Mark Bolender leads Zoomer, a 4-year-old horse that he is training, through the mountain trail course Bolender designed and built on his Silver Creek farm. The course challenges horse and rider to navigate obstacles like balance beams, rock fields and swinging bridges where they are judged on precision and confidence. Bolender believes the mountain trail competition is a true measurement of the riderÕs connection with his horse. ÒThe horse needs to feel that you are worthy of a leadership role,Ó he says.
Horse trainer Mark Bolender rides his horse Checkers through a mountain trail course he designed and built on his farm in Silver Creek on Feb. 3.
Mark Bolender walks his horse Checkers backwards into a pool of water. "People look at what I do with Checkers and think it's magic," Bolender said. "It's just about how well connected you are with your horse."
At his horse park in Silver Creek, Mark Bolender rides his 13-year-old horse Checkers over a balance beam, through a rock pile, into a trench and out of a pond.
Through the complicated outdoor course he built himself, Bolender works to perfect his skills in the growing equestrian sport of Mountain Trail and Extreme Trail.
"Instead of having a dominant relationship with a horse, you are working for a partnership," Bolender said while riding Checkers through the course.
Since Bolender, 55, began riding Mountain Trail and Extreme Trail in 2006, he has won three national championships and has helped grow the sport worldwide.
Bolender now spends his time teaching the technical equestrian sport on his 10-acre horse park in Silver Creek. The park consists of one indoor arena, an outdoor arena and the outdoor course.
"We're teaching people a new way to think as far as riding a horse and working with a horse," Bolender said.
Bolender travels to teach the discipline and hosts clinics in Silver Creek. In the coming months, Bolender said he will hold clinics in Idaho, Wyoming, Colorado, Washington and Canada.
"I'm teaching the riders more than I'm teaching the horses," Bolender said.
To succeed at Mountain Trail and Extreme Trail, Bolender teaches riders to trust the horses' instincts.
"Walking through logs and rocks, you better trust where their feet go," Bolender said.
Mountain Trail and Extreme Trail originated in Eugene, Ore., in 2002.
Creator Major Defore owns the Oregon Horse Center in Eugene where he built three arenas for Mountain Trail and Extreme Trail.
Defore grew up around horse shows and wanted to create an event that excited audiences.
"I wanted something that wasn't boring for the spectators," Defore said. "In my case, I tried to come as realistic as it is in the mountains."
The sport is scored on 20 obstacles worth 10 points each. A clean entry into the course is worth two points, navigating the obstacles is worth five points and exiting is worth two points. Riders can earn the final point by impressing judges with a smooth run, Bolender said.
"Everyone knows a ‘wow' when they see it," Bolender said. "It's turning out not to be subjective because everyone can tell."
When the sport began in 2002, 56 horses competed. This past year, Defore said 350 horses came to his center to compete.
Bolender first saw the Mountain Trail and Extreme Trail event in Eugene.
"People told me you have to see it to believe it," Bolender said. "I went and I was hooked."
Along with hosting clinics, Bolender has expanded the sport by designing courses internationally.
In the past two years, Bolender said he has designed eight courses in Florida, Missouri, New Mexico, Washington, Germany and British Columbia.
Lee Sampson, Bolender's marketing director, said each course is created to be native to the area. If the region is known for rocky terrain, that is incorporated into the obstacles.
Bolender has three signature obstacles he is most proud of - a trestle bridge, a suspension bridge and a balance beam.
"It's a huge mind game when you are riding or competing," Bolender said.
Bolender estimates the new equestrian sport has grown to over 200,000 competitors. Bolender credits the Internet for connecting riders and making the sport grow.
As a Mountain Trail and Extreme Trail rider himself, Bolender has developed to the point where he can ride Checkers through the course without using his hands. With his knowledge, Bolender has enjoyed sharing his experience with those wanting to learn.
"We just do our part to teach a new discipline," Bolender said. "And have fun."
