Trail Etiquette
*Motto and logo courtesy of Clemson University, South
Carolina
Be an educated participant.
With the high demand for multiple trail use, be
responsible for the passin of good will towards all that may
come in contact with a horse and rider. On well used
multiple trails, consider both you and your horse's
experience and ability. Green trail horses and
inexperienced riders do not belong on trails where other
user's safety may be at risk. It takes only one bad
experience for people to concern themselves with
encountering horses on the trails.
- Do not cross private property without
permission.
- Respect property owners. Make sure that "you"
have their permission to ride on or cross over their
land. Do not gallop across open fields, leaving
hoof prints behind or destroying crops. Use common sense
and stay to the edges. Again, it takes one bad experience
to ruin it for everyone else.
- Protect our environment.
- Stay on the trail; never cut switchbacks
- Avoid using trails when harmful conditions exist (mud
season)
- Avoid bringing your horse in bodies of water for a
"swim"
- Water crossings should be made where there are
safe footings and avoid muddy bottom crossings whenever
possible.
- Cross tie your horse between trees to avoid damage
caused by chewing and rubbing.
- Be aware and sensitive about "road apples"
- Train your horse to curb off to the side of the
trail
- Keep your horse moving rather than leaving the whole
load in one spot
- In some cases, on well used multiple use trails and
Greenways, it's a good idea to dismount and move the
manure over to the side, or go back & clean up.
- Be aware of what you may leave behind, that others
will see. Clean up after yourself and your horse at
your break or lunch stops and your horse trailer at the
trailhead.
SHARE THE TRAIL
By: Bunny Joseph, Connecticut Horse Council,
Inc.
Like to ride? Who doesn't? There's more to it
than hopping on your horse and galloping off across hill and
dale, or slaloming through the woods. There are
hikers, mountain bikers, cross-country skiers, dirt bikes,
snowmobiles, hunters and fishermen, and who knows who else
out there. Many of the trails we use are designated
multiple-use, which means everybody uses the same trail and
has to get along, or risk losing those trails for a
particular user group. With courtesy, responsibility,
and common sense, we can share trials safely.
BASICS
Before we worry about the other guy. Let's make sure you
and your horse are trail savvy. You should be a skilled
enough rider to manage your horse at different speeds, be
able to negotiate a variety of terrains, and deal with
unexpected situations. Even beginning riders can have
a safe, happy trail ride if they know their limitations, are
properly equipped, and are accompanied by other experienced
trail riders.
Riders need to use common sense and follow basic safety
rules when on the trail. Don't ride alone, have a
general plan for which direction you're going and about how
long you'll be out, and tell someone or leave a note.
Pay attention to the weather; some horses tend to get
spooky just before or after a storm, or during cold or very
windy weather. Never ride out in thunderstorms.
It's dangerous!
Everyone who uses trails should also keep track of the
time, and make every effort to be back before dark.
Most state forests and parks close at dusk anyway, and the
risks of riding in the dark are great. You may not be
able to avoid poor footing or holes, or you may encounter
animals or cars that could cause your horse to spook.
Worse yet, you could miss trail markers and warning signs
and get lost.
Think safety!
HORSE TRAINING
Good trail horses need just as much training to develop
specific skills for their work as horses in other
disciplines. Generally, a safe trail horse will be a
sound, willing partner suited to his rider, and neither
lagging far behind, nor charging out in front. When
riding with a group, safety dictates that the group ride at
a speed at which the least experienced rider is
comfortable. This way the group stays together and can
"sandwich" novices during encounters with other trail users
or in difficult situations.
A courteous trail rider trains their horse to walk
carefully through water or mud, stay on the trail (no
shortcuts), and pick its way through rocks. Jumping or
plunging through these areas is dangerous, and not
environmentally sensitive. Encouraging a horse to
drink is fine, but some like to paw exuberantly, defecate,
or roll in water. Be polite, get a drink, move on to a
less delicate part of the trail, and wait for the rest of
the group.
Treat the trail with respect; discourage your horse from
snacking. Some plants may be toxic to horses; others
could be endangered species. Eating and trampling vegetation
leads to bare dirt, which leads to destroyed vegetation and
polluted streams. Minimize impact by staying on
designated trails and avoiding muddy conditions.
Many horses will move slightly to the side to relieve
themselves, the responsible trail user will try to keep his
horse's end products away from high traffic multiple-use
areas. If a horse is trained to keep moving while
defecating, the material will biodegrade within days
(because equines are herbivores), and with less
environmental impact. Deep hoof prints and manure are
the two biggest concerns of other trail users.
