J.F. Sheppard

Always assess a borrowed horse in a safe environment before you ride him on the trail. If the lender doesn't allow for this, politely turn down the offer. To assess the horse, follow these guidelines.

Before you go on a large group ride first ride only with those who truly understand trail safety. Ride on a regular basis with two to three trusted, responsible friends.

Keep a safe distance between horses to be safe on the trail

This step-by-step technique will densitize your horse or gelding so they do not get easily spooked around vehicles or other horses

If you've never used spurs on your horse and are considering, the author gives four tips that will help you use an aid to motivate your horse without losing trust or abusing him.

The horse trainer gives horse owners 5 steps toward making that horse that is difficult to catch easier. By making it easier for the horse to be caught than to avoid your halter, you can train that difficult horse to be caught easily.

To correct a herbound horse, first understand your gelding's survival instincts. Your horse is a prey animal and a herd animal. Whenever you're with your horse, you make up a herd of two; you have to become the leader of the herd. Your gelding is deriving his security from the other horses on the trail, not from you.

When weather prohibits long trail rides or outdoor training sessions, indoor excercises can be helpful in creating a bond with your horse. Picking up his feet, grooming and longeing are just a few of the things horse owners can do to increase a bond with the horse.

When is a child ready to hit the trail? Follow these tips to maximize a young rider's safety and enjoyment.

For a horse that tosses his head, horse owners need to teach the horse to respect bit and rein pressure, our trainer helps take riders through several steps to create respect in a horse.