Traversing Tricky Terrain on a Trail Horse

ometimes, the best thing to do is go out and learn on the job. Any horse, especially a young one, can quickly become bored working in a small area, so some trainers take a green horse out after only a few rides “inside.” When you take your horse outside the corral, do all you can to ensure those rides are successful. A good experience will set the stage for future training, making it easier; a bad one will make future lessons more challenging. As with earlier lessons, the horse will encounter many new things during these first few rides outdoors—a first big rock to pass by; a first hill to climb; or a first stream to cross. How you help your horse get through these experiences will determine whether it learns to relax about the outside world