| Lesley Neuman wrote to us and said, And we think she's right! On a real trail ride, you might have to pass through a herd of milling cattle. You might encounter hikers wearing tall backpacks, or teenagers on mountain bikes. There might be motorcycles, chickens, wild turkeys, rabbits jumping out of nowhere. You might pass through traffic, perhaps an accident with sirens and flares, perhaps uneven or unstable turf. The wind might kick up debris, tents may flap in the wind. Who knows? |
Are YOU and YOUR mustang, burro or mule up to the Lesley Neuman Ultimate Trail Challenge?This year's Challenge will be shorter, quicker than last year - but MORE CHALLENGING and MORE EXCITING TO WATCH!
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Wild horses are legendary trail horses, and most adopters report an intention to use their new horse for trail riding. Recognizing this, we have developed some exciting new Trail Classes for this year's Expo.
Why are Wild Horses such good Trail Horses?
In the wild, horses travel an average of 25 miles a day, just to find enough food and water to survive on the range. 
The harsh terrain where wild horses and burros live requires sturdy feet and legs, and the lessons of survival convey a wisdom and savvy that is rare in domestic horses. As wild animals who depend upon their herd-mates for protection and survival, wild horses are capable of great loyalty, devotion, and protection toward adopters who treat them with fairness and respect.
What about Burros?
Wild burros share the same qualities of sturdiness, stamina, and range-savvy intelligence that wild horses have. Burros have an added quality of being calmer and more stoic in the face of adversity. Unlike horses, who consider themselves to be prey animals, and thus will run first and ask questions later, burros are confident in their ability to strike and kick a predator. As a result, burros are less likely to shy, buck or rear than a horse.
Burros' inclination to remain calm and confident in the face of trouble also contributes to their legendary "stubbornness." They simply cannot be forced to do something that they consider unsafe or senseless.
All of these qualities make them ideal mounts, especially for children and riders who prefer to enjoy the scenery than monitor their horse's emotions. Burros not large enough to ride make superb pack animals.
Mules?
Lesley Neuman gentles a wild mule at a BLM Adoption in Oregon;
Mules combine the athleticism and emotional nature of the horse, with the burro's superior intelligence and the ability to think ahead. For these reasons, wild mules have proven to be quite a challenge for training - but it can be done, and we do hope that some will show up this year at Expo!
Mustangs and burros are also popular among mule breeders for producing what we call "Appendix Mules." 
Appendix mules are domestically bred mules whop have at least one formerly wild parent. These have the sturdy constitutions of their wild parents, but are no different from other domestic mules for training. Appendix Mules are also welcome at Expo!
New Classes Recognize Wild Horse & Burro Area of Excellence
Recognizing the natural excellence in wild horses, burros and mules on the trail, we have come up with some new and much more intense Trail classes for this year's WSWHBE. We offer a variety of levels, from green to open, in-hand and under saddle or harness.
These are pictures from In-Hand Trail Classes
The Lesley Neuman Ultimate Trail Challenge will consist of a variety of obstacles and assigned tasks (see below). Each obstacle or task will be assigned a maximum number of points, according to level of difficulty. Whether a contestant earns the full number of points, or fewer, will be at the discretion of the judge. Any obstacle may be attempted either In-Hand and Under Saddle, with higher points being awarded to successful completion under saddle.
| Here's the 2004 trail course (2005 will be somewhat different, but we have left this up for you to see the general idea:) In the beginning all contestants will place their saddles in the arena near the gate. The horses start unsaddled. |
