Do you and your horse have good manners on the trail? What is good trail etiquette anyway? It’s basically common sense and respecting others. Here are a few tips to follow when you are on the trail.
- Make sure your horse has the temperament and training for riding on congested public trails. Busy multi-use trails are not the proper place for schooling green horses.
- Advise other trail users of your horse’s temperament, e.g. a horse with a tendency to kick should always wear a red ribbon in the tail and a stallion should wear a yellow ribbon. Assume that not everyone will know what these ribbons mean, so be prepared to explain or take the necessary precautions to avoid trouble.
- Keep some distance between your horse and others, at least one horse length (approx. 10ft.). Don’t let your horse sniff at or rub its head on other horses or riders.
- Don’t leave another rider alone so you can trot or gallop ahead. Their horse might get upset and race after you. If someone has to dismount for any reason, stand still until they are back in the saddle. This also applies if someone drops a rein or has to stop for any reason, stay with them.
- Obey posted speed/gait limits, and use common sense in crowded areas (cantering/galloping on crowded trails endangers everyone.)
- Move to the right to allow faster trail users to pass.
- Never trot or canter up behind other riders. Slow to a walk and ask to pass.
- If you would like to pass other trail users, announce your intention to pass by simply asking, “Trail, Please?” and reduce speed and wait until they acknowledge you in order to pass safely. Make sure to give them plenty of room and pass on the left only.
- Remove your horse from the trail if you begin experiencing behavior problems.
- Don’t be a trail hog. If you’re riding next to a friend, drop back to single file and let others pass. Don’t force them off the trail. When riding on narrow winding trails, listen for approaching riders and call to them, then look for a wider place to pass.
- If you decide to pony or lead another horse, keep them on a short lead, especially when other horses pass. Don’t let them swing their rump around or block the trail. When exercising a youngster, don’t let it run loose. Just because your horse doesn’t mind a cute youngster running around kicking at them, it doesn’t mean other horses, especially mares, will like it. Keep youngsters on a lead and under control. This applies to dogs also as not all horses like dogs.
- When you come upon an obstacle on the trail, give the rider ahead plenty of time to get through it. When crossing water or a bridge, depending on the width of the crossing, wait until the horse ahead of you is at least halfway through before you start across. If going uphill allow 2 horse lengths between you and the horse in front of you, if going downhill allow 3 horse lengths between you and the horse in front of you. Don’t run up on their rump. If the horse ahead of you is leery of crossing, ask the rider first if they want your help. Don’t just charge in.
- Don’t stop after crossing a tight or uneven spot on the trail, keep going. Just because you are clear or on level ground doesn’t mean the riders behind you are. Make sure everyone is on safe ground before stopping.
- Be aware of your environment. Don’t chat with your friends and forget your riding. Many accidents happen at the walk because the rider wasn’t paying attention to where his horse was going or what he was seeing.
- Public trail rides are not the place for “horseplay” or drinking alcohol.
- Stay on equestrian-approved trails. Read the signs. Don’t ride on trails where horses are prohibited unless it is a true emergency. Likewise, respect Posted signs.
- As a courtesy to others in your group, use appropriate hand signals for turning, slowing, etc., and give verbal warnings for dangers on the trail (e.g. holes, low branches).
- Remember that other trail users may not be familiar with horses or their reactions to new experiences. Your horse may be another trail user’s introduction to horses; what you do is a reflection of the local horse community. Cheerfully answer questions about your horse. You are an ambassador for the entire equestrian community.
- If you trailer to a location, do not clean out your trailer in the parking area.
- On multiple-use trails step off the trail (if possible) if your horse needs to relieve himself, or kick the droppings off the trail.
- Be a responsible trail user. What you carry in, carry out, don’t leave trash on the trails.
- Remember, riding on public trails is a privilege, not a right. Please show that we in the trail riding community are responsible enough to deserve that privilege.
Trail riding is a fun and challenging equestrian activity, it can also be a very dangerous one. If you just follow a few simple rules and exercise good judgment, you and your fellow trail riders will have a much safer and happier riding season.
