Road to the Tevis Cup Post #19: Prerequisites for riding the Sierra Nevada

Well.. I suppose technically I mean prerequisites for riding the Sierra Nevada foothills. I’m about 10 miles from Sequoia National Forest. The training barn is at an elevation of ~770 feet. The gate to the cattle ranch adjacent to us is at ~890 feet. My closest riding loop rises to 1860 in a mile (a bit more than half a mile as the crow flies). My current riding (climbing) goal is Hatchett Peak, at 3,261 feet, 2.50 miles as the crow flies.

Read related posts: How to Calculate the Grade of Hills and The Golden Trout Wilderness on horseback.

Above: A 2023 video of Fantazia and me scrambling amongst the wildflowers on a very steep hill!

Yesterday I got about halfway to Hatchett Peak, in the distance it will really take us. I rode about 2.5 miles along our eventual trail, and then headed home. Fantazia is not yet fit enough to go the whole way. Yesterday’s ride was 5.50 miles in 2 hours. Total elevation gain = 1,650 feet. We weren’t in a hurry, we explored trails and rocky ravines. I managed to scare myself many times… Fantazia had to back up, turn leaving a specific foot on the trail, and let me get off and lead. She scrambled up a very steep rocky slope behind me, and did not step on me when I fell.

Above: We came down this rocky gully.

I was very grateful to have a smart, seasoned horse. And I thought I should make a list of the abilities a horse should possess before it is taken out on these hills. Horses vary in temperament, but you can teach them to be smart, to think, and to listen to the rider when things get scary.

Essential prerequisites for riding the Sierra Nevada (or any steep, rocky terrain)

1. Your horse must stop and stand on command.

This is so basic I almost forgot to include it. I teach all of my horses to stop and stand still from day one. By this I mean they should halt immediately when asked, and stand still until told to move.

Your horse should be ready to move out of the halt calmly, in any direction, because that first movement might need to be forwards, sideways, or backwards.

Above: Sometimes trails disappear in alarming places. This one ended up in rocks and trees just beyond this bend, and Fantazia had to back up, then turn.

2. Your horse must be able and willing to back up anywhere.

You might need to back uphill, downhill, along a cliff, on a curve. Fantazia and I did all of that yesterday. Sometimes it is impossible to turn safely, and going forward is not an option.

Above: In this short video clip, you can see how my mare River backs neatly out of a tight spot in the high sierra. (Read about our adventure: The Golden Trout Wilderness on horseback.)

3. Your horse must be willing to turn on the haunches and forehand.

Turning safely on a steep narrow path is very important. You need to be able to tell your horse where to put the moving parts… I find that it is more often best to step uphill (and not off a cliff) to turn. You really don’t want your horse to get in a hurry and/or try to turn normally on a narrow trail. Sometimes one side has loose soil, and you don’t want your horse to step in that.

Of course, an experienced horse can usually take care of itself. But to get experience your horse needs to trust you.

4. Your horse must be willing and able to face downhill, sit down, and slide to the bottom of a steep slope.

Sometimes this is the safest way to get out of a sticky situation. In fact, I prefer to have this option. If there are too many rocks, it’s impossible. But steepness shouldn’t be an obstacle. Horses can sit back on their haunches and slide down pretty much anything in loose soil.

Going up can be more dangerous, because if the soil is loose, the entire hillside can come down with you trying to go up. Or portions of it can collapse. This is very alarming to the horse and rider. Been there, done that. It’s much more likely in dry, overgrazed terrain.

5. Your horse must be willing and able to scrabble up over rocks and brush.

If the soil isn’t loose, then going up is more of an option. (Read my post about the Dangers of Riding in Rocky Terrain.)

Above: Rocks are everywhere around here. Your horse must be willing to navigate all sorts of rock.

6. In fact, your horse needs to be able to navigate rocks of all sorts, up and down.

We’ve got a lot of giant flat boulders that are kind of like slickrock. We’ve got jumbled piles of boulders of all sizes. Basically, the Sierra Nevada and foothills are more rock (or decomposing granite) than dirt. If you can’t see rock, all you’ve got to do is dig to find it.

This means your horse needs hoof protection. I do steel shoes, but composite materials work. Many people swear by boots, but they need to fit correctly and not slip. I tried Easy Boot Gloves with Fantazia’s sister Lady. They did not work out for us, but others have had lots of success.

7. Your horse must lead anywhere without stepping on you.

Because worse will come to worst sooner or later!

