There is a big difference between conditioning a horse and training a horse. Conditioning is getting the horse physically fit to do a specific job, whereas training has more to do with the mental state of the horse -- when asked to do something, knowing exactly what is being required, and doing it without questioning.
Most endurance riders know how to condition a horse very well but what a lot of us are lacking is practical training for our horses. We can all watch at a ride site and see riders having problems with simple things like leading the horse, seeing it stepping all over him, pulling the rider along, trying to mount while the horse dances around, or just having problems getting the horse to stand still for the vet exam.
It seems like most endurance riders really don't mind putting up with that type of misbehaving. But when it comes to trying to work with the horse while marking trails, we just want to get the job done efficiently and that takes a well-trained horse. So what does it takes to get a horse up to the point that makes trail marking a pleasure and not a hassle?
Ride managers are forced into a training program in which one of their endurance horses will excel. It is on-the-job training that is guaranteed to work.
The RM training program
Level 1. The very basic "whoa." What is the definition of the word "whoa"? Everyone knows it means to stop, stand still, and don't move. Most riders have changed the definition so that "whoa" only to means slow down. What happens when you take your horse out to mark trails? Both horse and rider soon learn to communicate with one another. You ask the horse to stop so you can tie a ribbon on a tree limb overhead but as you are tying the horse keeps walking, turning circles and pawing the ground. You say "whoa" to the horse but get no response. Finally getting the ribbon tied, you trot off to tie the next one.
After spending an hour or so on just a couple of miles of trail, you finally get in your head that when you say "whoa," you must mean "whoa." You must demand a total stop. You will retrain this horse and yourself either to stop completely or learn to tie a ribbon while on the run. After a while you and your horse finally understand what is expected of each other. "Whoa" now means to stand perfectly still, not moving one foot.
The horse will also learn your body language -- when you are finished tying and lean forward, the horse will know to move on out down the trail. If you happen to overshoot where you wanted to stop, your horse will learn to put it in reverse and back up to that spot. This new understanding will make life so much easier for both you and the horse.
Level 2. Leading, mounting and dismounting. When out marking trails, oftentimes there are downed trees that need to be removed. When the rider dismounts to pull the limbs off the trail the horse will need to be trained to stay back and give the rider some room. This type of training has probably never been too important to you but now you wish your horse had learned some manners and would stay off your heels. You will teach the horse to stand still while dismounting and mounting because after the twenty-fifth time of getting back on that horse's back you will be so tired that you will demand the horse stand still for you.
Sometime during this trail marking session, one way or another, you will figure out a way to communicate this with your horse. After working on trails all day you will not be in the mood to debate each issue with your horse. The horse will gain respect for you once you have learned to tell him what you want from him.
Level 3. Performing jobs while mounted. While marking trails you may come to several gates. At first you will get off to open and close the gates, but as the day goes into late afternoon and you get to the point that you just can't get off and on another time, you will become efficient at opening and closing the gates while staying mounted. You will become very good at bending over and grabbing branches and other debris to drag off the trail while mounted. The great part is your horse will become so much calmer in the process.
Level 4. Side passing and more. As you are marking the trail, the places you will need to reach from horseback are not always easily accessible. You may need to relate to your horse to step sideways in order to reach a certain branch or you will need to have your horse put his hoof in a particular spot. You'll soon be able to take your horse off the trail into briars or up a steep embankment in order to get to a particular spot. When a horse gets really good about all this, you can even have him stand while you staple a sign to a tree while mounted. It can actually become fun training your horse to do all these different tasks.
Not all ride managers have well-trained horses, but you must remember that some trails will allow motorized vehicles on them for marking and clearing, so they may not have the best of training tools. Some have more than one horse and will work with their best horse for marking trails because once you get a good one you won't want to ride any other horse when marking or clearing the trails.
Ride managers will let you volunteer to mark trails. They will not charge you anything for giving you the opportunity to train your horse while you are out marking trails for an upcoming ride. If ride managers could figure out a way to market this training program they could all get rich! For now, we will just have to be satisfied by having a well-trained horse along with a well-marked trail.
