Building an Ultimate Trail Horse one step at a time.
Every horse progresses at his own pace. We evaluate the individual horse’s temperament, confidence and learning style throughout the program and build each new skill on a solid foundation.
The Levels give us a way to measure that progress. A horse should be comfortable and proficient with the skills at one level before moving on to the next. The goal is not to rush through a checklist, but to produce a thoughtful, responsive and well-rounded horse.
The Training Levels
Click or tap each level below to see the skills included.
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The basic broke horse.
The horse has the basic skills needed to ride safely and comfortably in normal situations.
Walk, trot and canter when asked
Back under saddle
Comfortable on ordinary trail rides
Beginning exposure to riding away from the arena
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Good manners, stronger fundamentals and greater confidence.
Level Two begins adding structure and finesse both on the ground and under saddle.
Is Doing the Clinton Anderson Fundamentals
Lowers his head to be haltered and bridled
Stands for bathing, clipping, farrier and veterinarian
Stands quietly for mounting
Has basic leg cues
Walks, trots and canters in the arena easily
Developing rhythm, balance and cadence
Comfortable on trails alone or with a group
Has developed confidence on basic obstacles
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Softness, body control and real-world experience.
At Level Three, the horse begins to feel noticeably more polished and responsive.
Soft, rhythmic gaits with less rider management
Correct leads and balanced circles
Yields to the leg and rein
Sidepasses
Turns on the forehand and haunches
Soft in the bridle and beginning collection
Extensive trail experience, including difficult terrain
Comfortable in small groups and around traffic
Opens gates
Proficient on bridges, wobble obstacles, tarps, gates and other challenges
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The best of both worlds.
Level Four brings everything together into the finished horse we are working toward.
Light, easy neck rein
Correct spin, rollback and sidepass
Turns on the forehand and haunches
Leg yields and advanced body control
Rates easily and rides all gaits on a loose rein
Stops from the rider’s seat
Soft, supple and responsive throughout his body
Forgiving of normal rider and handler mistakes
Sidepasses to mount
Confident over natural and man-made obstacles
Loads and backs from the trailer easily
Excellent ground manners
Finished arena handle combined with the experience and sensibility of a seasoned trail horse
Has liberty work, connection and partnership
What the Levels Are Built On
Arena work, trail experience, obstacles and progressive desensitizing all work together.
The Levels are more than a checklist of individual maneuvers. Each horse develops through a combination of solid arena fundamentals, progressively more challenging trail experience, obstacle work and thoughtful exposure to unfamiliar situations.
Skills are introduced in a logical progression. We establish the foundation first, then ask the horse to use those skills in increasingly realistic situations. The goal is a horse that does not simply tolerate new things, but remains responsive, thinks through pressure and can be willingly guided when something unexpected happens.
Click or tap each section below to see examples of the skills we develop.
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Body control, softness, balance and responsiveness begin in the arena.
Arena work gives the horse the physical and mental skills he will later need on the trail and around obstacles.
Walk, trot and canter comfortably on a loose rein
One-rein stop and control of the hindquarters
Smooth circles, figure eights and changes of direction
Backing with increasing softness through the body
Beginning and developing vertical flexion
Leg yields at the walk and trot
Sidepassing
Moving the shoulders and hindquarters independently
Turning on the haunches and developing a slow spin
Turning from the outside rein
Simple lead changes
Developing collection while retaining a relaxed loose rein
Backing circles and squares
One-handed neck reining
Rating speed and maintaining rhythm at all three gaits
The ultimate test is not simply whether the horse knows the maneuver, but whether he can remain willingly guided.
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Confidence comes from experience in the real world.
Trail training progresses from simple outings to increasingly varied terrain, environments and situations.
Exposure to mud, water, hills, wildlife and farm equipment
Learning to travel calmly in a small group
Becoming comfortable riding out alone
Stopping and standing quietly on a loose rein
Traveling through the woods at a relaxed pace
Learning to follow and find the trail without constant rider direction
Developing careful foot placement on rough terrain
Traveling through dense brush
Climbing hills correctly and using the hindquarters
Descending hills slowly and in balance
Moving from the rider’s leg to avoid trees and other obstacles
Mounting from either side and from logs or other natural objects
Carrying saddle bags, rain gear and other trail equipment
Leaving the group calmly
Remaining comfortable when other horses pass at speed
Negotiating tight spaces on and off the trail
Ponying another horse or being ponied
Opening and closing gates
Jogging and loping in a smooth, comfortable manner
Becoming comfortable in larger groups
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Obstacles are introduced on the ground first, after the fundamentals are established.
We begin with simple obstacles and gradually increase difficulty as the horse gains confidence and understanding.
Cross flat bridges and walk over poles
Learn to stop and rest quietly on obstacles
Work through noodles and other simple bridge obstacles
Approach, negotiate and leave obstacles without rushing
Cross tarps calmly
Stop and stand on a loose rein
Progress to moving obstacles such as wobble boards and cowboy curtains
Work through water boxes and similar challenges
Sidepass over poles
Open and close gates
Jog and lope through appropriate obstacle patterns
Back through an L-shaped obstacle
Back off and around obstacles
Work through combinations requiring sidepassing, backing and control of the shoulders and hindquarters
Trot over obstacles
Canter to appropriate obstacles and transition down smoothly before crossing
The goal is a horse that stays thoughtful and responsive rather than simply rushing through an obstacle.
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The goal is not to eliminate stress, but to teach the horse how to think through it.
Horses cannot be prepared for every unusual thing they may encounter. Instead, we progressively expose them to different kinds of movement, sound, pressure and unfamiliar objects so they learn to remain connected to the handler or rider.
Examples may include:
Stick-and-string exercises and increasing movement around the horse
Flapping stirrups and movement around the saddle
Tarps, plastic bags and rain slickers
Large balls and other moving objects
Water, mud and moving obstacle surfaces
Horses passing, approaching or making body contact
Umbrellas, flags and unusual visual objects
Leaf blowers and other equipment or unexpected sounds
Cattle and other animals
Riding while carrying or interacting with unfamiliar objects
Progressive groundwork and ridden exercises that ask the horse to relax, focus and stay responsive
We are not trying to make a horse numb. We are teaching him that when something changes, he can stay responsive, look for direction and find an answer instead of simply reacting.
Progress, Not a Deadline
Not every horse progresses at the same speed, and not every horse is suited to becoming an Ultimate Trail Horse. We let the individual horse tell us when he is ready for the next step.