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.

Trainer’s Corner: Get the Most from Your Training Dollars

April 22, 2024 by Mark Bolender

Photo by TooTrickPony.com

Have Clear Expectations and Good Communication Deciding to send your horse out for training is a huge commitment and financial expense. When you put your horse in training it’s important to define your expectations. Select a trainer who specializes in the discipline you’re interested in pursuing. For example, we train …

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

This content sponsored by:

Trail Obstacle Problem Solving – Mastering Logs and Poles

March 1, 2021 by Mark Bolender

Photo by Cambrie Caldwell Photography

Half a point may not sound like much, but boy can they add up! In Mountain Trail competition, each time your horse nicks a pole it costs you half a point. You lose even more if they try to step around them! Whether poles are short or long, thick or …

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

This content sponsored by:

Trail Obstacle Problem Solving – Master the Swinging Bridge

February 1, 2021 by Mark Bolender

Photo by Cambrie Caldwell

Some of the prettiest pictures and coolest maneuvers in mountain trail are done on the swinging bridge. It’s impressive to see a horse do a 360 as it sways or turn and back up the other side. An image of a horse with its head down, eye soft and ears …

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

This content sponsored by:

Trail Obstacle Problem Solving – Master the Water Box

January 1, 2021 by Mark Bolender

Photo by Cambrie Caldwell Photography

The water box is a fun obstacle that’s a crowd-pleaser at competitions. But it can be tricky to train a horse to calmly walk through it—let alone do a 360º turn inside! If we break down these scary parts, it makes it easier for horses to overcome. We start everything …

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

This content sponsored by:

Trail Obstacle Problem Solving with Mark Bolender – Overcoming the Teeter-totter

December 1, 2020 by Mark Bolender

Photo by Mark Bolender

The teeter-totter is a very popular obstacle at many trail challenges, and it’s one of the more difficult ones. That’s because most people do not teach their horses how to deal with the ground moving under them. Suddenly, we get to a teeter-totter and we expect them to “just do …

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

This content sponsored by:

Bolender Horse Park Hosts Halloween Mountain Trail Schooling Challenge October 25

October 9, 2020 by Mark Bolender

What’s better than some Halloween fun with your horse? It’s easy to social distance while competing at the famous Bolender Horse Park in Silver Creek! Join us for our Halloween Mountain Trail Schooling Challenge October 25. It’s the last schooling show of the year, and it is sure to be …

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

This content sponsored by:

Looking for Something to do with Your Horse?

August 5, 2020August 1, 2018 by Mark Bolender

Try Mountain Trail By Mark Bolender Summer is upon us and calendars are overloaded! It’s hard to choose which horse events to attend. Deciding where to go and what to do with your time and your spare money can be overwhelming. Do you go to breed shows, open shows, …

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

This content sponsored by:

Magic for Sale!

August 5, 2020December 1, 2017 by Mark Bolender

Training Takes Hard Work, Not Stuff by Mark Bolender Magic for sale! I have a Mountain Trail video that will make your horse perfect on every obstacle. I’ll sell you this magic bit to give your horse the perfect head set. How about this magic training halter that will …

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

This content sponsored by:

Back to Basics

August 5, 2020October 1, 2017 by Mark Bolender

Reduce Injuries with Skills, Training, and Common Sense by Mark Bolender Mountain Trail has its hazards and there is potential for injury in many areas. We trainers and riders have an obligation to protect our horses to the best of our ability. Over the years I’ve noticed some riders …

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

This content sponsored by:

Mastering the Balance Beam

August 5, 2020August 1, 2017 by Mark Bolender

An Exercise in Focus by Mark Bolender Trail challenge and mountain trail are based on real situations found riding on the trail. Certain obstacles simulate these working conditions. One important obstacle is the balance beam. It simulates some of the difficult log and bridge crossings required to cross creeks …

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

This content sponsored by:

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

Join the conversation:

Check out the Magazine!