"What is a field trial and why is it good for a horse to be trained this way?".

Simply put, a field trial is a competition for bird dogs in which horses are used to follow the dogs through all types of terrain. The horse is not judged in any way, but must be dead broke to be an effective partner for the person handling the dog. To be a great field trial mount, a horse must be able to handle many different roles; above all, he must be smooth, durable and sound, as he will be required to spend many hours under saddle. He must be sure-footed, able to negotiate rough terrain, and he must be willing to take the lead, but also not fuss when in the back of the gallery. At times, he must leave the gallery, without hesitation, to look for lost or big running dogs, while crossing all obstacles fearlessly. A field trial horse must be able to tolerate dogs under his feet (no kicking allowed), gun shots, and must stand quietly, even in large groups of horses. All of these attributes will make for a pleasure horse that is easy to handle, and a joy to ride.

At Five Springs Farm, we don't just say a horse is a field trial horse; we work our horses on dogs year round. We also participate in trials as handlers, scouts, judges and spectators. We know what it takes to make a good horse and can provide the field trialer with what he needs.

Some of the nicest people we meet are at field trials. Here are some pictures we have taken.