The Made Horse
There's no shame in wanting a horse that does it all. After all, most of us trail ride for the enjoyment, and tackling all the bugaboos of trail riding on a young horse can be less than fun and even dangerous.
By "made" horse, we mean one that's 4 years old and up, with solid training. Training is key, not age. Don't assume a young, well-trained horse may be difficult to handle, says Mau. "[Many buyers] think, 'Oh, he's young, so I'll have problems.' They'll buy a lesser horse who's 9 or 10. But they shouldn't shy away from a young horse [that's trained]."
An older horse will likely cost more than an young horse, but you can save money and time in the long run. "If you're purchasing a mature horse that's been trail ridden, then you have the benefit of years of experience," says Smith. "They've been there and done that. They've been exposed to creeks, bridges, banks, mud, ditches, traffic, etc.
"They should willingly go through all of it without making a fuss," she continues. "They should stand patiently during any part of the ride even if other horses are acting up. A good, mature trail horse would be my choice for any inexperienced rider. The rider can gain confidence without having to fight the horse and concentrate on their riding."
An exception is a mature horse trained for another discipline. Fanelli, for example, once purchased an ex-racehorse. "He never lost his desire to win," she says. "That can make for a very long day when there are other horses on the trail. If he spots a horse in front of him, he pulls and jigs until he passes the horse. This is great for endurance, but it's awful when I want to pleasure ride."
A gaited horse that was formerly a show horse could also be a poor choice for a trail prospect. The same is true for jumpers, hunters, and dressage horses. Great arena training doesn't necessarily mean the horse will be a calm, reliable trail mount.
"I've seen many people buy gaited show horses with the intention of trail riding them," Smith says. "These horses are often trained only to fly around the ring. They don't understand other horses passing them or how to stop and wait when a horse in front of them acts up. They don't stand to be mounted. They fight the rider the whole trail ride.
"Barrel racing horses have similar issues," she continues. "They generally know fly and stop, and they tend to be fractious when asked to wait."
Know what a horse's former job was, advises Smith. A ranch horse, for example, may have the exact traits you're looking for in a trail horse: patience, a work ethic, independence, tolerance, and a willingness to please.
A major drawback of purchasing a mature horse is that you know only what the seller discloses. Some soundness or behavioral issues crop up only after a period of time. And the older a horse is, the more likely he'll be prone to soundness problems.
"That's always the risk with an older horse," says Pavia. "Also, if a horse is older, you won't have him as long as you would if you bought a younger horse."
Price-wise, an experienced trail horse can cost around $3,000 to $5,000 and up. For the money, expect the horse to be trail-trained and ready. He should be sound, healthy, and confident in all situations. He should tie to the trailer, load and unload, and manage water and bridge crossings without a blink. He shouldn't stumble and he should be fairly versatile - that is, able to jump a log and walk-trot-lope in all kinds of situations.
A bit of dressage training is helpful, as well, because trail horses need to move laterally from time to time. And a good trail horse will drink and eat in any situation.
Young or old, perfect specimen or faulty, a love of the trail is the No. 1 criterion in picking out a trail partner, say trail riders. Some horses are just meant to be out on the trail. And if your new horse has a good mind, a work ethic, and a desire to please, he'll be as happy to be out and about as you are.
