Crossing Water

Having control of your horse's feet is key to staying safe on the trail. When your horse is unsure or spooked by an obstacle, not having that control can quickly turn into a dangerous situation.

- BY MONIQUE POTTS, WITH NICHOLE CHIRICO

That's why I like to simulate trail scenarios at home, so I can work through them with my horse in a calm, controlled environment.

Of course, even with plenty of practice, things can still go sideways once you're out on the trail. That's where the right approach makes all the difference. These tips will help you navigate tricky obstacles safely while building your horse's confidence.

I'm fortunate enough to have a water ditch nearby that I like to use when teaching my horses to go over obstacles, but work with what you have. A few puddles in the arena after a rainstorm? Perfect. Start there. These tips can also be applied when a horse is worried crossing a bridge or walking over a downed log, too.

One

When dealing with a horse that's scared of something, you want to try to make the scary thing the best deal for your horse. That means if my horse is scared of the water crossing, I might make her work a little harder away from the water by walking and trotting circles, and bending her both directions. However, before I go straight to schooling on my horse, I'm going to give her the opportunity to look at what's scaring her and see if she will give me control of her feet to help her get over that fear.