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Days in Horse Country – Trail Etiquette
Trail riding should be a relaxing and safe way to spend time
with your horse. One way to help make it
so, is to practice good trail etiquette.
When it comes to behaviour on the trail, you should adhere to some basic rules. Follow these tenets and you, your horse, and other riders will have a more pleasant time.
- Approach
slowly – When approaching another rider, if you are trotting or loping,
slow to a walk and maintain your slow pace until you are well past the other
horse.
- Pass
quietly – Don’t trot or canter up to a rider that is ahead of you on the
trail. You are likely to spook the horse and endanger the rider. Instead, drop down to a walk and pass calmly
by. Make sure the rider knows you are
there before you come right up behind him or her. Also, avoid yelling or doing anything that
might spook the other horse. Some horses
are more easily spooked than others, and some riders are less equipped to handle
the situation. Your horse might be
bombproof, but the one coming toward you might be ready to explode.
- Deal
properly with spooking horses – If you see another rider in trouble ahead
of you on the trail, either offer to help (if you can) or stop and wait until
that person has their horse under control before you proceed.
- Go slowly
around blind curves – When riding on winding single track trails, go slowly
around blind curves. This is for your
safety as well as the safety of others since a hiker, a mountain biker, or
another rider might be coming the other way.
- Wait for
dismounting riders – Don’t try to
attempt to ride past someone who is attempting to mount their horse. Stop and wait until the rider is safely is on
the saddle before you proceed.
- Keep your dog under control – If you ride with your dog in tow, keep him on a leash or have him under strict voice control at all times. Don’t allow your dog to approach other horses on the trail. This is for the safety of both the horses and your dog.
Michael