Training Tip: End a Trail Ride on a Relaxed Note

One of the best things you can do for your horse is to let him walk the last hundred feet or so of a trail ride. That gives him the opportunity to relax and cool down so that he returns to the barn or trailer in a good frame of mind. You don’t want him running back to the barn or trailer thinking that the faster he gets there the sooner you’ll get off his back.

One of the best sayings when working with a horse is, “A tired horse is a good horse.” I’ve never seen a tired horse give anyone any trouble, but I’ve seen plenty of fresh, reactive horses give people lots of trouble. You’ll be surprised at how you might leave on a horse that’s spooky and jumpy, and come back on one that’s calm and relaxed. Remember, the secret to getting a broke horse is long rides, wet saddle pads and concentrated training. You need equal doses of all three.