Mark Bolender

Mark and Lee Bolender own and operate Bolender Horse Park in Washington State, which houses the finest Mountain Trail course in the world. They are the founders of the International Mountain Trail Challenge Association (IMTCA) and travel worldwide as clinicians and ambassadors of Mountain Trail. Bolender Horse Park offers riders of all skill levels and disciplines a fun and challenging trail riding adventure. Mark has designed and built Mountain Trail courses in the USA, Canada, Australia, and Europe—with many more in development. Mark uses his artistic, landscaping, horse training, and construction skills to build these courses (NW Steel Design LLC www.nwsteeldesign.com). Mark is the author of Bolender’s Guide to Mastering Mountain and Extreme Trail Riding. Visit www.bolenderhorsepark.com to learn more.

November 2015 Cover Story: Mountain Trail – The All Breed Discipline

August 5, 2020November 1, 2015 by Mark Bolender

Building an International Sport by Mark Bolender YOU DON’T OFTEN FIND the western horse next to an English style horse in the same competition. This also goes for seeing multiple breeds competing together — Arabians, Peruvians, Quarter Horses, Thoroughbreds, minis, warm bloods and even mules. Mountain trail is different. …

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9 Basic Skills for Mountain Trail

August 5, 2020October 1, 2015 by Mark Bolender

Master these Basic Skills to Improve Safety and Scores by Mark Bolender To improve their mountain trail scores it’s important to master nine basic skills. These skills can also be returned to, again and again, to master the variety of obstacles found on course. Ability to move the shoulders …

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Building Your Horse’s Mind

August 5, 2020August 1, 2015 by Mark Bolender

Why Obstacle Training is Good for Every Horse by Mark Bolender Your horse’s mind is an amazing place, but understanding the basics is an absolute necessity in order to effectively train it. The reality is I want to change the horse’s natural instinct, reaction, and teach it to think …

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Building and Mastering a Rock Obstacle

August 5, 2020June 1, 2015 by Mark Bolender

Create Your Own Challenge and Learn Easy Tips for Mastery With a little know-how, a rock obstacle is easy to construct and easy to master. I love this obstacle because it teaches a horse to slow down and think. It will teach the horse to carefully pick up and place …

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The Most Forgiving Creature

August 5, 2020April 1, 2015 by Mark Bolender

How Horses Teach Us to Be Better Leaders by Mark Bolender It never ceases to amaze me how consistently the horse remains a forgiving creature. I can’t tell you how many mistakes I have made in training, and how many mistakes I have observed being made, that the horse continues …

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Mastering the Rolling Bridge

August 5, 2020February 1, 2015 by Mark Bolender

Teach Your Horse Focus with this Obstacle Challenge Mountain trail is based on real life situations found working on the ranch or navigating a trail. With the International Mountain Trail Challenge Association (IMTCA), it has become a discipline that shows off the perfect trail horse. This horse moves boldly and …

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Mastering the Raised Back-through

August 5, 2020December 1, 2014 by Mark Bolender

Gain Success Navigating a Frustrating Obstacle by Mark Bolender The raised back-through can often be a frustrating experience for the horse and rider. I commonly hear this: “I don’t understand why my horse will not trust me more and just do it.” Often their horse is pushy when being …

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Applying the “Think it Through” Principle to Water Crossing

August 5, 2020October 1, 2014 by Mark Bolender

Become an Effective Leader by Working with Your Horse’s Natural Instinct by Mark Bolender The principle of “thinking it through” applies to both horse and rider and is a powerful tool if used properly. It is a change from just lunging the horse next to a scary obstacle (which …

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Mastering the Scramble

August 5, 2020August 1, 2014 by Mark Bolender

Train Your Horse to Calmly Negotiate Rolling Logs by Mark Bolender A scramble is an obstacle designed to teach the horse how to walk through a set of small rolling logs that move. This obstacle is a result of a real trail situation where I was riding near Mount …

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Tricks of the Turnaround Box

August 5, 2020June 1, 2014 by Mark Bolender

Learn How to Build and Train this Challenging Obstacle by Mark Bolender More and more trail challenges include a small 42 inch box that requires the horse to step up onto it and turn around. When you see an experienced horse negotiate the obstacle it looks very simple. This obstacle …

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Thank you for supporting the businesses that support The Northwest Horse Source

Thank you for supporting the businesses that support The Northwest Horse Source

Thank you for supporting the businesses that support The Northwest Horse Source

Thank you for supporting the businesses that support The Northwest Horse Source

Thank you for supporting the businesses that support The Northwest Horse Source

Thank you for supporting the businesses that support The Northwest Horse Source

Thank you for supporting the businesses that support The Northwest Horse Source

Thank you for supporting the businesses that support The Northwest Horse Source

Thank you for supporting the businesses that support The Northwest Horse Source

Thank you for supporting the businesses that support The Northwest Horse Source

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