Would My Ex-Arena Horse Be A Good Trail Riding Horse Now?

  QUESTION: I have a horse that has been used for 10 years in the arena, mostly for barrel racing. I now have since quit racing and would like to do more trail riding. My question is would this horse be a good horse to trail ride on?

  ANSWER: To answer your question, no. I would advise you to seek a horse that has been bred and trained for the trail. Most arena horses are bred to be quick, fast and very athletic. This causes them to be chargy, hot blooded, jiggy, and reactionary. It is what makes them so competitive. They are quick up on adrenaline and slow to come down off of it, just like a sprinter or running back. Many times they are always pushing on the bit, dancing sideways, and doing a piaffe (trotting in place) when you are trying to walk. Another thing that happens quite frequently is they need to be totally worn out before they will settle down and walk.

  On the other hand, horses that were bred and trained for the trail are slower, milder tempered, not as athletic, and have a gentler disposition. This causes them to be quieter at a walk, not so quick to react, more adapted to walk out, and slower to react to new situations. For generations these horses have been selected for these traits. They are more similar to a cross country runner or a long distance runner. Ones that were unsafe or unpredictable were not kept for reproducing. This has helped to create a horse that is safe, smooth, fast walking, and level headed on the trail.

  Does this mean you need to sell your barrel horse and go buy a trained trail horse. That depends on you. The first question I have for you, is how much time do you have to spend with your horse preparing him for the trail? This not only applies if you have a trail horse, but also if you have an all-around horse. Every horse has the potential to be a great partner for you in your horsemanship journey. Being a trainer and clinician, I am a firm believer in forming a partnership with your horse that will last a lifetime. This takes many hours with our horses, exploring their physical, mental, and emotional sides. Finding where the problem lies and knowing how and when to correct it.
My best advise is to have an equine professional you know and trust give you and your horse an evaluation. The two of you can talk about your goals for the horse and find out if this is the best horse for you. See you on the horsemanship trail!