Don't smoke on the trail, don't litter, and keep the
trail head clear of manure and trash. Be
environmentally responsible, and trail-train your
horse. Your goal is to leave no trace…
"RIDE WITH A SMILE, A LIGHT HAND, AND LIGHTLY
UPON THE LAND"
DOGS
Common sense also means leaving your dog at home.
Even the best trained dog accompanying an equestrian is not
physically on a leash, and can cause problems with other
trail users, especially hikers with their own dogs or small
children, mountain bikers, private property owners, and even
other horseback riders. Dogs may also chase wildlife or
livestock, and the hazards of traffic are very real.
Having to deal with an extra animal brain is taking an
unnecessary risk.
ROAD SAFETY
Sometimes sharing the trail means sharing or crossing
roads. Long sight lines and generally great visibility
on a quiet dirt road makes nearly everyone want to move
out. Here again, courtesy, common sense, and motor
vehicle laws rule.
Connecticut State law groups equestrians and carriage
drivers in the same category as vehicles; and subject to the
same rules as cars. This means riding on the right
side of the road (author's note: if the left side is wider
and safer, especially on curves, it makes sense to err for
safety's sake.)
Riders and cyclists must observe all traffic directions,
stop at stop signs, and signal turns if there are motorists
behind you. The law requires riders and carriage
drivers to carry a light visible at least 200 feet to the
front and rear, from a half-hour after sunset to a half-hour
before sunrise. The laws also require the state DMV to
print in its manual warnings that drivers must slow down,
and stop if necessary to avoid endangering an equestrian or
frightening or striking a horse. Drivers should slow
to 25 - 30 mph or less, and be careful of noisy brakes,
which could send a slightly nervous horse over the
edge. Give a wide berth, or let oncoming traffic pass
first if following, on a bridge or culvert, or near any
off-road distraction that may spook him. Drivers
should never beep their horn!
Equestrians should ride single file on roads they are
sharing, and listen for the sound of approaching cars.
A hand out and down is the universal warning to cars and
other trail users to slow down or stop. Riders should
have the courtesy to control the situation in a calm and
expeditious manner.
When crossing roads, pick a place where there is good
visibility, look both ways, listen for oncoming traffic,
move briskly, and don't dawdle in the middle of the
road.
When riding in a group, cross the road at the same
time. This prevents horses from fretting about being
left behind, creating a dangerous situation with horses on
both sides of the road, confusing to drivers. Large
groups often send two of their most experienced riders about
100 feet down a road with long sight lines to stop traffic
long enough to get the group across safely. Drivers
should always be thanked with a smile and a wave for their
courtesy.
RIGHT OF WAY
Horses have highly tuned senses, whose instinct is to run
away from danger. The inherent unpredictability of the
horse is why the standard multiple-use trail regulations
give equestrians the right of way. Mountain bikes
yield to hikers, and both cyclists and hikers yield to
horses. As the privileged user, this means it's up to
the equestrian to think safety at all times, take control of
encounters with others, and be diplomatic and polite.
You should communicate your needs tactfully, and whenever
possible, educate non-equestrians about horse behavior, so
that the encounter can be a positive experience.
Every user should know the local trail rules and stay on
designated trails. Multiple use trails are generally
wide enough for user groups to pass each other with adequate
visibility to avoid collisions. However, it is
important to ride at a safe and controlled speed and single
file when someone is approaching.
Stay alert, you can often hear others before you see
them. Watch for people who may startle your horse
because he can't see them until they're close.
Announce yourself, say hello, or otherwise make polite
voice contact; don't wait for the other person to notice
you. Make eye contact, you want the other person to
know where you are and can see your hand signals. Then
use the universal hand and palm out to stop or slow down
movement, as you plan the safest way to direct the
situation.
Although horses always have the right of way, if you hear
mountain bikes, motorbikes, or snowmobiles approaching fast
around a bend with limited visibility, get off the trail as
quickly and calmly as possible. Safety is the most
important issue.
Ask the other person to say something. Often horses
tense up, or can't identify the other person as a human - a
helmeted cyclist, a backpacker, a hunter wearing
camouflage. A polite verbal exchange - "Hello! There
are more horses behind us. Are there others in your group?"
or "My horse doesn't recognize what you are. Could you
please say something so he knows you're a friendly human" -
will help a horse relax.
Communicate your needs tactfully, and take every
opportunity to educate non-equestrians about horse behavior.
