Confidence Course

The ED DABNEY Gentle Horsemanship Training Center features a fun and challenging "Adventure Trail Obstacle Course". Learning to negotiate these obstacles increases the horse's courage and more importantly it builds their trust in their human leader. Most obstacles have a basic function as well as a more advanced application. We lead the horse, send the horse and ride the horse through most of the obstacles.

Every new obstacle a horse learns to accept enables him to more easily accept other new challenges or "scary" situations he might encounter on the trail or in the show ring. Successfully overcoming each obstacle with the help and patient guidance of his human leader teaches the horse how to handle his fears and shows him that you are a trustworthy leader.

The Mounted Search and Rescue Squad uses our Confidence Course as a prerequisite for membership. Anyone wishing to join the squad must successfully negotiate all the obstacles.

For most of the stations on the confidence Course we will lead, send (longe) and ride the horse through various obstacles and challenges.

_________________________________________________________

 

Tarp - Builds the horse's courage by having him walk over and stop on the blue plastic tarp on the ground.

_________________________________________________________ 

 

Poles - (Two 30 foot parallel telephone poles four feet apart) Having the horse back between the poles improves his straight line backing. Also used to side-pass along one pole with the pole running under the horse for a straight side-pass.

_________________________________________________________ 

 

Maze - Walking forward and backing through the railroad tie maze improves the horse’s turns and hindquarter control, working toward precision of movement.

_________________________________________________________ 

 

Tires - Walking through the tires builds the horse’s courage and trust in his human leader.                                   

_________________________________________________________

 

Cavaletti - Trotting down the center of the poles helps the horse learn to watch where he is going and to regulate his pace.

_________________________________________________________

 

Jumps - Plastic barrels and tree trunks of differing diameters create obstacles the horse must step or jump over. Another use of this station is in lunging.

_________________________________________________________

 

Car Wash - An archway of blue plastic streamers creates a challenging obstacle for ground and mounted work which really builds the horse's confidence and courage.

_________________________________________________________

 

Teeter-Totter - Horses are always concerned about having a firm footing under them, so to ask them to walk over a moving platform is a true test of their willingness and trust in their human leader.

_________________________________________________________

Wagon Wheel - Walking around the spokes low or high teaches the horse to pick up his feet and watch where he is going.