[freetoride]

is it possible? i may trade my mare for a trail horse but i was wondering what the best exercises and routines are to turn her into an arena horse and in the long run a show horse? she is dead broke which is what im looking for but i was wondering what to do to make her that all-around horse?

[iridehorses]

What breed is she?
How old is she?
What type of show horse are you looking for?
English or Western?
What kind of training has she already had (while you owned her and before)?

The short answer is "possibly" but it really all depends on what you want from your horse and the answers to the above questions.

If your horse is a 23 year old grade horse that has done nothing her whole life but ride trails in a Western saddle and you want a dressage horse, then the answer is most likely "no". Of course there are always exceptions but we need more information.

[Chester]

Ride her correctly for whatever your discipline is and she can be a show horse.

Our horses go from beach rides, to sporting, to dressage and jumping. It is all in the riding/training.

[bnttyra]

I am actually in the process of training my 11 yr Quarab mare from a trail horse to a WP horse. I beleive it can be done with the right horse. Belle has always been a quick learner and the only thing I really need to do with her is get her head down a bit more and slow her down. After only 4 days, she is already keeping her head down and has a really good start on her jog (she already has the walk and backing down). By the end of this week, I am sure we will be moving on to the lope. If the horse is deadbroke, I think you have a really good start and it is just a matter of finishing.

[Berlunz]

if the horse is a good horse then its possible. If its a horse that has a bad personality and temper probably not. But if the trail horse really is calm and 'dead broke' then yes you can do it by doing the correct excercises. I bought a mare at 12 who had been a ranch mare and transplant mare all her life. I turned her from a horse who only knew go, go faster, stop to a show mare who won grand champion western and res champion english. We also took her to team pennings and did ghymkana games at holiday parties. If a horse is willing then you can teach them anything, no matter how old they are, with the proper training, time and patience. Its by no means a fast process but its completely possible. My mom trained her now 28 year old paint mare to show and we bought her at age 24.

[Smartee Pants]

I used to show my trail horses both english and western. We would show Saturday and go trail riding Sunday with an occasional parade thrown in. They did well at everything - so, it is possible.

Debbie

[Finallyownhorse]

This might be a dumb question, but are you sure she is "just" a trail horse?

I ask because two of our older horses were purchased as trail horses, but found out later both of them started life off in the arena.