Ask others to move to the same side of the trail while you
pass, so your horse won't feel claustrophobic. When
the trail is too narrow to allow safe passing, show them
where you want them to stand off the trail while you go
by. If you must ask someone to backtrack, apologize
and explain how much room your horse needs to feel
comfortable.
On high traffic trails with multiple surfaces, stay to
the right except when passing. Try to stay off
blacktop. It may be safer to dismount and lead your
horse across some bridges and viaducts, since footing may be
slippery.
When encountering children or hikers with dogs, it is
important to be especially alert and diplomatic. Make
sure the adult has the child or dog physically under control
before proceeding. If others ask to pet your horse,
use your judgement about the safety of the situation, and
try to take advantage of these public relations
opportunity.
HUNTERS
Hunters have every right to be in the woods during
designated hunting seasons. Dates of various game
seasons are available from the Department of Environmental
Protection (DEP). It's wisest for equestrians to not
ride where hunters will be, especially during the first
several weeks of deer season. Why risk you're own and
your horse's safety for those few weeks, when there are 52
weeks in a year?
If you must ride in areas where hunting is allowed, be
aware that hunters may be wearing bright orange or
camouflage, depending on the season. They may be hunting
with a dog or from a boat or blind. Gunshots are to be
expected, and WILL spook a horse. Be cautious when
riding on dirt roads or in fields.
In Connecticut hunting is not allowed on Sundays, but
many gun clubs sponsor fun shoots on their property
then. Regulated hunting grounds owned by private clubs
do have hunting on their property on Sundays. Target
shooting is also allowed. If you ride in Rhode Island,
wearing blaze orange is mandatory for anyone in the woods,
since hunting is allowed seven days a week.
Riders, cyclists, hikers, and joggers should wear bright
or blaze orange clothing, never white, carry bells; be seen
and heard. Every year, in every state, tragic mistakes
are made. For safety's sake, find an alternative to hunting
areas.
STEWARDSHIP
Every trail user needs to find time for protecting
trails. It's in your own interest to do so if trails
are to remain open. Trail maintenance is an ongoing
necessity and enthusiastic manpower is always
needed. Contact the Connecticut Horse Council, The CT
Forest & Park Association, DE, CT NEMBA (mountain bike
association) for organized workdays. The first
Saturday in June is always National Trails Day, dedicated to
trails awareness and maintenance. Be a vocal advocate,
lend some muscle, and let others know that equestrians share
common goals with hikers, bikers, and other user groups.
Share the Trail!
SUGGESTED EQUIPMENT
Helmet; well fitting tack, in good repair; "Leatherman"
multi-tool or knife; first-aid kit; vetwrap; halter and lead
rope; saddle bag; bailing twine; hoofpick; easyboot; spare
stirrup leather; lunch-don't litter! Water bottle; compass
and map; rain gear; towel or sponge; mini-mag light; fly
repellent; sunscreen; jacket; matches, in waterproof
container; space blanket; toilet paper or tissues, in
zip-lock bag.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
1. Cabell-Self,
Margaret. Fun on Horseback. New York: A.S.
Barnes and Company, Inc. 1945.
2. Coggins, Jack. The
Horseman's Bible. New York: Doubleday & Company,
Inc. 1966.
3. Haas, Jessie. Safe
Horse Safe Rider. Pownal, VT: Storey Communications,
Inc. 1994.
4. Harris, Susan
E. The United States Pony Club Manual of Horsemanship,
D Level. New York: Simon & Shuster Macmillian
Company. 1994.
5. Stewart, Lori.
"Courtesy for our Crowded Trails." Practical
Horseman. Stamford, CT: Cowles Enthusiast Media, Inc.
September 1997.
6. The Connecticut Horse
Council, Inc. Road Safe. Cheshire, CT 1996.
7. Colorado Horsemen's
Council, Inc. Multi-Purpose Trail Safety Tips.
Arvada, CO.
8. Minnesota Horse
Council. Minnesota Horse Trails
Map.
9. International
Mountain Bicycling Association. IMBA - Sierra Club
conflict resolution
10. Viehman, John. "Let's build trails,
not walls." Backpacker Magazine
11. Glass, Caroline. "No Trace Trail
Riding… A Necessity in the 90's." Internet Rec.
Equestrian. Philomath, Oregon.
12. State of Connecticut. Connecticut
Hunting and Trapping Guide. D.E.P. Bureau of Natural
Resources, Wildlife Division. Hartford, CT. 1997
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