Mountain Trail Course

Mountain Trail Courses are designed to mimic obstacles that a horse will encounter on a regular trail ride and perhaps, a little more. One may also encounter man-made obstacles, such as bridges or bikes. A course can offer a consolidated practice area to help horses and riders gains skills and confidence. Horses learn to handle a variety of terrain, giving them useful skills for trail riding, hunting/packing trips, or ranch work and can help a horse become an all-around solid mount.

A good MT horse will keep an even cadence throughout the course without rushing or balking and will navigate the terrain in a quiet, safe manner. It will “seek the trail” showing a willing, curious attitude and enjoy its job, while accepting the guidance of its rider from leg, seat and reins.

Horse and rider can advance by riding obstacles that are more challenging OR by increasing the level of difficulty on the same obstacle with progressively complex maneuvers.

LEVEL ONE (Walk Only)

• Rocks/Sawbucks
• Push gates
• Non-moving bridges
• Water
• Step-overs
• Slickers
• Up & down hills
• Side pass
• Carousel turn
• Cowboy curtain
• Backing (straight only)
• Tunnels (forward only)
• Ground tie
• Pick up feet
• Jacobs ladder / Step-ups

LEVEL TWO (Jog/Trot)

• All of LEVEL ONE,  plus:
• Mattress
• Water box - no squish
• Ditches
• Flag or raising items
• Tunnel
• Suspension bridge
• Rolling bridge
• Teeter-totter bridge
• Backing - change directions

LEVEL THREE (All Gaits Possible)

• All of LEVEL ONE & TWO, plus:
• Squish box
• Back in ditches
• Turn on bases
• Back through gates/tunnel
• Drag objects

An example of progression could be:

2 feet on, 4 feet on, pauses, turns, approach different angles, backing off or through etc., all on same obstacle. Also, an increase of height or depth of obstacle, or increase of pace can be ways to progress in a way that builds confidence in your horse.