Some of a good trail horse's confidence is innate, so by choosing your mount wisely, you'll have at least half of the basic skills in place. The rest is on-the-job training, gained through careful exposure to the sights, sounds and sensations of the great outdoors. Enlist understanding and capable riders and their sensible horses to help you with your outdoor-education program, and you'll enjoy rapid progress. As your trail-riding experiences become more positive, you're likely to notice that your ring work also improves. That's because you've refined your in-the-saddle communication skills and increased your horse's willingness and ability to respond to them--the underpinnings of good horsemanship in any setting.
This article originally appeared in the August 2001 issue of EQUUS magazine.
