Oh, my goodness, I think the weekend spent at the Gaited Trail Trials was the most fun I’ve ever had on horseback: gorgeous weather, beautiful trails, challenging obstacles, encountering a MOOSE (really), and stories about Sasquatch around a campfire with fun and kind people.

Gaited Trail Trial

By Jennifer Klitzke

September 2011, the Minnesota Walking Horse Association sponsored the third annual Gaited Trail Trials at Hobby Horse Farm in Carlton, MN. Many gaited breeds were represented including Walking Horses, Foxtrotters, Icelandics, and Peruvian Pasos.

Around 30 participants rode in groups of two or three through a 2-1/2 hour course along beautifully groomed trails and were confronted with 12 challenging obstacles. Each rider navigated their gaited horse through each obstacle one-by-one and was judged on a scale from 0 to 24. Zero being the best score. (Actually, for those who went the extra challenge could earn a -1 deduction).

Obstacles included a safety check, rocking bridge, opening and closing a gate, a construction zone, an extreme hill, crossing through a river, encountering a scare crow, a moose (yes, moose), navigating through an active camp site and a sawmill, and ending with a gaiting exercise and trailer loading/unloading.

Trail Map

Each participant was given a trail map to navigate the course to each obstacle.

Safety Check: The first check point was a dismounted safety check. Each participant was asked to show their halter, lead rope, pocket knife and hoof pick before tightening their girth and mounting.

The Wobbly Bridge: Each participant rode over a wobbly bridge. Branches and pine boughs were lying on and to each side of the bridge. Makana thought it was a snacking station and the judge had to remove the pine boughs from her mouth twice. She stepped on and off the bridge twice before we moved to the next station.

The Gate: Each rider had to unhook a gate, open it, ride through it, close it, and refasten it. Makana did everything except the final refastening part.

Construction Zone: Each rider had to navigate their horse through a grid of tires and fallen tree trunks. Each side of the trail was covered with fluorescent orange webbing and the judges were hiding in the bushes. Makana was apprehensive but slowly made her way through the grid.

Extreme Hill: Then each group had to decide if they wanted take the steep hill or the EXTREME hill for a bonus deduction (That’s where the -1 score is possible). Our group of three opted for the extreme hill.

When it was our turn, Makana boldly made her way up the hill and I was thinking, “Ah, piece of cake,” until we turned the bend and had about 50-feet of a near perpendicular EXTREME climb. I leaned forward as much as I could with my feet behind me and expelled words I hadn’t expressed in years. We made it! What a good little horse! Thankfully the downhill wasn’t nearly as steep.

The Scarecrow: We were off to the corn field where a scare crow was attached with mylar balloons and placed next to the tallest cornfield I’ve ever seen. Each participant had to ride past the scare crow. A bonus deduction was given if your horse touched it. Makana walked past the scarecrow slowly and I opted not to make her touch it.

The River Raft: The next obstacle was crossing a rushing river that was about 2-3 feet deep. I was so proud of Makana because we have never navigated through moving water before. A bonus deduction was possible if the horse touched an inflatable raft that was tied to the side, plus backing the horse into the deeper current. We opted to just walk through the swift moving water.

The Campsite: This obstacle included a duck blind and boxes. Each rider had to ride their horse while moving and stacking three boxes with a rake. Makana did okay until my grandma hand lost strength and I dropped it.

One of the ribbon winners rode a horse that was blind in one eye and she had a broken arm. I don’t know how she managed to steer her horse and maneuver the boxes with the rake with only one working arm. Amazing!

There were several great stretches for gaiting well-groomed trails through woods and meadows. Seriously, it was so fun to ride at a good clip without bouncing!

The Wood Cutter’s Camp: This multi-sensory obstacle was by far the most frightening for Makana. A blazing fire pit, people chopping wood with axes, a functioning wood splitter, and a back-firing tractor, while a ten-minute rainstorm blew through. I took the easy way out and received a score of “24.”

The Moose: Thanks to connections with the DNR, a moose was hauled in and stationed dead center of the trail. Makana didn’t think the moose was nearly as frightening as the judge’s umbrella to the other side of the trail. Inch-by-inch we worked our way between the umbrella and the moose. A bonus deduction was possible for horses brave enough to touch the moose.

Congratulations to the winner Rachael Nyenhuis with an amazing score of “3”. Makana and I finished the course with a score of “97”. It was truly the most fun I’ve had with horses and horse people in the 30 years I’ve been riding.

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