Training Your Arena Horse to Go on Trails

Two an a half months ago, I purchased a new dressage horse. She is a 15.1 hand American Warmblood and my first mare. She is eight years old. I named her Amara.

Amara has spent her life in an arena and is well started in Dressage. Had I not had to have knee surgery shortly after I bought her, I would have shown her at first level in dressage this summer. But, oh well.

As the author of three equestrian trail guide books for Colorado, any horse I own has to be able to function both in an arena and on the trails in the beautiful Colorado mountains.

Since Amara was not a trail horse, I needed to begin the process of training her to be one. The horse on the cover of the trail three books I have written is Kit, my thoroughbred. When I got him as a six-year-old, he was afraid of stepping on a shadow! He ended up showing in Dressage and becoming the world's best trail horse. He was so good that everyone with a new or young horse wanted to be in line right behind him. I love that horse!

 So, I've done this before. Amara is going to be easier to train because she has a very good brain in her head. But, that being said, there are some common sense steps one needs to take to move a horse from the arena to the trail.

STEP 1: Make sure your gas, brakes, and steering are well established while in the arena. Arenas serve a very important purpose when training by reducing the variables!

STEP 2: Venture out of the arena on your property. This is like sticking just your toe in the water. Practice walking, trotting, halting, circles...the usual arena stuff but outside the arena.

STEP 3: How is your trailer loading and unloading? If it is not good, stop here and work on that. If it is good, you may proceed to step 4.

STEP 4: Know the trail you are going to. You can hike it first or get a good trail guide book to advise you. I found that the regular trail books don't really deal with equestrian concerns which is why I wrote my own. What horse-hazards are you going to encounter? You don't need to do water crossings, bridge crossings, rocky ledges, etc, etc, on your first outing. You want it to be simple and successful.

STEP 5: NEVER GO ALONE. But don't take just anyone. Ask someone who has a steady, reliable trail horse. (Like Kit!) You don't need another horse upsetting your beginner and you may have noticed that horses feed off one another! Keep your first group small, 1 or 2 other horses.

STEP 6: This is not Endurance Training. Keep your first ride a nice calm walk. Talk to your horse, rub her withers and stroke her neck as you go along.

STEP 7: Think like a horse and be one step ahead. Anticipate what might be scary to him. Puddles will eat them, as will rocks! Look beyond the threat, keep calm and just ride past it. Or, let the seasoned horse lead.

STEP 8: Play Leapfrog. Take turns with the other rider(s) being in front, middle and back.

STEP 9: As your horse gets more experienced, add short sections of trot when the footing is good.

STEP 10: Go to the same trail a couple of times then start adding new ones.

STEP 11: Bikers - Stop and face them if they come up from behind.

STEP 12: Water Crossings: Take your time. Keep Calm. Let other horses go first. If that doesn't work, make a hundred circles, gradually getting closer to the water's edge until you actually get a foot in. Then move back away from the water and complete the circle and do it over and over.

Trail riding will become a favorite with your horse if you keep it safe and fun! It will also benefit your training. I practice my dressage on the trail: flex and bend around trees. Halt with just my seat and legs...you know...all that arena stuff but in a prettier setting!

VISIT MY WEBSITE TO SEE ALL MY AWARD-WINNING FICTION AND NON-FICTION BOOKS THAT HORSE-LOVERS LOVE!

www.dancinghorsepress.com

YETTI IS IN CELESTIA EARNING HIS UNICORN HORN

I am grateful that "The Mist Trilogy" brings comfort to those who are grieving the loss of their beloved horse. I received this letter and photo from the head instructor at Promise Ranch in Franktown, Colorado. It is a PATH, Intl certified therapeutic riding center. They are mourning the loss of Yetti, who passed away this week at only 20 years of age.

 This picture is so precious. The young man in the photo is a former rider at Promise Ranch, Patrick, who passed almost 2 years ago. It gives me great peace to know that Yetti and Patrick are together again. I have a dear friend, Margi Evans, who wrote a trilogy of books: "Behind the Mist," "Mists of Darkness," and "The Rising Mist," in which the young rider and his horse pass and learn that horses pass to become unicorns and continue to live and are protectors of animals and humans in our world. I know that Yetti truly earned his Unicorn Horn and gallops in Celestia among the great and noble horses!

-Carol Crisp-

THE AMAZING JUSTIFY!

I LOVE it when there is a triple crown winner! After watching the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness with the rain, fog, and mud, I was so happy that the Belmont had good weather and footing.

