25 Trail Obstacles Every Horse Should Master

You cannot prepare for everything, but you can practice a lot of it. Use this list as a checklist for your own horse trail training course. Work at your horse's pace and revisit anything that is not yet comfortable.

1. Walking over a bridge
2. Crossing a shallow creek or water
3. Walking over a tarp
4. Walking beside a flapping tarp
5. Opening, passing through and closing a gate
6. Stepping over a log
7. Walking over a series of ground poles
8. Backing through an L-shaped corridor
9. Standing quietly while a flag waves
10. Passing pool noodles hanging as a curtain
11. Walking through a tight gap between two barrels
12. Side-passing along a pole or fence
13. Standing still at a mounting block
14. Stop-and-go transitions on a loose rein
15. Walking up and down a small slope
16. Tolerating noise such as rattling cans or a tarp being shaken
17. Passing an umbrella opening or closing
18. Working through a row of cones
19. Walking past plastic bags or streamers
20. Standing tied calmly
21. Ponying or being led alongside another horse
22. Walking over a wooden platform
23. Staying calm as hikers or bikes approach
24. Loading into and unloading from a trailer
25. Waiting patiently at a gate or trailhead

How to practice

Pick three or four obstacles each session. Introduce each one from the ground first, then under saddle. If your horse becomes tense, back up to something easier. Our desensitization guide explains the step-by-step method.

Try a ready-made course

Our indoor course already includes tarps, flags, bridges, pool noodles, gates, tight spaces and stop-and-go challenges, so you do not have to build everything yourself. Check the next event and register.