Lesson One

WHAT IS COMPETITIVE TRAIL RIDING ON AN OBSTACLE COURSE and WHO WOULD WANT TO TRY IT?

         Competitive trail riding for years (many associations were formed in the late 60s and early 1970s) meant distance riding of 25 to 40 miles in a day, or endurance racing over distances up to 100 miles and several days. In those rides you were judged on the time it took to cover the distance, and always on the condition of your horse during and after the ride.

          But not so today!   While there are still many competitive trail riding associations with growing memberships, the “new” Competitive Trail Riding is based on “enjoyment” for the rider and the skill of the horse in negotiating natural and man-made obstacles over a specified course.

          You can be a rider of any discipline, on any breed of horse, trained at any level and ride in the “new” competitive trail competition over obstacles, which is the subject of this course. New competitive trail riding is not about speed or distance. The goal for riding in competitive trail riding competition over obstacles is to create a safe, willing mount which will confidently take you anywhere you want to go, through water, mud, logs, trenches, bridges, ravines, canals, rivers, ponds, steep slopes, fog, waterfalls, rock piles, past flares or stinky pigs.

          And, I’m going to teach you how to achieve your goal, and win!

          Trail riding has been a passion for the majority of horse owners since the horse left the farm as a work animal and became a recreational pal and equestrian partner. Organized trail riding competition over obstacles, however, is a relative new phenomenon that has enjoyed rapidly growing popularity during the past 5 years.

          One of the first to organize, set rules for, establish judging criteria and host competitive trail rides over obstacles is the American Competitive Trail Horse Association (ACTHA), which sponsored its first event in 2008 and last year sanctioned more than 1,000 events nationally.

          ACTHA competitions are hosted by local riding facilities and clubs and primarily utilize natural outdoor terrain obstacles.

          Twelve years ago Major Defoe decided to maximize the outdoor trail challenge by creating an indoor trail course made up of “natural outdoor obstacles”, plus some obstacles you probably would not see on the trail. In a way he took the conventional “arena show trail” challenge and converted it to outdoor/indoor trail competition, which today he calls “Mountain Trail”.

          Defoe owns and operates the Oregon Horse Center in Eugene, Oregon, hosting clinics and competitions. www.oregonhorsecenter.com.

          The Oregon Horse Center obstacle courses are created from trees, logs, rock, ditches, ponds, bridges and waterfalls that are constructed inside the covered arenas where there is a level of competition for everyone and every horse.

          An interesting ride is the “Cowboy Mountain Trail Challenge in Walla Walla,WA, where each June you can ride the Cowpoke Classes or the more advanced Cowboy Division. The course is held outside and the course is automatically altered each year by Mother Nature; then manicured by the host team. On the Cowboy Mountain Trail Challenge website you will find a Calendar of Events with contact information for other locations on the West Coast.    www.wildcowgirlenterprises.com.

        When you enter specific classes at the Oregon Horse Center and Wild Cow Girl Enterprises competitions you can win awards, including saddles.

        Many organized competitions also hold speed events for the adrenaline junkie. If racing through ponds, jumping logs, running down hills and a flying dismount set to rock and roll music is not for you as a rider; it's still most entertaining to watch.

        If you have a traditional show pen background, ride a Quarter Horse, attend clinics all over the world, live in Florida or watch RFTV you might be familiar with Lynn Palm. She is best known as a clinician for dressage training, but she is actively engaged in the promotion of competitive trail riding over obstacles. Mark Bolender, the founder of International Mountain Trail Challenge Association (IMTCA), designed and built an outdoor obstacle trail course for Palm five years ago. Palm Partnership Training is now sponsoring multiple "Trail Challenge" competitions on the course.

        Most competitive trail competitions offer a variety of classes; including, but not limited to novice horse, novice rider, youth classes, amateur rider, 50-years and older, in-hand class where you lead your horse or mini, breed classes and colored horse classes. In addition to those options, you'll generally have course options where the course layout is larger with more difficult obstacles and/or a smaller course with less imposing obstacles. You can work yourself and your horse into competitions on the easier obstacles without being overwhelmed (more on preparation in the following assignments).

         In the final analysis, competitive trail is actually a condensed trail ride that is being judged. Above is an over-view photo of the smaller indoor course in the Logan arena at Oregon Horse Center in Euguene, Oregon.

         It's a great way to hone your skills and those of your horse, plus it is a FUN achievement!

         If you're ready to start riding in competitive trail competitions, you'll have lots of company also just getting started. Clinics, clubs and individual enthusiasts are popping up across the U.S., Canada and Europe. There is going to be someone, close, who can help you.

        You can build your own obstacles; almost anything goes, as long as it is constructed properly and you understand how to ride it safely. You are only limited by your lack of imagination.

