| In-hand trail is a relatively new class that has been | | | | practice, practice, practice! Eventually you will be |
| added to many breed associations and some | | | | able to just hold your hand out, by his side, and |
| open shows as well. It is a class that, just as the | | | | he will start to side pass. |
| name implies, allows you to lead your horse | | | | Mail Box or Raincoat: |
| through the trail obstacles. This class is usually | | | | This is a fairly simple obstacle, but requires the |
| open to yearlings and 2 year olds who are not | | | | horse to stand calmly and trust you. If you |
| being shown under saddle yet. The obstacles are | | | | encounter a mail box in your trail pattern you |
| generally the same as for standard trail classes | | | | should walk (or trot according to the pattern) |
| with the exception of lope-overs. | | | | your horse right up to the mail box and stop with |
| I think that in-hand trail is a great addition to the | | | | the horse with his barrel about a foot from the |
| show bill and training of any horse and is an | | | | mail box. The handler then opens the mail box, |
| excellent way to start teaching your horse how | | | | removes the envelope and holds it up for the |
| to maneuver obstacles. It gives young horses an | | | | judge to see and then replaces it. A raincoat is |
| additional area to focus on that isn't as hard on | | | | done very similarly. Stop the horse next to the |
| their legs as lounging and teaches them to work | | | | raincoat (which will probably be hung over a pole |
| with their handler. Not only does it prepare your | | | | bending pole or similar sturdy item), remove it and |
| horse for the usual, under saddle trail classes, it is | | | | lay it across the horse's back and then replace |
| also a great way to start teaching showmanship! | | | | the raincoat to its original position. |
| The in-hand trail class usually includes the following | | | | To prepare for these obstacles your horse should |
| obstacles: a gate, walk and trot-overs, back | | | | stand calmly when asked and should be |
| throughs, side passing, a mail box or raincoat, a | | | | desensitized to you moving around him. I always |
| bridge, turning in a box, and walking and/or | | | | over prepare my horses for these things. At |
| trotting through and around cones. The course | | | | home I will take the mail and raise my arm very |
| may include all or just some of these obstacles | | | | quickly or slam the mail box open and closed. I do |
| and in general the bigger the show, the more and | | | | the same with the slicker by working up to the |
| harder the obstacles! Let's go through these | | | | point where I can toss the raincoat roughly on |
| obstacles one at a time and look at what has to | | | | top of the horse and even pull it over my horse's |
| be done and the best way to go at it. | | | | head! Of course, you won't do this in the show |
| The Gate: | | | | ring, but it is always better to be over prepared. |
| Most shows now use a rope gate rather than a | | | | That way nothing will bother your horse when in |
| true wooden gate. Generally this is made of 2 | | | | the ring. |
| jump standards set about 6 feet apart with a | | | | The Bridge: |
| thick rope tied to one side and looped over the | | | | The bridge is the trail obstacle that is most |
| other. In the most basic form, the handler must | | | | commonly seen in photographs and known by all. |
| lead the horse next to the gate, pick up the loop | | | | When showing in-hand trail though, the handler is |
| end, lead the horse through the gate (the opening | | | | not supposed to go over the bridge with their |
| between the jump standards) and replace the | | | | horse! While walking along side the bridge the |
| loop end to close the gate. While doing this the | | | | horse should travel straight across and centered |
| horse should stand calmly and walk forward | | | | on the bridge. He should not appear nervous or |
| willingly when asked. | | | | try to go quickly across but it is allowed that the |
| The best performance of this obstacle is done | | | | horse sniff the bridge and/or puts his head low |
| when the horse is moved in the exact positions | | | | while crossing it. |
| that he would be in, were someone on his back | | | | Although many shows have heavy arched bridges |
| opening the gate. That means that he should stop | | | | you can start by laying a piece of plywood on the |
| parallel to the gate, with just enough distance for | | | | ground. This requires gradual work and may take |
| the handler to not be crowded. After being led | | | | hours to get your horse to calmly cross a full |
| through the gate opening, the handler should back | | | | bridge, but is worth the effort. Doing this work will |
| the horse so he is again parallel to the gate and | | | | make your horse more comfortable walking |
| his whithers even with the spot the loop hooks | | | | across strange footings when you attend shows, |
| over. | | | | such as grates, metal areas or entrances/exits to |
| Walk/Trot-Overs: | | | | arenas! |
| These consist of 3 or more ground poles that are | | | | Turning in a Box: |
| laid a set distance apart (2 feet for walk-overs, 3 | | | | As easy as this sounds, this is a problem area for |
| feet for trot-overs). The horse should make his | | | | many exhibitors when it comes to trail. Most |
| way over without bumping any of the poles with | | | | shows set up the box 6'x6' which is not tiny, but |
| his feet and ideally should set each foot halfway | | | | is also not large enough for you to pivot the |
