If you have a young or older horse sitting only in the arena, and you would like to go out on the trails; consider thinking you’re running an obstacle course. Practicing obstacles at home or with a friend will mentally prepare your horse for new and frightening trail conditions.
An obstacle course can be set up at your own pace or it can be a group project shared by several people. One may contribute to the site, the other may participate in the cost of constructing the trains.
When planning your obstacle course, consider the safety of you and your horse first. Wear a riding helmet when participating in training exercises, and a well-fitting toe cap to protect your toes. When you’re thinking about building obstacles, you don’t want sharp points, protruding places, or anything that can become a hook in the bridle, saddle, trap, or spurs. Think about these questions long before you try to schedule your first training sessions with your horse.
Tips for your obstacle course:
Water Passage
Ribbon screen
Transitional injuries
Obstacles Field
Tire Course
Bridge
Barrels
Water Passage
The materials needed are landscaping timbers, heavy duty plastic, gravel or sand, shovels or machines for soil removal. If space and acreage allow, a natural flat water crossing is ideal for training your horse for water crossings. Since we don’t live in an ideal world building a water crossing barrier is the next best thing to preparing your horse. A depression eight to twelve feet deep is dug in the ground, eight feet long and six feet wide. For extra heavy duty, put a plastic shot on the bottom of the pressure, the sides to carry the plastic. Combine the outer edges with landscaping beams that are at the top edge of the site. Yes, with a line of at least four inches filled with light stones, sand, or small crushed stone. Place stacks of straw with plastic wrap or barrels on the ends to create a visual barrier to encourage the horse to run away from the obstacle. Fill a garden hose, or wait for the rain to fill the water passage naturally. You may want to treat the water with something to prevent growth in during the warm months.
The purpose of the water crossing obstacle is to prepare your horse for the water crossing in the trailer.
Ribbon Ride through the sedge
Materials needed include two smooth twelve pressure-treated or cedar bars, one bag of ready-mixed concrete, heavy-duty clear plastic shot, a heavy-duty stapler, and a roll of led tape. 9 foot clothesline wire, two large screw eyes. Attach one screw eye to the center of the top of each pole. Space the two poles eight or more feet apart, at least 36 inches into the ground, and use a concrete mix anchor. He allows these to be added to cod. Cut a twelve-foot by eight-foot sheet of heavy-duty plastic. Fold it in half, so that you have eight feet in width, and six feet double. Make a four-inch pocket on the folded edge by fitting a line across the top of the staples at 3-inch intervals. Run the carpet path over the line of staples and over the top edge of the curtain pocket. Using sharp scissors cut from the bottom to eight inches from the top in long strands. Next, place the wire line of the clothes through the pocket and place the first front by wrapping the wire around the eye of the screw. Pull the wire very tight and run it through the screw according to the eye of the screw, twisted firmly. Shake off the excess wire, or over the top of the pole coil.
The purpose of riding the rope through the curtain is to prepare the horse to push through the light brush and reduce the feeling of claustrophobia that affects some horses.
Transitional injuries
Materials needed for blocking include large and small logs that have been trimmed with any sharp points or sawn edges, chain saw or other tools. cuts to shape the wood, if necessary. To construct your crossing posts, place them randomly, elevating some to 18-20 inches, others lying on the ground, others in L-shapes for a visual way to back up, cross sideways, or set up by turning the horse.
The purpose of the block crossing block is to teach the horse control when crossing, and you can find around the block on the track.
Obstacles Field
Materials for yard waste include landscaping wood, laundry detergent soil, soda or beer cans, plastic milk jugs or if something does not blow at your arena, and you will not be hurt by the pressure of the horse. Using your four pieces of wood, build a square lying on the ground. Complete the framework with the suggested obstacles.
The purpose of field debris is to train the horse to see and step around odd things that might happen on the trail.
Tire Course
The accessories needed are six old crowns with free lips. Check to make sure no sharp metal comes through the rubber. Lay the crowns on the pattern, fill with mud, and pack tightly leaving no room for the hoof or horse shoe to catch on the edge of the crowns.
The purpose of the tire is to direct the horse’s course through the gait, stride, and supine form by controlling the horse’s top and feet by having the horse step up onto the packed dirt on cue. Guiding the rider’s movements will help the rider and horse to move safely in the tight areas of the actual trail.
Bridge
Materials needed include two 4-inch by 8-foot landscaping logs, heavy exterior plywood, and two twelve-foot pressed 2×4’s. Space the trees three feet apart. Using pieces of 2×4 pressure treated center eight three feet tightens. Apply one ue to each end, and then use the rest to fasten the center to look like a ladder. Cut heavy duty exterior plywood to size and attach using flathead screws. Be sure to polish off any rough edges. The bridge should be used in a flat place where it does not touch anything or is actually spacious.
The purpose of the bridge is to teach your horse to cross the wood that makes the sound, and to stay on track on the narrow bridge, not stepping. Things arise on the trail when the horse must be willing to trust the rider and go where the rider needs to go in tight or unsafe areas. The bridge is also used to teach the step up and down which is useful when loading the trailer.
Barrels
The containers you need are 3-6 barrels depending on your needs. Use large 50 gallon plastic barrels. They are safer than metal, and if they fall too hard.
The purpose of the barrel is to teach the horse to be controlled at different speeds. Set up barrels and make your own patterns by walking, running, or trotting your horse, and changing patterns regularly. This exercise will help you control the horse in various gaits.
These obstacles are just a few of the fun things you can set up at home, in hay or sand, or on your farm . Use your imagination to create other training obstacles. fun day in a race with friends, whose horse holds the obstacle course very well. You will have many fun sessions with your horse. Remember to use and tame all the obstacles from the ground with a safe working horse, before trying to get them under the saddle. If he were to lead a weaker horse, he would be afraid even under the saddle. Remember that safety is the most important thing for you and your horse. If in any case you feel unsafe, consult a professional horse trainer for help.
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- www.kbrhorse.net/tra/course01.html < www.reachouttohorses.com/training.html www.wellbornquarterhorses.com/training.html
