I get a lot of questions about what it means when we note a horse
"has field trialled." Many people confuse field trialling for
trail riding. Wikipedia defines field trialling as "A field trial
is a competitive event at which dogs compete against one another
for placements. There are field trials for retrievers, pointing
dogs and flushing dogs. Field trials are usually organized by
kennel clubs or other gun dog organizations." But what does that
have to do with horses? Traditionally, dogs are work from horses
in order to cover ground quickly and quietly and in modern times,
with less impact to the environment. Many field trials today are
held on state wildlife management areas where ATVs are not permitted.
The field trial circuit travels up and down the entire continental
United States depending on the weather.
Two of the best known field trials are The Nationals at the
Ames
Plantation in Grand Junction, Tennessee and
The Continental at the Dixie Plantation in
Florida.
Stephanie
(behind camera) and Pam Langston at the 2018 Lax, Georgia Trail
What does it mean to be a
field trial horse?
That depends on the purpose of the horse, but in general field
trial horses must:
load and trailer well
stand quietly while tied to the trailer
start and stop quickly and without fuss
ride alone or in a group
navigate rough terrain in a surefooted
manner
tolerate horses coming into and leaving
the group quickly and without notice
tolerate ropes brushing up against
(head, sides, legs, etc.)
tolerate gun shots without warning
tolerate birds flying out from brush
unexpectedly
endure up to 3 hours of work at a time
cover ground quickly, efficiently and
comfotably for the rider
tolerate loud whistles, handler calls
and shouts without flinching
tolerate dogs underfoot (kicking will
get you banned!)
tolerate dogs running up abruptly and
often through the horses' legs
optional but preferred: stake-out
(graze while collared and tethered to a stake in the
ground)
The Handler's Horse A
handler must be able for focus his or her attention on the dog
at all times. As such, the handler horse must be a confident,
obendient machine. These horses are typically quicker, more
forward horses. This horse must tolerate dogs jumping or being
lifted to the saddle and riding with the handler. Dogs are also
"roaded" or led from the handler's horse. The handler's horse must
also be willing to short lope on occasion.
The Judge's Horse A judge
spends LONG hours in the saddle, so the judge must have a smooth
gaited horse with good endurance. The judges attention must be focused
on the dog, so an obedient, quiet horse is a must. The horse must be
confident enough to leave the herd and stand quietly with the judge.
The Scout's Horse The
scout's job is to find and return dogs who may not be in sight of the
handler. The scout's horse must quickly and surefootedly navigate some
of the most treacherous terrain faced by modern horses. The horse has
to be confident enough to ride out completely alone without so much as
a whinny. These forward, ready-to-go-in-an-instant types are the
daredevils of the field trial string.
The Gallery Horses The
gallery horses are the gentry of the field trial string. They don't
have to go crashing through the underbrush like the scout's horse, but
they do have an important job. Galley horses must be mild-mannered,
quiet horses. The should be suitable for ALL level of riders,
including children. Many gallery horses pack along the non-riding
family and guests of the owners. No shenanigans are permitted. In
fact, many gallery horses should qualify for sainthood based on the
level of inexperience they quietly tolerate.
What are wranglers? Field
trial wranglers travel the field trial circuits and provide qualified
rental horses for handlers, judges, scouts and the gallery. They are
in charge of the selection, training, feeding, transportation and use
of the string of field trial horses. A good wrangler is a hardworking,
tireless individual with a passion for the horses they care for. We
happen to know an excellent wrangler, Meredith Mays. If you're
looking to get into field trialling and would like to experience one,
she's the woman to talk to.
Voice of the Tennessee Walking Horse,
October 2018:
