Isaiah commented that Laertes was the best trail horse because you could put anybody on him and they would have a good ride. It takes YEARS and MILES to make a good trail horse. It takes an extreme amount of patience and kindness. You can't get mad at the horse for spooking or refusing an obstacle. The horse is doing what he thinks he needs to do to protect himself from getting hurt. The breakthrough is when the horse learns that he can trust the rider to take care of him. That he is safe when that rider is there.
I have had Mercutio for four years and I expect it will take another two years before he is a decent trail horse. Ari has had Lennox six years and he is still not what we consider to be a decent trail horse.
A decent trail horse meets all the above criteria, plus shows good ground manners - respects the human's space and follows the human's instructions. It's a tall order and the majority of horses can't do it.
Additionally, many riders don't have the patience for it. They want to buy a horse and instantly have the horse meet all the criteria of a good trail horse. Why should the horse trust this person? They don't know them. Does the human even bother to understand the horse? Horses are thinking, intelligent creatures. If you don't want to develop a relationship with your horse, then ride a bike or a motorcycle.
It took a good five years to turn Laertes into a decent trail horse. But, once he was there, it was amazing. That amazing is why you ride a horse - to build a partnership and relationship with an animal that will try whatever you ask.
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