Best Horses for Trailriding

It weighs 1,000 pounds, most of that muscle and bone - and it has you at its mercy, on its back. Under those circumstances, choosing a good - no, a great trail horse - is of the utmost importance. When it is you and the horse out on the trail, it is critically important to work not as master and subordinate, but as a team.

Before getting to recommended breeds, it is important to remember that, like humans, every horse is an individual. It is not only a product of its breeding but also its environment. Any horse has the potential to be a great trail horse. Likewise, any horse has the potential of being less than excellent. While starting with certain breeds can be a good start, choosing the right individual horse is the key to a successful partnership.

Missouri Foxtrotters

For some riders to consider a breed a good trail horse, the gait has to be smooth. For others, they have to possess a certain level of intelligence. The Missouri Foxtrotter possesses both of those traits and much more, according to Loriann Stewart, owner of Cottonwood Farm Foxtrotters of Greeley, Colo.

The value of the Missouri Foxtrotter lies in the fact that it wants to be ridden.

"If I walk over with a halter, they are shoving and pushing to see who gets to be the one to go," Stewart said.

That is just another way of saying they are very fond of the hands that feed them, or even the hand that pets them. It makes the Missouri Foxtrotter an ideal choice for beginners and children.

"They don't have it in them to hurt their people. They are people oriented horses," Stewart said. "If I just finish feeding them and someone they know, or even a stranger walks up, they will leave their food to go see them."

That is not to downplay the other advantages of the breed. The diagonal gait means the horses always have a foot on the ground.

"You don't have that jarring up-and-down motion," Stewart added.

And for those looking for speed on the trail, foxtrotters can deliver as well. Stewart said some of her animals can get up to 15 mph trotting.

"We don't do that in the mountains, but in straight, flat areas they can really get moving," she said.

Tennessee Walking Horses

The image the general public has of the Tennessee Walking horses is the proud, high-stepping horse in the show ring. But they are also one of the most popular breeds in the United States for trail riding.

"They have a great mind and a great disposition," said David Taylor, owner of Evening Shade Farm in Shelbyville, Tenn. "A lot of breeds just aren't that good tempered and solid minded."

Tennessee Walking Horses also have a very smooth gait as well. The rider experiences very little vertical motion at a walk.

But at the same time, Taylor cautioned those interested to choose a good breeder. Not all Tennessee Walking Horses are created equal. The discipline the horse will be used for determines its true value.

"I've seen the breed almost evolve into two different breeds. There are the old line trail horses and the show horses," he said. "You can't train a good trail horse. They are just born that way."

The Tennessee Walking Horse, along with some other breeds, takes a little longer to develop into maturity, coming of age around the time they turn five years old. Of course, they can be ridden before that time, but that is usually when they have reached full maturity from a physical standpoint, according to Taylor.

Pleasure-Bred Quarterhorse

The Quarterhorse is an American classic, consistently ranking as one of the country's most popular breeds. They have stamina to walk all day and have a very gentle nature, making them a good horse for beginning riders.

"They are very docile animals," said Tom Speas, a retired large animal veterinarian in Central Iowa and a horse owner.

Many times, they are the horses of choice for working ranches as well as beginners and families. They take commands well, remain very sure footed and are comfortable around "busy" situations and other animals.

"There's no doubt about it. Around here, the Quarterhorse is the most popular breed for trail riding," Speas said. "There are others, but predominately it is the Quarterhorse."

Indeed, while Quarterhorses may have a corner on the market in Iowa, they are also very popular elsewhere as well. The Quarterhorse Directory lists as many as 4,500 breeders.

The horses are also known for the sprinting ability, hence the name Quarterhorse, which stands for their preferred sprinting distance - approximately one-quarter of a mile. But even for those not seeking fame and fortune on the race track, it would still be hard to go wrong with the Quarterhorse.

Morgans

As perhaps the first breed to originate the United States, Morgans have the distinction of being a very well-rounded breed, capable of doing everything early Americans would have needed. From pulling a carriage to trail riding, Morgans are versatile enough to do it all.

"When we started having horses, I had to pick a breed that I could take one horse and do everything with it. It ended up being the Morgan," said Susan Carlino, with Carlino Family Farm in San Martin, Calif.

While they have the capacity to do a great variety of tasks, trail riding is one of those things they excel at, according to Carlino.

"It's just their overall personality that makes them so good. They are really intelligent.

They are smarter than a lot of people I know," she said. "They are always happy. They are always smiling and always have their ears up."

And she said her horses will just not quit. They will give it all they have until they have nothing left.

"Morgans go that extra mile for you," she added.

While Morgans tend to be a bit more spirited than other breeds, Carlino said if they are socialized properly, that does not end up being a major concern.

Arabians

Most people who have just a passing interest in horses are well aware of the Arabian breed. It is the breed that inspired The Black Stallion series of novels.

Energetic, bright and very aware of their surroundings, they have become one of the most popular breeds in the United States. Their value as a trail horse is very apparent, according to Steve Chase, owner of Chase Arabians in Aubrey, Texas.

"They are one of the most agile and sure-footed horses anywhere," Chase said. "Many people like them because of their intelligence."

While Arabians have received a bad reputation among some as being almost too intelligent - not willing to obey orders or refusing to accept who is really the boss - Chase said it all depends on how they are trained. If the right person is working with them, those issues can be eliminated.

"It's really not a problem with my horses," he said.

The breed originated in Egypt and is very well suited for hotter temperatures. Their physiology also makes them a great endurance horse.

"Their skin is thinner and their blood vessels are closer to the surface, so they can get rid of the heat a little quicker," Chase added.

Of course, he said they are also able to handle colder climates also.

"I have horses in Canada and they adapt very well," he said.