TOUGH TRAIL HORSES

History has not always been kind to horses. Over a million horses saw duty in WWI, and of these an estimated 256,000 died. Many of those that perished simply lay down with fatigue and exhaustion from over work, lack of feed and poor conditions. Of those horses that survived service it is believed that many or most were shipped or slaughtered to feed the hungry nations. During the Klondike gold rush of 1898 horses were employed to pack supplies from Skagway through rugged and hostile mountains to the Yukon. It was a tough life and a short life for these unfortunate horses. Feed was sparse, the terrain rough, and loads came heavy and often. More than three thousand horses died in this brief quest for gold, many of them in the wintering draw aptly named ‘Dead Horse Gulch’, several miles from Skagway. These poor horses, sore and already thin, starved pawing through snow for wisps of grass and a few willow twigs.
Since these harsh times North American society has become far more humane in how it treats horses and animals in general. Most people would agree that this is a good thing. However, has the pendulum has swung too far in the other direction? These days, many horse owners would classify horses as pets or family, as opposed to livestock, and there are many who feel that breeding with an eye for beauty, color, and simply because we like our horse, has taken the emphasis off of breeding hardy, tougher horses with good foot and leg characteristic. Our personal attention has made for a softer life for our pets and that is all fine but is it all good? As individuals and as a group are we guilty of breeding less hardy, less durable horses?
As a trial rider and wilderness traveler the subject of hardiness and good leg and foot bone is more than just a preference, it is vital to the success of the activity and to the condition and even the survival of the horse. Countless numbers of horses, owned by well-meaning individuals, are shipped from horse sales or put down each year from foot and leg problems, or poor health and condition.
While doing some research on the subject I was amazed by the number of articles by farriers, vets, and equine specialists who relate poor leg, foot, or bone structure to breeding, or lack of breeding. There is no question that you get what you breed. One well known farrier from the USA equestrian team put it this way. “Because of human intervention in horse breeding, the process of natural selection no longer applies…..we are not necessarily breeding the structure and strength into horse's feet needed to cope.”
Pleasure and performance horse riders may feel that it is a none issue as horses can be bred to suit the needs of riders and various disciplines, but horses are constantly bought and sold, and we have no control over new expectations and new environments. Most horses do not spend their entire life with one owner. That horse bred for the racetrack, western pleasure, or as a running quarter horse may very well find itself on a two-week trail ride or on a ranch pawing through prairie snow for part of its winter living. And if we are breeding for movement, looks, performance and color, it does not follow that solid bone structure and hardiness receive top billing. Admitting that we breed for what looks good, what performs, and what sells, in other words, money, is more accurate than saying we breed for the intrinsic health, stamina, and foot of the horse.
For several years we were a large breeder of Morgan horses. I fell in love with their proud look and liked the fact that there were still Morgans around that were structurally very sound and strong. The breed had not been specialized to suit disciplines and fancies as much as some other breeds. In short, we strove to breed good looking horses that could be solid, dependable, trail horses. But as life goes in general, it was easier said then done. Part of me wanted that beautiful swan neck and the finely chiseled body that went with it. On the other hand, my more practical side demanded a calm nature and sturdy build. Unfortunately, the beautiful horses that we loved to look at often did not have the qualities that we needed as trail riders, namely calm dispositions and the sturdy builds that could take various weights under tough trail conditions, and also be easy keepers through a winter and a season of use.
I finally tired of the internal struggle that had been pulling me in opposite directions for several years. The practical side won. This was encouraged by the fact that buyers would offer us more, sometimes double, for a calm, reliable, trail horse with as much breeding heritage as Eylmer Fudd, as opposed to a classy, papered, but less reliable horse. These were smart people, often having the sense literally knocked into them by falls, bumps, and bruises from unreliable horses. I will never forget taking a smaller, sturdy, pony-sized horse through a sales ring and getting what I believe to be the highest price of the sale, above other good riding and registered horses. The grand parent who bought the horse wanted a friendly, reliable, disciplined horse for their grandchild and they were prepared to pay for it. Good choice.
Differences in opinion regarding whether or not we are breeding the bone and hardiness out of some horses has two feet firmly planted in the ‘livestock’ world and two feet firmly planted in the ‘pet’ world. There is absolutely no way that ranch owners, farmers, outfitters, and horse guides look at their horses with the same slant as urban horse owners who may have spent 20,000.00 dollars on a performance horse, or a private one-horse owner who’s horse receives daily attention from family members. I have seen horse owners who are not familiar with trail riding conditions and the working world of ranch and outfitting horses, react with horror when they learn of trail horses that died as the result of a trail ride. The causes of deaths vary including sickness, drowning, injury, and fatigue. Often the deaths can be related to individuals using horses that were simply not up to the task, and individuals who themselves were not up to the task. Most horses in the outdoor work force live long and fulfilling lives because the owners know the bone, foot, and disposition required. The point is that calm minded, well built, easy keeping trail horses are much less likely to break down on the trail from foot and leg problems, gastro-intestinal problems, hunger, navigating obstacles, and losing nutrition. Sturdy horses generally get riders through tight spots and are less likely to slip, stumble, or fall. Your safety and possibly your life may depend on the limitations of your trail horses mind and body – are you comfortable with your choice?
Do you really want a horse that needs cozy comforts and hotter feeds just to keep some weight on? At this moment many thousands of horses across Europe and urban areas of North America spend much of their life in small paddocks, as small as 8x10 feet. Their active life may be confined to sporadic activity in an arena. Many would consider these well-pruned lifestyles acceptable but remain critical of horses who work under load over trail riding terrain and are hobbled and turned out for the night. Trail horses on trail rides are truly happy animals, they are born and bred to work in the great outdoors, and they love it.
It is unlikely that horse riders will ever agree on whether or not horses are tough enough, and whether or not an individual’s horse, maybe a trail riders horse, is tough enough. Criticizing someone’s horse is like criticizing their kid, not a good idea if you plan to be invited over for roast beef dinner. Experience is often the key to understanding what is needed, and open-minded horse riders grow with experience and make choices to suit, including changing horses if need be.
Most riders do provide the necessary feed and comforts required for their pleasure, performance, or trail horses. Most riders enjoy hourly or day rides. Their equine partners may never know the stressful circumstances that occur on longer trips. However, horses break down from regular use as well, and from running and trotting on variable terrain. Horses that break down from normal use or horses that lack common sense show up in horse sales regularly. Meat buyers depend on them.
There is a horse sale within seven hours drive from our farm once or twice every week during the spring, summer, and fall. From each of these sales, about forty to one hundred and fifty horses will be shipped to the slaughterhouse. That is a few thousand horses each year. Some of these horses are old or young horses purchased for the meat industry. However, many horses are there for a variety of problems and faults. Maybe they dumped someone once too often. Maybe they are hard to catch. Possibly their foot or leg has broken down. They could be poor keepers that no one wants to deal with, or the nice person who polished their hooves last year went off to college and now the feet are in bad shape and they can use the money.
It is not that I am against horse meat. I do find it sad that our poor choices put horses in these situations. We are more civilized then those sourdoughs from the Yukon who left their cayuses to starve in Dead Horse Gulch, but you do not have to look far to see that our civilized ways does not mean that we are creating more hardy, stronger horses, which is what trail riders, and the horse itself, needs. Good thoughts to keep in mind.
Have fun getting ready for the coming trail season!