REGULAR FEATURE
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Mark Bolender is a nationally recognized horseman, trainer and instructor. He is also the country’s leading expert in the sport of Extreme Trail, Mountain Trail and Competitive Trail, and a three-time Extreme Trail Grand Champion. Mark is an AQHA Professional Horseman.
Mark demonstrates his distinc- tive brand of training, known as Unique Horsemanship, at national horse shows.
He owns and operates Bolender Horse Park in Silver Creek, Wash- ington and has designed and built competition courses across the nation, all of which sponsor Extreme Trail clinics.
To learn more about Mark, his clinics, and the Bolender Horse Park, visit his website:
www.bolenderhorsepark.com
Watch for Mark Bolender’s new book, “Mastering Mountain Trail” which explains exactly how to become your horse’s leader and achieve that all-important partnership with it.
Trail Savvy
Mastering Log Obstacles by Mark Bolender
Tips for Teaching this Mountain Trail Horse Skill
hether out on a trail or in a show, watching an accom- plished Mountain Trail
horse moving through a diffi cult log obstacle makes it look easy. The horse navigates the logs while going forward boldly and confi dently, and always advancing safely. We begin training for log obstacles from the ground. Start with a few simple logs and ask
your horse to inspect them. It will prob- ably drop its head to consider this new obstacle. Since each horse is different you must be fl exible, so let your horse get comfortable before asking it to step over. This may take a while because most horses would rather avoid the obstacle than step over it. Your horse will soon understand that you expect it to concentrate on the obstacle and step over it rather than go around it. You should reward the slightest try when it moves forward. Usually a horse concentrates on an obstacle by
pawing, chewing on it, snorting, etc. Whatever its preference, allow it to investigate, without pres- sure, while it’s thinking. Also, do not let your horse linger or lounge by the logs because it should not desensitize to them. Desensitization is useful in certain circumstances, but not with logs because it does not teach the animal to think its way through this obstacle. When a horse has to “think it through” to navigate a log obstacle, it fosters boldness and confi dence much faster. While you ask your horse to inspect the logs do
not move your feet. It may be hard to resist this urge but by doing so you use a very powerful lead- ership tool. This is because a horse’s instinct tells it that the more you move, the more it should not trust you. Being immovable and not intimidated is how the alpha mare behaves when she makes a request. When you (or the alpha mare) shows foot movement, it telegraphs to the horse that you’re not worthy of leadership in the herd. Each horse requires a different level of pres-
sure, so when you allow your horse to inspect the logs, be patient. Give your horse all the time it needs to think as it takes its fi rst step over the logs. Be prepared for the horse to drop a shoulder into you (which is when the horse moves into
20 April 2012 The Northwest Horse Source
your personal space) so it can exit the logs. Put enough pressure on the horse so it moves away from you and out of your space. Each creature has such a personal space and with horses and people, I call it a “Bolender Bubble.” When you and your horse’s “Bolender Bubble” intersect, it can cause your horse to panic. So if you fi nd that your horse is getting too close to you, put the horse back on track to think its way through the logs. Remember, if you put too much pressure on your horse it will jump instead of walk and that can be dangerous. I prefer to teach a horse on a few logs fi rst and
gradually build up to approximately eight logs. At that point it should be able to walk over any size log in a straight line and without jumping. It’s also helpful to put a cone at each end of the obstacle in order to keep you and your horse focused on what is straight. Soon your horse will walk up to a log obstacle, drop its head, and move through with style and grace. When this happens it’s time to mount up and ride. The same training steps used in ground work
apply when riding. Take your time and start with just a simple set of logs. A key to riding is to trust your horse on a loose rein. If you tighten up and pull on its face, you’re building a trap (at least in the horse’s mind), and that causes it to bolt or jump the logs. It’s critical that you trust your horse to make the navigation decisions. In time, your horse will walk through on a loose rein, showing that its confi dence and trust is in you. Happy trails and Bolender Blessings.
NWHS
www.nwhorsesource.com
PHOTO:
TOOTRICKPONY.COM
PHOTO: MARK BOLENDER
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