05/06/2025
A good “memory” popped ip from a few years back. Still rings true…
An ode to the trail horse.
Nothing fancy…I just want a trail horse.
Boy howdy if I had a nickel for every time I heard that one I’d be a rich man.
You want nothing fancy but I’d be willing to bet that you’d want a horse that will maintain gait. Steer pretty good, not hang on the reins, might even neck rein so you can hold that camera or beverage while you ride one handed.
You’d be wanting a horse that when they get tangled up in vines and briars or that old stray wire fence they standstill so you can untangle them and they don’t thrash the flesh off their legs.
Probably want one that when spooked by deer, turkeys, plastic bags, pizza boxes, dogs, doves, squirrels and that rock shadow they stand still and not bolt. Oh and traffic safe also.
Trailer loading in unfamiliar terrain, night or day or maybe even an unfamiliar trailer might help the cause.
You only walk on the trail…ok but what about that time they don’t want to walk you’ll probably appreciate a horse that is confident in all gaits so that when, yes, when, they break into a lope or get scared into a lope they don’t freak out more because they are used to it and know how to balance themselves and not get even more troubled and go into a bucking fit.
Just a trail horse but when you’re on a narrow single track on a steep mountain being able to pivot on the hind quarters or forehand to turn around just might come in handy.
Tree across the trail. Might could go brush busting around it or even over it. Be neat if they knew how to jump confidently and had some things drug behind them and they were confident with branches poking, rubbing and grabbing at them so they don’t get rim fired.
Sometimes it rains so slicker broke and used to saddle bags full of goodies will be beneficial.
Some brakes might also help in some situations. Like stopping now, not 30 yards after I pulled on the reins. Oh and a good go so I don’t have to kick every step to keep a goin.
How about nothing fancy but a horse that won’t freak out when left alone by the group or is confident in front and the back and in the middle and won’t pin it’s ears and kick other horses. Oh and better add in not jig, boy I hate a jiggy horse.
I ride in the mountains a lot, nothing fancy but they ought to have enough muscle and lungs to get me to to the top and back and not tie up or get crippled.
When I get back I like to tie, high line or hobble my horses. So You know they ought to be able to stand tied and understand hobbles for long periods of time and not dig holes, crib or beat the hell outta my trailer fenders.
You know. Nothing “fancy, just… a trail horse”
