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Trail is one of the largest and most popular classes at many AQHA shows.
“It’s not only a class where horses are asked to walk, trot and lope over poles with forward motion,” says AQHA Professional Horseman Robin Frid. “There are many components and obstacles that we can forget to practice and teach both our horses and riders on a regular basis.”
Because trail is one of the largest and most time-consuming classes at many shows, courses are often shortened to shorten the days.
“There’s nothing wrong with show managers wanting to tighten up the days,” Robin says. “But I hate to see the slower obstacles requiring more finesse and body control on the chopping block.”
At some shows, a conventional back up and a gate are the sole body control maneuvers.
“Our rulebook outlines several optional obstacles that might reasonably be found on a trail ride, and it is those obstacles that championship show course designer Tim Kimura will be emphasizing in the next two or three years,” Robin says. “We in the AQHA Professional Horsemen’s Council wanted to make sure our exhibitors are prepared to tackle those with skill.”
The AQHA Professional Horsemen’s Council has asked several AQHA Professional Horsemen to explain how they teach their horses and students to negotiate these challenging obstacles. The first is the sidepass.
So how does one teach a horse to sidepass?
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