Yesterday I had to get off when the slope became too difficult. First, Fantazia is not as fit as she needs to be. Second, it was steep and rocky. I had to scramble up on my hands and knees. Fantazia followed me.

It’s important to have long reins or a long rope. It’s really important that your horse know not to step on you, even if you slip and fall. Your horse should know to follow at a safe distance, because inertia will carry it up and on top of you if it’s following too closely. Remember, just like you, the horse may need to leap or jump up a bit to get over rough patches of terrain. You don’t want it jumping on you.

Above: Looking down the slope I just led Fantazia up. We still had a long way to go at this point. Our path is roughly traced in the next picture. I gave Fantazia the Honorary Goat Award at the top. I was truly impressed with her ability to not fall or slip or step on me when I myself had to get on all fours to go up some places.

Above: Our path up a rocky slope, as seen from the other side of the ravine. The blue Xs mark where I got off and back on. The picture above was taken about midway between blue Xs.

How to train for the prerequisites for riding in steep scary terrain

Start in the arena or pasture–someplace safe and flat! Stopping, backing, leg yielding, turns on forehand and haunches under saddle are all basic training that all horses should have. Leading–and respecting the human’s personal space–are basic ground manners. This will also come in handy when you trot out for vetting.

Once your horse masters the basics in an area with few distractions, practice them everywhere. In strange arenas and pastures, down the road, on safe trails. Take your horse on walks and jogs to practice ground manners in strange places. Get off and walk on trail rides.

Gradually increase the difficulty of the terrain. Start on the flat (or relatively flat; there is no true flat around here that hasn’t been manmade). Ride over and through every single obstacle you see on an “easy” groomed trail. Go over curbs and up big, step-like rocks on the flat.

Riding through rocks on the flat helps teach your horse to listen to you. It also teaches the horse to think on its own. As soon as you can, let your horse have its head and decide where to place its feet.

Going into the steep and potentially scary…

When you first go out in the foothills or mountains, stick to dirt roads and groomed trails at first. Then go for broad, well-travelled cattle trails. Just remember cattle don’t carry riders, and are low to the ground. They can go under low-hanging branches you can’t and they don’t have to worry about a rider when they scramble over rough terrain. (This means a lot of the scary situations you can find yourself in happen when cattle trails fail to live up to the expectations created upon first sight.)

Always think ahead. Remember going up is a lot less scary than going down for most people. Try not to end up in a scary place.

The goal is to end up with a horse that can mostly think for itself and navigate on a loose rein, but be willing to let you guide it when needed. It’s easiest if your horse has been living in similar terrain, but you can also teach it (and learn together). Fantazia has had plenty of experience on the trail, and I grew up around here. I grew up riding many horses in these hills. Some are “naturals,” some need more teaching. Some would rather never leave an arena. The good thing about living around here is that you can gauge a horse pretty quickly. If they are drenched in sweat and shaking during the first few rides, you should probably give up and get another trail companion.

FAQ: Riding Steep, Rocky Terrain in the Sierra Nevada

What skills should my horse have before riding steep, rocky trails?

At minimum: stop and stand on command, back calmly (even on slopes and around curves), turn on the forehand and haunches in tight spaces, follow politely on a lead without stepping on you, navigate rocks up/down, and—when needed—face downhill, sit, and slide in loose soil.

Is hoof protection required on decomposed granite and slickrock?

Yes, plan on protection. Steel shoes or modern composites work; boots can work well if they fit securely and don’t twist or slip on rock.

How do I teach backing and precise turns for narrow trails?

Install the basics on flat, low-distraction ground first (halt, back, turns on forehand/haunches), then proof everywhere—arenas, roadsides, easy trails—before progressing to tighter terrain.

What should I do when a trail disappears in a hazardous spot?

Halt, assess, and choose the safest exit: back the horse out the way you came, or ask for a controlled turn using forehand/haunches to keep uphill feet on solid ground. Avoid loose edges that can collapse.

Is it safer to go up or down when things get sketchy?

Sliding down a short, loose slope can be safer than trying to climb unstable dirt (which can give way). On rock, slow deliberate climbs are often fine—judge footing, not just steepness.

What lead rope or rein setup should I use if I need to dismount and lead?

Use reins or a lead long enough to keep a safe gap so the horse doesn’t crowd you on sudden steps or hops. Train your horse to follow at a respectful distance and to avoid stepping on you if you stumble.

How do I build fitness and confidence for big elevation gains?

Start on flat, then gentle grades and groomed roads. Walk over every obstacle you see on easy trails to teach foot placement. Progress gradually to steeper climbs and varied rock, letting the horse think while staying ready to guide.