        Injuries to your horse or yourself, take the fun out of a sport; and anything horse related has the potential for problems. I don't want to frighten or scare you away from experiencing riding trail obstacles, but I do want to caution you not to run out to the backyard, pile up a bunch of rocks and logs attempting to ride your horse over them.

        This course is about your education first and your competitive victories second!

        Always think "safety". If you are unsure about an obstacle, get help. If you don't know how to properly cross an obstacle, find out. Can't get your horse to go through water, take lessons, first. Like any solid training program, you must have the fundamentals to properly proceed. I want to keep you and your horse safe and happy.

       As the rider, your first responsibility is to your own safety and then the safety of your mount.

          Training for riding trail obstacles is all about creating a safe, willing partner secure in his abilities and trust in you. He wasn’t born this way, you have a responsibility to create it, which if done appropriately can be a very rewarding journey.

          So, let us discuss trainers and training considerations.

          Maybe you’ve never had a lesson or utilized a trainer; maybe you haven’t ridden since you were a fearless kid, so you don’t know where to start?

          Start by visiting some local equine facilities, watch and listen, make inquiries and ask you horsey friends for assistance. Search and you will find.

           Go on an organized trail ride and observe and ask questions. Watch for riders you admire because they ride well and have well behaved horses. Ask those riders all about their horses, who trained the horses, do they take lessons, etc.?   If you are interested in their horses, they’ll be interested in helping you. Find out how you can have access to the same quality of assistance and information.

          If you live near a facility where trail obstacle competitions are held, visit a competition and watch. When you see a rider/horse combination you really like, tell them, and ask where they learned to ride or who trained their horse.

          If you can, get the names of trainers and interview them! Ask to watch the trainer give a lesson or school a horse.

          Do you like the trainer or riding instructor? Do they communicate so you understand, do they have any experience with obstacle trail. You might need to utilize one trainer for teaching your horse to do a collected jog on a slack rein and a different trainer to introduce your horse to crossing water.

          The point is, if you need assistance, find it. Even riders that compete on a world class level in any given event, take lessons. Improving your riding skills will always improve the ability of your horse, which in turn makes him more fun and safe for you to ride, even if you never compete.

          Remember, the more your horse knows the smarter he is, and the smarter he is, the safer he is.

          When you start you simply need to move forward through obstacles. Eventually, if you chose to pursue a higher degree of difficulty, you’ll back through obstacles, side pass certain obstacles, stand half way over an obstacle and wait quietly, do a complete turn-around in the center of the teeter-totter, rock the teeter-totter back and forth without moving your horse’s feet. Don’t just ride through the pond, but dismount on the off-side onto a big rock without falling in the water, back up or down a hill.

          One of the appealing ideas behind competitive trail riding is that you don’t need an expensive horse to compete.

          The use of silver tack is discouraged, and you can compete in the exact same tack you ride daily. You can wear breeches and baseball cap if you choose. You don’t need a custom tailored thousand dollar show blouse.

          However, you will notice that any time you involve a gaggle of females, you will find bling.

          At a competition, you can expect commotion, noise, loud-speakers, crowds, grandstands and lots of horses. If you have never been to a competition of any kind, I encourage you to first attend a competition without your horse. Then work at home to acclimate your horse to a radio, kids jumping up and down, a plastic bag blowing across your yard, your vacuum cleaner, being bumped by another horse, standing tied to your trailer or in a stall. Do as much as you can think of to prepare your horse mentally to being in commotion.

          If your horse is not accustom to being hauled to strange places and new arenas, now is a good time to start educating him. If you have kids, involve them in helping to desensitize your horse, they have patience and loads of imagination.

          Because we tend to be herd animals like our horses, involve some friends; it’s fun to attend a competition with a friend so you can talk about all you see, like and don’t like.

          If being involved in competitions is new to you, take small steps. Map out a plan of action for yourself and your horse; you may need to prepare for several months before venturing to an actual competition.

          Any type of horse will benefit from riding trail obstacles, if approached and executed properly. You might own a highly trained show horse that tends to be ring sour, a horse that is somewhat of a klutz because he could care-less where he puts his feet, a trail horse that has issues with mud or scary bicyclist, an event horse that doesn’t pay attention to the “next” obstacle, a gaming horse that refuses to stand still at the gate, a Reiner that won’t wait for his next cue, a green youngster who has never been anywhere, an old horse you want to bomb-proof for your grandkids, an arena show trail champion that needs a tune-up. Or perhaps, you just like your horse, enjoy the time you spend with him and want to improve upon your relationship. Competitive trail obstacle riding will improve your skills and your horse’s mind set.

          If your goal is to improve the trust relationship you desire, the advantages of riding competitive obstacle trail are endless.