When you own a horse, well you can't truly say "horse ownership" because after you have a horse as a companion, some days you won't be sure who owns who; but when you have a horse in your life, riding the trails is one of the most pleasurable activities you can indulge in with your horse.

Training your horse to be a good trail horse will take a little effort and regular training on your part. Your horse must be confident in himself as well as you as a rider. You must teach your horse not to fear things he will encounter on a typical trail ride. Many horses can be spooked by large logs in the path, walking through ditches or shallow water. Your horse is psychologically wired to be a prey animal and is automatically suspicious of anything he doesn't readily know won't hurt him. Let him examine logs, water and other common trail items with his nose and mouth. Horses get a good sense of everything through their sense of taste and smell.

Praise him for being calm and stroke him while he looks over the various parts of the trail. If he will allow you to ride him, do so and keep praising him all the way as long as he remains calm. If he is a little skittish, don't risk your personal safety and just lead him through the area that is making him skittish. Then in the future, with gradual training, he will have no problem being ridden on once he realizes that there is no threat to his safety.

If you practice this on a regular basis with your horse, he will be an absolute delight to take out on a pleasure ride, no matter where you two go.