A GORP Content Partner
Adapted from
Trail Riding
Western Montana
by Carellen Smith-Barnett
Choosing a Trail Horse
Meeting and Keeping an Equine Friend
No doubt the most important item you will take into the backcountry is your horse. Sadly some folks do think of a horse as just another piece of "equipment," but a good trail horse is much more than that. Your horse should also be your friend. And a friendly equine disposition is seventy-five percent of how well a horse will work for you and with you. An ideal mountain horse should have a quiet, gentle disposition, good stamina, and be reliable under all conditions. Few horses possess all of those qualities without training.
A good trail horse should also have "feet with eyes." It will walk with a natural, balanced gait and seem to know where to place its feet to avoid obstacles. Some horses are born with this and others learn it on the trail. A few may always trip up, slide off trail, or stumble over their own hooves; they make good pasture ponies, but don't bring them into the backcountry.
A horse with trail experience will be much easier to handle in the back-country than a youngster or an old homebody that's never left the pasture. If you're in the market for a new horse, ask about its trail experience. If you're new to riding, consider taking lessons from a good trainer. Try to find one who ventures beyond the show arena and at least occasionally rides trails.
Several physical characteristics are also the mark of a good trail horse. Withers—the bones at the top of the back just behind the neck—should be large and well-defined (not buried under muscle).
This will help to keep your saddle in place. Flat-backed, round-sided horses don't do as well over long distances as longer backed, flat-sided horses. Some folks call them "slab-sided"—a good image to distinguish the leaner body shape from barrel-sided, halter-type horses. It's a shame that over the years the judges in halter classes have favored highly muscled, round-backed, short-legged horses. They tend to tire too quickly and just don't do as well on trails because they carry too much muscle.
Like most domestic animals, horses have a descending order of authority, a "pecking order." A mare will usually lead a herd, unless a stud is present. Also exercise caution when placing horses in a packstring, at a hitchrail, or in a truck to avoid trouble or injury.
A green horse, like a green dude, will gain confidence by making the first trip with seasoned horses and riders. . .
Above all, horses are individuals. They usually follow general behavior patterns, but new situations can cause unexpected reactions. When you know the bad habits or attitudes of your horse you are better prepared for anticipating possible problems on the trail.Even gentle horses can become nervous and unpredictable when they first experience bogs, creeks, deadfalls, trees, and narrow trails, not to mention drop offs. In addition, mountain trail horses need to become accustomed to sudden movements of birds, wildlife, and dogs; hikers with bright, large packs; fast-moving mountain bikes, and loud motorcycles on the trail.
If you're using an inexperienced horse, there are several things to teach the horse before leaving familiar home territory. A horse must be halter-broken and accustomed to standing tied for extended periods. For practice, tie your horse in the home corral for various periods over several days.
Train your horse to be accustomed to hobbles, pickets, electric fences, or a high hitchline at home. Also, get your horse used to being mounted from both sides. In many steep mountain-trail situations, it's nearly impossible to mount a horse from the downhill side. There may not be a stump or a rock around, or an opportunity to turn the horse around to mount from the uphill side.
Shoes should be checked often. In the spring, they loosen more because the hoof grows faster. Know how to nail a shoe back on and carry extra shoes and nails, a rasp, and a hammer. For emergencies, bring along a slip-on shoe made of urethane. It slips over the hoof like a boot and is held in place by a buckle and cable.
A green horse, like a green dude, will gain confidence by making the first trip with seasoned horses and riders, either with Back Country Horsemen or some similar organization.
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