[LateralFlexion]

Originally Posted by Hopeful Wishes

Personally, on top of everything else every one has mentioned, I like my trail horse to be able to open gates off of...

Yes, that too! I forgot that one.

[Drafthorse]

Doesn't quite work when you ride horses 17 hh plus on the trail most of the time! Might be hard to reach the gate, though I do agree, it is a good skill for the horse to know. Regardless if he be 12 hands, or 18 hands.

I personally prefer my trail horses to have a little spunk [I really do not enjoy riding 'dead' horses].

If I plan to use a particular horse for overnight trips, I also like them to be hobble trained. Just another thing to think about.

[Hopeful Wishes]

Originally Posted by Drafthorse

Doesn't quite work when you ride horses 17 hh plus on the trail most of the time! Might be hard to reach the gate, though I do agree, it is a good skill for the horse to know. Regardless if he be 12 hands, or 18 hands.

.

Very true. How ever i'd much rather have to do some leaning to open the gate then have to get back on with my knees its not always the funnest task LOL

I've always ridden trail horses that were 15-16hh ish, so heigth was never much of an issue.

One thing when it comes to opening a gate, I enjoy a horse who KNOWS what they're doing and is GOOD at it, not one that it takes you 15 mins to get them to stand still Had one mare that if she had a way to open it her self, she would've. She would see the gate, walk up to it, line her self up perfectly and wait for you to lean over and unlatch it and would backc up. Never had to actualy ask her to do it. Rode her "side saddle" (in a western saddle after my knee surgery) and I needed my right leg to push her over in to the gate... nope... she went right on over there with no leg on that side