There are two types of web users: those who get lost in a sea of open tabs and those who stick to one tab at a time. But here’s the problem—neither method makes browsing easier. The first group struggles with confusing tab clutter, while the second faces the mental strain of trying to remember information from the pages they've left behind.
Enter Horse Browser —a new, innovative solution designed to address both these challenges. Available on Windows, Mac, and Linux, Horse Browser does away with traditional tabs, and replaces them with Trails, a unique and streamlined way to navigate the web.
With Trails, Horse Browser helps you effortlessly track your online browsing, making it easier than ever to stay productive and focused. Let’s dive in and explore how Horse Browser and Trails can transform your browsing experience.
What is a Trail?
Taking Tree Style Tabs as a design starting point, Horse Browser sets out to improve this approach and introduce a totally new way to navigate the web. Horse Browser captures a Trail of pages as you browse, merging Tabs, History and Bookmarks into one easy-to-read vertical sidebar. Every time you click on a link, a new page is opened on the Trail. You can delete, move, rename and customise every page.
All the pages you need are readily accessible, without ever getting in your way. Plus, your pages are saved and waiting for you, whenever you close and re-open Horse. Just like a Notes App.
No more cluttered Tabs or trying to remember random pieces of information as you leave a page behind.
How do Trails work?
Trails are designed to be an intuitive navigation method, which take away the mental effort of Tab management and leave you feeling calm & zen when browsing. Read on to fully understand how Trails work and their benefits.
Each internet search is captured in its own unique Trail
With Trails, you’ll automatically keep a record of all your internet browsing. These Trails will be saved in your sidebar and available even after shutting down and updating your browser. So you won’t lose your pages. To start a new Trail:
Keyboard users:
- ⌘ + T on your Mac keyboard
- Ctrl + T on your Windows / Linux keyboard
Mouse users:
- Click + at the top of the sidebar
Once you’ve opened your very first page on the Trail, you can enter the search term or URL you need and start browsing.
Pages are moveable on the Trail
You can move pages to wherever you need them most, whether that is within your current Trail or to a totally different Trail. You can also move Trails to different positions within your sidebar to help with context switching and prioritise information. To do so:
Mouse users:
- Drag-and-drop individual pages
Keyboard users:
- ⌥ ⌘ ⇧ + arrow keys on Mac
- Alt + Ctrl + Shift + arrow keys on Windows / Linux
Trails can be collapsed for deep focus work
Tuck away pages you don’t need and get focused by collapsing Trails:
Keyboard users:
To collapse a Trail
- ⌘ + ⇧ + ◀︎ on Mac
- Ctrl + Shift + ◀︎ on Windows and Linux
To expand a Trail
- ⌘ + ⇧ + ▶︎ on Mac
- Ctrl + Shift + ▶︎ on Windows and Linux
Mouse users:
- Click > next to your Trail to expand and again to collapse
The old Trail will be saved and ready in your sidebar whenever you need it so you won’t lose your pages.
Pages can be deleted from your Trails
You can delete pages and Trails to ensure you only have the information you need in your sidebar. To do so:
Keyboard users:
- ⌘ + W on Mac
- Ctrl + W on Windows / Linux
Mouse users:
- Click X next to your page Trail to delete
To delete a full Trail, you need to collapse your Trail first and then delete the Trail as you would an individual page.
Trails are hierarchical and have nested SubTrails
The Trailhead is the parent Trail, where all subsequent Trails and pages are opened. SubTrails are nested ‘children’ of the Trailhead, helping you to organise your research into different hierarchies.
To create a SubTrail:
Mouse users:
- Click + at the side of the page or ••• and select New Subtrail
- You can also drag-and-drop a Trail onto the Trailhead to nest it inside
Keyboard users:
- ⌥ ⌘ T on Mac
- Alt + Ctrl + T on Windows and Linux
SideTrails are separate-but-connected lines of research
SideTrails exist underneath the Trailhead but aren’t connected to the Trailhead. They are separate-but-connected lines of enquiry or research under a Trailhead.
To create one:
Mouse users:
- Visit Menu > File > New SideTrail
- Drag-and-drop your Trail so that is is separate, non-nested within the Trail
Keyboard users:
- ⌥ ⇧ ⌘ T on Mac
- Alt + Shift + Ctrl + T on Windows and Linux
Trails can be grouped into different subjects
Areas and Folders are two types of Trail, which help users to organise their sidebar.
An Area is a Trail with a dedicated header, serving as a container for a specific part of your life. You might create an Area for your freelance projects, another for your personal life and another for your day job.
A Folder is a Trail that begins with a Folder so you can create your own filing system of research and websites.
To create a new Area or Folder:
- Click on the relevant icon at the top of the sidebar
- Give your Area / Folder a name and hit Return to save
- Click + to add Subtrails to your Area / Folder or use ⌥ + ⌘ + T on Mac or Alt + Ctrl + T on Windows and Linux. Alternatively, simply drag-and-drop Trails inside.
Trails can be managed in bulk
- Select multiple Trails at once with Cmd + Click on Mac or Ctrl + Click on Windows / Linux
- Right-click for bulk actions (delete, copy to Markdown, or add to a new folder). You can also drag-and-drop multiple Trails at once.
Trails are fully customisable
All your Trails and pages are fully customisable. You can rename and add custom emojis to help organise your research and quickly access the right information. To rename your pages and Trails:
Mouse users:
Select the ‘set name’ option in Menu or under ••• next to the page or Trail
Keyboard users:
- ⇧ + ⌘ + L on Mac
- Shift + Ctrl + L on Windows / Linux
To add custom icons:
- Click on the blank square next to your page or Trail, and select your preferred emoji. You can also remove the icon in the same way.
- Alternatively, right-click or click on ••• on the relevant page or Trail and select Set Icon.
Trails have Search Engine flexibility
Trails’ default search engine is Google but they were built with Search Engine flexibility. You can choose alternatives, such as Bing, Kagi, Brave, or DuckDuckGo. To change your Search Engine:
Mouse users:
- Visit Menu > Horse > Settings
Keyboard users:
- ⌘ +, on Mac
- Ctrl +, on Windows / Linux
Trails have an in-built Notes feature
Notes are Trails that contain note-taking so you can make notes directly in your browser. There’s no need for a separate Notes app with Horse! To create a new Note:
- Click on the Note icon at the top of the sidebar
- Give your Note a name and hit Return to save
- Click + to add Subtrails to your Note or use ⌥ ⌘ T on Mac or Alt + Ctrl + T on Windows and Linux. Alternatively, simply drag-and-drop Trails inside.
Trails can be navigated using only keyboard shortcuts
While they are perfect for mouse users too, Trails are navigable using only keyboard shortcuts, which is great news for power users. View the Menu for all the shortcuts you need or visit Settings (⌘,) to customise your own.
Trails automatically save when you shut down or update
Trails are automatically saved in your sidebar, whenever you shut down or update Horse Browser so no pages or Trails are lost. Horse Browser acts as your dedicated online space, where you can save and organise your online work and research.
In Conclusion
In this post, we've taken a closer look at how Horse Browser - and its unique Trails feature - can make your browsing more organised and stress-free. With Trails, you can save, store, and streamline your online work effortlessly, turning a hectic browsing experience into one that’s calm and productive. With Horse, you can save hours of precious time every single day.
Ready to make browsing easier? Discover more about Horse Browser here and see how it can transform your online experience.
