Mountain Trail & Obstacles

Our Extreme Mountain Trail Course is where Tailwind Trails was born! The original course was built over 20 years ago by Mark Bolender, the founder of the International Mountain Trail Course Association and the multi-year Open Champion of that sport. Although the course has been updated and modified many times over the years, the goals, benefits and value of riding our course with all breeds and disciplines of horse remain unchanged. Each of the challenges on our course is specifically designed to mentally engage your horse, create relaxation, and help your horse learn how to think through a problem or question. Many riders come and initially say “my horse can’t do that” and they are amazed at what their horse can accomplish with the proper guidance and encouragement. The stepping up, over, and down combined with the hills is excellent for working the hind end, hocks and stifles, as well as their sharpening their proprioception and building confidence. The course is excellent for cross training and equine athlete, as well as preparing your horse for any and all terrain that might be encountered on a trail. We also use this course to train mounted police and sheriff horses, Thoroughbreds coming off of the track needing to see the real world, and retired show horses whose future is no longer in the show ring, but as a beloved trail horse. Over the years, we have hosted several Extreme Cowboy Trail type events and shows, which are always popular. We offer private lessons on this famous course and also often hold clinics. The course can be done in-hand, as well as ridden, and even at Liberty!

We also offer Arena Obstacles Clinics, where poles, barrels, tarps and the like are set up in an arena or pasture and designed to challenge your horses’ rideability, as well as the accuracy and of your riding. All obstacle work, natural or arena, is the perfect opportunity to fine tune your aids, body position, awareness and overall horsemanship.