she gives them cookies. So they learn that people on the ground have cookies. I don't know if it really works in practice.
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1,202 Posts
No eating while on trail. Bad, bad habit. They lose their focus and their step, accident waiting to happen.
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138 Posts
I don't know about this. I think it really depends on the type of trail riding you do. I know many longriders let their horse grab a mouthful because they need the calories.
I don't mind my horse grabbing a mouthful as long as he can do his job. And he knows the difference and pays attention when I say no. But I don't want to micromanage him on the trail if he doesn't need it, and I want him to enjoy our trip, too. And if a mouthful or two of overhanging greenery makes him happy, it makes me happy, too.
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1,882 Posts
Not pooping on trail
Rio has to poop he drifts to the left side of the trail
Drifts off the trail, stops, swings his butt 90 degrees to the trail and takes a step back
Poops, I praise him. pat him on the neck and off we go
Does this all on his own with no prompting
Hasn't messed a trail in years
He can also have his head stall slipped and turned loose on the grass
He will stay where I am
He will do this in a parking lot if there is an island of grass also
Rio has to poop he drifts to the left side of the trail
Drifts off the trail, stops, swings his butt 90 degrees to the trail and takes a step back
Poops, I praise him. pat him on the neck and off we go
Does this all on his own with no prompting
Hasn't messed a trail in years
He can also have his head stall slipped and turned loose on the grass
He will stay where I am
He will do this in a parking lot if there is an island of grass also
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1,882 Posts
Something I too will not tolerate. Even if it is corn up to his ears, he can not eat
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1,202 Posts
Yes I agree but only when I stop and let them is when they can eat. I'm not a long rider so......I have crossed my state which was 250 miles but I'm not a long rider.
I’m sure my horse would be fine with this, if a little bemused.
However, I’m pretty sure I couldn’t do that! Mounting is such muscle memory - it would be like trying to write with my left hand.
So maybe this one should go in a new thread of things trail riders should be taught!
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1,882 Posts
I know I could not mount my horse from the off side. lol
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