by Marianne Lange

Created on: July 24, 2008   Last Updated: June 25, 2009

Today there are as many horse breeds as there are disciplines. The key to meeting your needs is to have an idea of your goal prior to purchasing your horse. A good trail animal is not always easy to find. First, it is important to be honest about your abilities and intentions. Are you a beginner or do you have some miles under your belt? Is your goal to do some relaxing riding with your horse on shorter distance trails, go on horse vacations, or prepare for some long distance riding or competitions? Basic guidelines will apply with differences factoring in by the goal you outline. You will also most likely want a horse that has "some miles" on it not a youngster or a one just broken to ride. You will need to look for an even tempered animal who seems adaptable to different settings and acceptable of new things as can be the situation while on the trail such as other animals, riders, different footing and terrain.

Choosing the correct breed for your needs and interest is important and can make all the difference in your success and enjoyment of trail riding. Regarding the variety of breeds, several stand out: Tennessee Walkers, Quarter horses, Morgans, Morabs and Arabians. These are common breeds and they are all considered versatile, family horses. Another factor is their size and build; they are average sized ranging from about 14:2 to 16 hands with the 15 hand range animals the average. This size is good especially for those who are less experienced. You don't need the largest, strongest horse to have a successful trail ride, nor do you want to have to maneuver that sized animal on the trail if you are lacking experience.

Let's take a look at these breeds and consider some of the qualities that might make them good possibilities. A breed known to have what it takes on the trail is the Tennessee Walking Horse. They are one of the light horse breeds. They are known to have a calm disposition and are used for a variety of tasks. Most particularly, they are known for their exceptionally smooth gaits. It is not uncommon to see these horses out on the trail being used by riders of all ages from young to old and older. They have a breed association, The Tennessee Walking Horse Breed and Exhibitor Association, http://www.twhbea.com/ . The association has a partnership with the National Parks Service and enthusiastically supports trail riding. Their site also has classifieds and lists programs in which you can participate or gain greater information on their breed.

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