Happy Trails: Your Complete Guide to Fun and Safe Trail Riding has been selected as a ForeWord Magazine 2004 Book of the Year Award finalist in the Adventure & Recreation category. Written by longtime journalist and horseman Les Sellnow and published by Eclipse Press, a division of Blood-Horse Publications, Happy Trails: Your Complete Guide to Fun and Safe Trail Riding is a comprehensive guide to trail riding, the fastest-growing equine sport, and helps riders get the most out of their trail riding experience. The winner will be announced June 3 at BookExpo America in New York.

Les Sellnow specializes in training young horses and has developed many outstanding trail horses. He has written several books, including The Journey of the Western Horse. He is a regular contributor to The Horse: Your Guide to Equine Health Care magazine.

The following is a book excerpt from Happy Trails: Your Complete Guide to Fun and Safe Trail Riding.

Crossing Water

After a few uneventful rides, seek more challenging trips, such as crossing mud puddles or shallow streams. Because horses will always go around rather than through water, pick the spot for this lesson with care. Don’t ask the horse to go through a mud puddle, for instance, when dry ground is on both sides. Instead, find a place where there’s no alternative but to cross at the spot you’ve chosen. Your horse may still not want to cross, but no other options will be available