Trail Tips
Here are some great trail tips published in Backcountry Horsemen newsletter…Here are some tips from other associations and websites:
- Stay on designated trails
- Close all gates that you open.
- Do not chase or bother livestock or wildlife.
- Respect private property and other trail users.
- Clean up manure and uneaten hay from picket and/or coral areas. If possible, pack it out. If there is a designated location, gather it and put it there. If there is no bunker, spread the hay and manure away from camping and picket areas to allow for natural decomposition. Do NOT pile old hay or manure against trees as this will kill the tree.
- Cross rivers, creeks, and streams ONLY at designated location. No entering or leaving waterways in any manner that damages the bank or undergrowth!
- If non-horse people are present in waterways, ask permission to enter the water before crossing. If person are fishing, wait patiently until they can retrieve their fishing equipment and move to a safe location.
- Do not bathe horse OR people in waterways.
- Avoid letting your horse rest in or adjacent to, bodies of water to prevent compromising water sources.
- Avoid insect repellents on horse when accessing waterways to prevent residue being left in water.
- Use a collapsible bucket to water your horse rather then ride into a stream or pond if you are not crossing the waterway.
- If a horse stops to drink while crossing, wait until all horses have finished before moving on.
- WALK your horse THROUGH muddy spots instead of going around them. If you absolutely must go around a particularly bad spot, go to the uphill, rather than downhill side.
- Avoid riding side-by-side in open areas. This causes “trail braiding” and leads to more erosion than a single track would cause. On 2 tracks or roads this is not a problem.
- Wear hunter orange if riding during any hunting season, attach bells to your tack.
- When bicycles, back packers, or other users approach on a trail, ask them to speak to you. This allows the horse to understand they are people and pose no danger.
- If you have a dog with you, keep the dog on a leash and on the trail. Other horse may not be comfortable with dogs darting in and out of the underbrush. Comply with local rules.
