Trail Riding. Micaela Myers

Missouri Fox Trotter

      Original use: Missouri Fox Trotters were developed for the needs of the settlers in the Ozark Mountains of Arkansas and Missouri.

      Characteristics and trail suitability: Fox Trotters stand, on average, 14 to 17 hands and are known for their smooth, sliding fox trot. The gait involves the front end walking with animation, while the hind end trots with very little action. The breed is noted for being surefooted, with strong hooves.

       Paso Fino

      Original use: Paso Finos were selectively bred in Puerto Rico and in Latin America to create a sturdy, smooth-gaited riding horse.

      Characteristics and trail suitability: Paso Finos average 14 to 15 hands but are still noted for being able to carry large adults. Their gaits are performed at various speeds, with rapid footfall, hock action, and drive.

       Peruvian Paso

      Original use: The Peruvian Paso was bred to travel Peru’s rough terrain for long distances.

      Characteristics and trail suitability: Peruvian Pasos perform a comfortable, lateral gait that features a round movement in the forelegs, powered by strong hind legs. Average height for the breed is between 14 and 15 hands.

       Rocky Mountain Horse

      Original use: The breed was developed in the mountains of eastern Kentucky as an all-purpose utility horse.

      Characteristics and trail suitability: Rocky Mountain Horses are prized for their calm dispositions and smooth, four-beat natural gait that features a near-even cadence and minimal ground clearance to allow the breed to travel long distances without tiring. Rocky Mountain Horses typically stand between 14.2 and 16 hands.

       Spotted Saddle Horse

      Original use: Spotted Saddle Horses were selectively bred to create a riding horse with a comfortable gait and a colorful coat.

      Characteristics and trail suitability: All Spotted Saddle Horses must meet color requirements and exhibit a smooth saddle gait other than a trot, such as a single-foot, running walk, stepping-pace, or rack. On average, they measure 14.2 to 15.2 hands and are popular trail mounts.

       Tennessee Walking Horse

      Original use: Developed in the South, Tennessee Walking Horses were popular among plantation owners who desired a riding horse with a smooth, ground-covering gait.

      Characteristics and trail suitability: These are medium-sized horses, averaging 15 to 16 hands. Tennessee Walkers are very popular among trail riders for their calm temperaments as well as their gliding gaits. Unlike the traditional walk and trot, the Tennessee Walking Horse’s smooth flat walk and running walk carry the rider swiftly forward without bouncing.

      Purchasing a Trail Horse

      If you already own a horse, assess her suitability for trail riding honestly. Evaluate her soundness and temperament for trail, then ensure she has solid training before expecting a quiet ride in the great outdoors. Unless you’ve trained a horse before, it’s best to start with an experienced trail horse. If you don’t already own a horse, take your time and choose your new trail horse carefully.

       EVALUATING A HORSE

      You’ll probably begin your search for a horse by looking through ads from the newspaper, Internet, or local tack-store bulletin boards. Below are tips on searching for and evaluating horses.

       Search Tips

      Here are a few tips to help you with your search:

      Evaluate the horse’s description: Look for a horse that’s advertised as “good on trail.” Most ads will say what the horse has previously been used for, so stick to the ones that indicate the horse already has competence outside the arena.

      Call for more information: Find out exactly what trail experience the horse has had; see if it matches what you plan to do with her. For example, if you’re looking for a good pleasure horse that enjoys a few miles on the trail, horses currently competing in 100-mile endurance races will not be the best match. Find a horse that will be happy doing what you would like her to do.

      Schedule a visit: If the horse sounds like a good match, take an experienced friend, trainer, or riding instructor on a test ride with you. This person can help you determine if the horse is appropriate for you in temperament and training. You may want to ask your companion to record the ride. That way, you can review the recording later to discuss the horse as a potential candidate in greater detail or to compare the horse with other prospects.

      These two horses work well together, neither one acting up. Evaluate how well a prospective trail mount interacts with other horses before purchasing.

       Evaluation Tips

      Take your time during your evaluation. Don’t let the seller pressure you. If you aren’t allowed to thoroughly try out the prospect, move on. Here are some tips for evaluating your trail horse candidate:

      Get the horse yourself: Ask to go get the horse from her pen yourself, groom her, saddle her and bridle her, or watch the owner perform these tasks to evaluate how the horse handles them. Her ground manners are just as important as her behavior under saddle.

      Note her ground manners: If she doesn’t tie or has a bad attitude, note these facts. It’s inconvenient to have a horse that won’t tie or to have to retrain one to tie, and tying will be necessary in many situations. It’s always safer to have a horse that will tie well on trail rides in case of an emergency or even if you want to stop for lunch. A bad attitude about being handled and ridden could indicate physical pain or reflect the horse’s overall temperament.

      Let the owner ride first: Watch the owner ride the horse in an arena (or in a paddock if an arena is not available) to show you what the horse can do. Don’t consider a horse that doesn’t willingly walk, jog, lope, side-pass, turn, stop, and back up.

      Ride in the ring: Once the owner has demonstrated that the horse knows her basics, ask to ride her yourself. Again, have her walk, jog, lope, side-pass, turn, stop, and back up. A horse that performs for her owner but does not respond to you may not be a good match for your riding level.

      Trail ride: If all goes well and you still think the horse is a good candidate, see if you can take the horse on the trail. If the owner does not have another horse that he or she can ride on the trail with you, or if you plan to ride the horse alone on the trail, ask the owner to walk along with you while you go out for a short ride. Even a short trail ride in a nearby field will help you get a feel for how the horse handles when leaving the confines of an arena.

      Assess a horse’s trail skills: The more you can test the horse, the better. If you can, watch how she responds to traffic and water crossings.

      Test her trailer loading: If possible, ask to watch the horse being loaded into a trailer. Even if you don’t plan to trailer her often, you’ll need to do so in an emergency and, of course, when you take her home (if