In case you missed it, here is the video of the final race of the Triple Crown:
https://youtu.be/hZDbn9P6NqU

Justify was born on March 28th, 2015...late in the year for a thoroughbred destined for the race track.  His mother is Stage Magic and his father is Scat Daddy. He was bred by John D. Gunther of Glennwood Farm.

The darling chestnut colt with the crooked blaze down his face was born full of life and cheekiness. His physique soon matched his big personality. He weighed 1,050 pounds as a yearling!

Justify was the result of careful breeding by Tanya Gunther at Glennwood Farm in Kentucky. You will notice on the pedigree that there is carefully planned inbreeding to get the desired qualities. She inbreed full sisters: Yarn and Preach, both by Mr. Prospector. 

Justify is one of only 2 Derby winners who didn't race as a 2 year-old. He remains undefeated. It is not known, yet, if he will be raced again. 

What is an American Warmblood?

Those of you who follow my blog know how heartbroken I was when my dressage horse, Jazz, died from a tear in his heart. I was devastated. It took me a couple of months to feel like I could even look at another horse as a prospective new partner. Well, yesterday, May 23rd, I brought home a beautiful little mare. She is eight inches shorter than Jazz and a girl to boot. I have never had a mare. I've always been attracted to boy horses and girl dogs!

As I said, I brought home this sweet girl and am already in love with her. She is an American Warmblood. Jazz was a Hanoverian, a warmblood breed developed in Germany. But America is developing their own warmbloods.

American Warmbloods are a warmblood type horse developed for the sports of Dressage, Jumping, Eventing, and Driving. They are approved and registered by the American Warmblood Society.  The horse must be suitable for the above sports and born in the U.S., Canada, or Mexico. While almost any breed is possible for acceptance, they must meet the strict criteria set forth by the society. Therefore, the American Warmblood is more of a "Type" than a "Breed" at this point.

Typically, they are solid in color and between 15 and 17 hands tall.

I have named my new horse "Amara" because she is so feminine in appearance. She is very responsive and as supple as a rope of licorice. She is amazingly calm for just an 8-year-old.

I am planning to work up the levels in dressage with her, but I also love to trail ride and jump so she is going to get to do a little bit of everything. 

Right now I don't have any plans to feature her in a book like I did Jazz in "Behind the Mist," but you never know....

The Centaur Chronicles

HORSES ARE HEALERS

HORSES ARE HEALERS-THAT'S NOT FICTION OR FANTASY!

 I was born with manure in my blood! What I mean is that once I took my first breath outside the womb, I needed a horse to survive! Some of you can probably relate to driving your parents crazy until they either let you take riding lessons or...better yet...got you a horse once they were convinced you wouldn't kill yourself. I bought my own horse when I was thirteen and taking care of him certainly kept me out of trouble as a teenager. Decades later, and now a grandmother, I am still a horse-lover and owner.

A few years ago, I worked for PATH, Intl., here in Denver, Colorado. PATH stands for "The Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship." While there, I learned that horses are truly magical...something I knew intrinsically but had never put into words. The stories of the miracles that took place at PATH riding centers around the country came in almost daily, often bringing tears to my eyes. One autistic child, who had never spoken a word, got on a horse and started talking! Veterans who are suffering from the loss of a limb or PTSD, have programs with horses that help them heal and find joy in their shattered lives. Children with cerebral palsy learn to improve their balance and coordination. Children and adults who can't walk, get on a horse and fly!

As a former middle-grade and High School teacher, I was particularly touched by the programs for troubled teens. Many of these kids had never had a friend...until they met a horse. Many had never felt loved...until they met a horse. Many had never felt a purpose in their lives...until they needed to care for a horse. Many had always felt powerless...until they moved a thousand-pound animal through an obstacle course. This isn't fantasy, but it is magical!

This was my inspiration for my only non-fantasy fiction novel. My Award-winning, coming of age novel, In the Heart of a Mustang, is about a teenage boy who is sent to a therapy ranch in Arizona. He arrives with his suitcase and a huge chip on his shoulder. It takes a wild Mustang and a wise, old cowboy to knock that chip off. Literary Classics Reviews said: "In the Heart of a Mustang is one of the finest books ever written for teens and pre-teens." Grab a copy wherever books are sold and have a wonderful time at Promise Ranch!

Autographed copies are available on my website: www.dancinghorsepress.com

(Pictures are taken from the PATH webside.)