Real-time Trail Training

An Interview with John von Haas

 

Are good trail horses born or made? Trainer John von Haas discusses the difference between riding a horse on the trail, and conditioning a trail horse for dependability.

 

 

•  What is real-time trail training?

 

•  The act of training a horse for the trails using an outdoor arena trail set-up and real trails. It is important for the training to be conducted outdoors, because in real-time, the horse must perform in various kinds of weather. I know there are many fair weather riders but if your horse isn't conditioned for rain, wind or other adverse weather, you will run into a potential problem.

 

Q. What set-up to use in an outdoor arena?

 

A. There are many courses you could set up. By checking out local horse shows, you will get an idea of what to look for. For example, chutes constructed out of jump poles and stands or a row of fake trees. This makes the horse think and work in close quarters, try backing through the chute or turn around. Another good obstacle is the coat and hat on a pole. Sidle up to the pole and put on the coat and hat, it may take you some time to desensitize your horse to it but in the long run when you need to put on or take off your jacket on the trails, there will be no need to dismount. Cavelletis on the ground make good obstacles to step or side-pass over. When your horse figures out the basic pattern of the obstacle course, your will need to change it; real life trails don't always stay the same. Having and asking for complete control of your equine partner creates a bond where your horse can trust you not to let anything bad happen.

Q. And the differences with my trail riding and real-time trail training?

 

A. Real-time trails are a concept of training and conditioning the horse to new outside stimuli while riding on common horse trails. Most likely you ride the trails taking in the scenery and chatting with friends, but how often do you pay attention to your horse? In all probability, only if your having problems. This is quite normal, nobody likes to recreate by having to desensitize a horse all the time. What we do is train out the problems on the trails, by constantly working the horse; asking and pushing his boundaries. The horse never decides where to go, even if the trail is straight, he might be asked to go cross-country or stop and back up. Adding an element of unpredictability makes the horse be alert to the rider and not doze off and be spooked by large dark monsters inhabiting the trees and hiding under the rocks. If the horse doesn't like water, we will ask him to cross it or even to walk upstream. If the horse is showing sign of being afraid of a certain object, we will take him to it and allow him to examine it until he no longer is concerned by it's presence. As you can tell, the real-time trail training is an exhausting and comprehensive program quite different from recreational trail riding.

 

Q. Can you ‘bomb proof' a trail horse?

 

A. ‘Bomb proof' is a catchy way of saying desensitize. Yes, a trail horse should be desensitized to many natural and man-made objects and situations. We desensitize a horse by repeatedly exposing him to scary objects and uncertain situations. The greater the variety of obstacles, the great the chance for a calm, quiet and alert trail horse.

 

 

Q. Are there other things you ask the horse to do?

 

A. Yes. Your horse will be asked to side pass up to various kinds of gates to be opened and closed. To drag objects at the end of a rope, which is scary at first but is incredibly handy. He'll be asked to partner with other horses and if your horse is dominant, he'll have to leave the attitude at the barn. On the trails, horse-to-horse conflicts just create trouble for all involved. Also, your horse will be exposed to various circumstances dealing with cars and trucks, on the road and at home. A myriad of situations and obstacles are covered in the real-time training program.

 

 

John von Haas trains in Sisters, Oregon at the newly opened stables on Cloverdale Road . He works with trauma rehabilitation horses, and colt starting with the gentlehorse technique .