Editor’s Note: This is an excerpt from Happy Trails by Les Sellnow.  

If you’re going to enjoy trail riding, you need a horse with a good temperament. You may have the best-conformed horse in the world, with sound limbs and body, but that will matter little if the horse is mentally and emotionally unsuited for the trail.

In a discussion of proper temperament in a trail horse, words like “solid” and “steady” come to mind. You want a horse that will carry you over a trail with little to no fuss or fidgeting–a horse that is solid and steady in the bridle, even when distracted.

The following are some common traits to look for in a good trail horse, and some traits to avoid. This chapter also includes how you can test a prospective mount to determine its suitability for the trail