Use as many logs as possible 10-12’ making a maze on the ground so the horse learns foot position. Rock Obstacles You will need about 50 rocks or you can use flower pots but remember to leave enough space between rocks for your horse to step around.
Full Answer
You can build you own obstacles- some for free and others for a few dollars! You can have your very own course right in your backyard. You can find some of these obstacles laying around. Don’t be afraid to get creative with these DIY projects. Anything that moves in the wind has a chance of spooking your horse.
Horse Obstacle #5: DIY Water Obstacle 1 Start small…need to clean out a water bucket? Did the dumping, scrubbing, and rinsing leave a puddle? Before you fill... 2 Have several horses to train? Let the hose run a little longer to create a decent sized puddle to school all your horses... More ...
Imagine having a trail course of your own in a short amount of time. Training with Trail Obstacles creates a braver, confident, and more willing horse. Help increase rider confidence. Improve the relationship with your horse by practicing your use of timing and feel. Give you a way to measure your progress.
Learn how to build trail obstacles for horses. Build trail obstacles with confidence when you know exactly what to build and how to do it! and trail course you have always wanted! Trail Obstacles are proven to help develop confident horses and riders! Are you ready to have your own Trail Course?
The bridge helps teach horses to step up onto something and gets the horses use to walking on surfaces that make different sounds. This bridge is neat because it is actually two pieces–which will make it easier to move. 2. A “Car Wash” obstacle with a curtain. The horses think the Car Wash obstacle is pretty scary, ...
A set of four cavalettis. The cavalettis help teach the horses to watch where their feet are and to pick up their feet, rather than dragging their toes when they walk. Also, we can use them to make a channel or an “L” shape so that the horses can practice going backwards or sideways.
Let your creativity shine and build your obstacles! You can combine flying objects, things found in nature and household items to create something special. The more your horse is exposed to the better their reaction should be each time.
There’s no better way to desensitize your horse than with an obstacle course. It gives you a chance to expose your horse to a wide variety of objects. Some you may find in everyday life, while others only at a show or on the trails. Each exposure will make your horse braver!
Flying Objects. Anything that moves in the wind has a chance of spooking your horse. Between the quick movement and flapping sounds, these objects can cause a real freak out. The good news is you can de-spook your horse to a few of them and prevent a nasty accident.
If you need some inspiration, try building these obstacles- a wooden bridge, hanging curtain made from a tarp, sturdy horse-size steps, a tire with a center platform, a tarp tunnel and pool noodles horizontally attached to jump standards.
Trail riding, both short and long distances, can be extremely beneficial to horses. It doesn’t matter if you’re a dressage rider or barrel racer getting out of the arena can be a welcomed change for your horse. The only problem is all the different sights and sounds. Some can prove to be very intimidating!
These facilities have wooden bridges, logs, large tires, hanging objects and some even have a pond. If you aren’t so fortunate, don’t worry… You can build you own obstacles- some for free and others for a few dollars! You can have your very own course right in your backyard.
Fill it with dirt and use it as a step-up / over obstacle. Be sure to fill it solid..you don’t want your horse to catch a hoof in the rim. Stand a few of them on end with half-buried underground and use them as a back through or step over. Lay a few down under a thick, sturdy piece of plywood to “elevate” a bridge .
Grocery Bags As Horse Obstacles. Rub your horse all over its body with the bag. Walk your horse up / near a railing with bags tied to it. Fill bags with sand and drop them around the arena using them like cones to walk your horse around as if they are cones.
Here are some ideas: Use long strips dangled from a barn aisle doorway or gate panel to make a “car wash”. The paper rips away easily if caught. Tie a piece to the end of your horseman’s stick or lunge whip and use it to desensitize your horse. Remember to only throw it lightly…it can break.
Paper bags may be easier for some horses to accept than plastic bags. If your horse is really scared of plastic bags, try starting with paper!
Depending on where you live and what time of year it is, it can be pretty difficult to find a decent water obstacle to school your horse on. The great news is that with a hose and a little bit of patience, you can create a puddle of your very own to school your horse with.
For example, don’t start going the long way down the teeter totter – start with it flat on the ground and ask your horse to step over it until they can do so in a relaxed way.
A pvc pipe that swings around when the horse pushes on it. In this case, the horse gets a small dragon pursuing them! (This one scared my horse a bit at first!)
A collapsible dog agility tunnel can be dragged around, walked over, or pushed around with your horse.
All obstacles were created to build confidence in riders and horses in facing many of the same type of situations that may run across while further afield.
If you build obsticles that appear like those you will find in the open country, They would be pretty vandal proof.
At the stable my boy is in, we have these things in the indoor arena. We have a wooden bridge thing, which is more like a pedestal, a horse wash with hanging water noodles, a bright, highly reflective silver tarp to lay out on the ground for the horse to walk over, drag, or whatever, a few trot poles, some bright orange traffic cones for making things slightly more scary or for setting up a pattern to be walked on the floor, and there is also a large pad that I think was a very large dog bed, at one time, long enough for a horse to stand on it with all four feet, so maybe 5' by 4' or so. The spongy surface of it makes for an interesting obstacle.#N#Also, setting up ditches with areas that would have to be jumped and areas that could be crossed by walking through would be good, and something like a small pond or a creek, as well.