| between the pole he is stepping over and the | | | | horse or walk in a circle. That means the handler |
| next pole in line. The toughest part for some | | | | must move both the shoulder of the horse and |
| handlers is the fact that they should not go over | | | | his hind end! ...And, this must be done without |
| the poles with the horse! The handler should be | | | | entering the box (with the exception that you can |
| able to walk along the side of the poles while the | | | | step inside the corners of the box as you turn)! |
| horse travels over the center of them. This takes | | | | This is one obstacle that I actually find easier to |
| a lot of practice. At home the handler should | | | | perform from the saddle than on the ground. |
| gradually work up to this by becoming farther | | | | When riding you can use your legs to guide the |
| away each time they practice their walk | | | | horse around the turn. From the ground you have |
| trot-overs. I find that teaching a horse to lounge | | | | to teach your horse that when you move your |
| well assists in helping the horse feel comfortable | | | | body you want him to move his in a certain way. |
| working further away from you. | | | | Usually (if turning to the right), you can move the |
| This obstacle is truly a "practice makes perfect" | | | | horse's shoulder by walking toward him like you |
| situation! Most horses will learn to pick their feet | | | | are asking for a showmanship turn. Every couple |
| up after they have bumped a few logs. Once | | | | steps you will need to pause and ask the horse |
| your horse is good at not knocking any poles you | | | | to move his hip toward you. This takes some |
| may want to try raising them slightly off the | | | | practice and each horse responds differently! |
| ground. If he can easily go over 4-6" raise poles, | | | | Walk and Trot Throughs: |
| he will have no problem at the shows making it | | | | The final obstacle that you may encounter in the |
| over the flat poles! | | | | trail ring are walk and trot throughs. These may |
| Back Throughs: | | | | be set up in combination with walk/trot-overs, but |
| Back throughs at shows maybe set up straight, L | | | | generally consist of several cones being set out |
| shaped, T shaped or in a zigzag. Back throughs | | | | for the handler to walk or trot the horse |
| may also consist of a triangle of cones or barrels | | | | between (in a serpentine or series of circles/figure |
| that the horse has to back between or around. | | | | eights). |
| The horse should travel evenly spaced between | | | | Depending on the distance between cones the |
| the obstacle, turning when the handler asks. This | | | | handler may or may not want to go around the |
| is an obstacle that is best to take slowly! | | | | cones as well. If they are set further apart and |
| Start your work by just asking your horse to | | | | the horse can handle weaving through the cones, |
| back in a straight line. Don't worry about ground | | | | the handler should stay on one side and simply |
| poles or cones, just teach the horse to back up | | | | push or pull the horse around the cones. If you |
| as you ask, with no resistance. Work your way | | | | need to make a deeper S to be able to get |
| up to backing straight between 2 ground poles. | | | | through the obstacle, then the handler will |
| Build up from there, but don't rush. Patience is | | | | probably want to weave with their horse! |
| key! If you get upset with your horse for not | | | | The commonality between all these obstacles is |
| doing it right, he will remember that and start | | | | the need for patience and practice. In-hand trail is |
| giving you problems every time you get to a | | | | not a class you can go into cold. It requires hours |
| back through. | | | | of hard work at home to prepare your horse for |
| Side Passing: | | | | the difficult maneuvers and possibly scary |
| Side passing seems to be the hardest obstacle | | | | obstacles. Also, don't try to get everything into |
| for most people. At a show you may be asked | | | | one lesson! Each horse is different and while one |
| to side pass either direction and it may not be | | | | horse may "get it" right away, another horse may |
| just 1 straight pole you have to go over! Side | | | | take a week to get the hang of the same |
| pass obstacles may be set up in an L or V where | | | | obstacle. |
| the handler must turn the horse on the haunches | | | | Just remember, your horse will not do any better |
| or forehand at the corner. The best handler will | | | | in the show ring than his average day at home! |
| not even need to touch the horse to get him to | | | | A final word of encouragement though: Trail is a |
| side pass correctly, even in these difficult | | | | very rewarding class and although it takes lots of |
| obstacles! | | | | hard work your horse will be that much better |
| On most horses you can start teaching the side | | | | for it. The work you put in will not only help you |
| pass by holding the lead firmly (to prevent | | | | perform better in the trail class show ring, but will |
| forward motion) and poking the horse in the side | | | | also create a more pleasant horse to be around. |
| (right where your heel or spur would go if you | | | | Your horse will learn to respect you and work |
| were riding) until he takes a small step to the side. | | | | with you and if you remain patient he will learn to |
| Every time he moves away you should release | | | | try his hardest for you every time you ask him! |
| the pressure on his side, this is his reward! Again, | | | | |