Ok, is it just me or is finding a good, solid, sound, trail horse nearly impossible? I have been searching for nearly a year to find a well broke, not spooky, nonbuck, been there/done that trail horse, and they are no where to be found. I am not a trainer, and too old to deal with young colts. Maybe it's just my neck of the woods (more performance, less trail horses here). I've even considered looking in Idaho or Montana! Just venting my frustration.

I was going to post about trail horses being made instead of born, but you guys beat me to it.

Just some thoughts... most people that have put the miles and time into making a "good" trail horse has had him a long while.  It'd be pretty hard for me to give mine up after 6 years.  When I first got him, he spooked and snorted at almost everything.  The rides around the fields at home were a combination rodeo and battle of wills.  It wasn't pleasant.

Now, we can trail ride together with only a halter and leadline.  His quiet manner has gotten me out of several tough spots on the trails.  Plus he's a TWH with, an easy on my back, gait.   Excitement jumping over logs at a cluck, dependable on steep slopes and stopping from a full tilt gallop,  Yeah... I would have to be hard pressed to give him up.

I can sympathize with your search vent.

Thanks all for your comments. I know the good trail horses are out there....somewhere. Hosspuller, I agree they're made not born, so perhaps by continuing to work on my snorty, bucking, afraid of every single thing, supposed ranch raised gelding, it will eventually pay off. I would like a horse I feel safe on, that will take care of me, not try to dump me when he gets scared (like my current mount has done). I had had a bad day riding, which is why I sent my original post. Unfortunately I won't be getting to Texas anytime soon, Champhorse, but it was a good idea! To answer your question Painted Horse: a 15h quarter or paint gelding.                 Ok, back out to the barn to do more sacking out...

If I would have repsonded to your post 15 years ago, I would have said "buy a weanling, and raise that good trail horse yourself, as I have done consistently since I was 14. However, in my "old age" ha! ha! I prefer to buy a "finished" trail horse. Besides the ones I have raised, I now own 2 additional ones, that put the ones I raised to shame. We became friends with a rancher, Nate Brown, of HorseWorks, Wyoming, while vacationing in the West. In the past 2 years, we purchased 2 horses from him, one sight unseen 2 years ago, the second I rode as a three year old on the 115 mile Outlaw Trail Ride in Wyoming last year, and then purchased him. Both these horses came through the Billings, Montana Livestock sale barn. Both were ranch born, and ranch worked. I contacted the breeder of the 3 year old via the sale barn catalog, which I happen to have because I followed the sale on the internet - how coincidental is that?? Shiek came from a ranch between Calgary and Edmond, Canada. I am sold on ranch horses. They know the meaning of work, and they are not spoiled. Roany, purchased sight unseen, can be roped off of, knows how to work cattle, will cross most anything, and no spook. He can work a gate, leave other horses with no fuss, traffic broke, etc. etc. Shiek, the now 4 year old was worked on BUFFALO! He also does all of the above. Both horses can be walked up to in the pasture, and travelled from Wyoming to Pennsylvania with no problems. The "scenery" in PA is not a problem. I have heard the argument before about horses not doing well if not in "their neck of the woods" That has not been a problem! We ride the Gettysburg Battlefield frequently, and are riding Manasass Battlefield on Tuesday. Believe me, the horses have not seen doubledecker tour buses in Wyoming or rural Canada! The horses are what cowboys call "good minded." Just as an aside, I do believe in genetics to a point. The 4 year old is Zippo Pine Bar on the dam's side, which came through in his personality. The bottom is Impressive, which appeared in color and confirmation. Roany, just 4 generations back, goes to Wimpy and Sugar Bars.         The Billings sale catalogs are regularly on the internet. The sale would be worth a trip, or visit HorseWorks Wyoming, and contact Nate, about 82 years young!

Brenda

David -

I do agree that every area of the country will offer different terrain and elements, if your trail horse is trained properly, they know how to control emotions and don't "panic" every time they see something new. You can never expose your horse to everything you might encounter on a ride but if the horse understands how to act when something new shows up, it doesn't matter what that "something" is. For example, a couple of us rode a few weeks ago around the nearby lake and we decided to take the horses to the "Horse Beach" at the lake. When we got there, someone was in the inlet area Para-surfing. I had never see it before. They have these huge semi-circular parachutes attached to a wind board. Well, all the horses were curious and maybe not sure what to do, but none of them paniced, nobody took off, they all just watched and listened to us because they understood how to control their emotions. We even came up on someone lighting fireworks in their back yard last summer and my gelding just stood there (about 100 yards away) and watched the fireworks go off. The other 2 horses jumped sideways but then stopped and stood next to my gelding as we waited for the Roman Candles to finish shooting. I was really expecting all the horses to turn and take off but they didn't. To me, a good trail horse looks first to you to tell them what to do and if they do spook (and they all do at some time or another), it is maybe a jump sideways or a flinch or something minor but never a turn and run full bore to get away. The more you can train them to control the flight instinct, the better trail horse they are and it really doesn't matter where you ride them as long as they can physically handle the terrain and climate.

I also agree that you don't have to buy a "local" horse to have a good minded one on different types of trails & terrain.  I lived in MI, bought my mare in OH & showed her for a few yrs.  Moved to AZ....did nothing but trail riding thru the desert & mountains.  Bought my gelding while there, & rode him all over too.  (he was raised in KS).  Went to WY (Teton Wildeness) & rode all over up there.  Now we live in NW MT & are still riding these same horses all over up here in the mountains.  MI they saw cows & pigs & mostly flat ground.  Az they experienced riding up on Rattle snakes & wild boar.  Now up here we encounter bear & moose.  They are fine becuz they are good minded & athletic animals.