Trail Etiquette - please add

[DebbieS]

I go trail riding just about every weekend and I've come to notice, some people are kind of rude, or don't know trail etiquette (I'm assuming the latter). Until last spring, I had mostly ridden by myself or with one or two others. Now, I ride with larger groups and think there's probably some things I need to learn as well.

Here's some things I've noticed....

1) Always wait for the gate person (it's hard to manage a gate when your horse thinks all his buddies left him).

2) NEVER ask your horse to canter/lope/gallop without checking with the other riders

3) Don't 'grab' branches and take them with you, then allow them to 'slap' the horse behind you. That doen't help. JUST DUCK INSTEAD!!

4) Point out things like 'hole' and 'snake' and 'sleeping fawn' so the folks behind you will be aware.

5) If you're leading a large group, make sure all the riders are with you before you enter 'questionable' terrain where the trail isn't always apparent.

6) Don't let your horse keep is nose right on the tail of the horse in front of you, unless they are best buddies.

7) If your horse kicks, please warn others (maybe a red tail ribbon).

Please add....

edited to exchange 'gait' for 'gate'

[Dianne]

I always hated when we encountered another group coming towards us and they would trot or canter right past not even pausing (on narrow trail)
We would always "pull over" to let another group pass :D

[Paula]

Debbie,

It's easy to tell that you're a gaited horse person!!!

Re-read your post... "Gait Person"!!!???

LMAO!

[DebbieS]

:shock:
:lol: :lol: :lol:

Uh, I better fix that. If I'm the 'gait' person, I can catch up pretty darn quick!!

[PasoPerson]

Do not ride past others in your group without letting them know you are passing "left" or passing "right".

Yellow ribbon in tail = stallion. Red ribbon in tail = kicker. Red ribbon in forelock = biter.

[DebbieS]

Green ribbon = green horse or rider
Oops! I never used that with Listo. Poor guy, I guess we just expected too much from him. Now that he's had 6 months of trailriding, I guess he's not green anymore :roll:

[Heidi]

Thank you for posting this!

I have always ridden alone or with small groups (2-3 horses) and while most of these items listed are common sense, it is amazing how people don't know how to be courteous to each other and other trail users.

I remember my friend kicking her mare into a gallop without warning me, and my gelding lurched from a relaxed and sleepy walk into a canter. I was riding bareback with another (inexperienced) rider up behind me. We lurched forward, the girl behind me into my spot and me on Cochise's neck, in front of his withers!
My friend on the mare? Oblivious and long gone! :shock:
Luckily, Cochise was not that intent on catching up, kept going straight and did stop so we could rearrange ourselves. My inexperienced rider was too frightened to get back on and walked the rest of the way.
Heidi

I would like to add, that before starting out in a group ride, everyone in the group should be made aware of the terrain they will be covering and be able to voice any concerns before the ride leaves the staging area. Perhaps their horse doesn't 'do' streams, or bridges or big, scary rocks or whatever...everyone needs to agree on where/how/what speed to ride at so the timid riders or less experienced horses don't get traumatized.

[Polly Aulton]

Gosh the overall rudeness never ends...it even extends to the trail? No escape huh? :shock:
I hope you told your cantering trail mate that what she did was a no-no.
Polly

[SandyMM]

Yellow ribbon in tail = stallion.
I _never_ assume someone else will ride correctly around Emi - I _assume_ two things - 1) it's _my_ responsibility to keep him in line and 2) it's my responsibility to know where the mares are! :-)

But I like the yellow ribbon in the tail idea... 99.9% of the people we ride with don't realize he's a stallion (no screaming, studdish behavior), so they _assume_ he's a gelding... a handsome, stylish gelding....! They're always shocked to find out he's a stallion and never realize how carefully I've been monitoring him and _their_ horses! ;-) ;-) ;-)

[CarolU]

For mountain trail riding:

When any one horse is winded, all horses stop and wait.

When you're in the lead, don't stop until you're on mostly level ground for all horses.

Stop and wait for straglers (this is for the QH's - put them in the rear or they'll drive you all nuts - but do stop and wait for them)

Don't canter up hills.

Don't pass on narrow trail/spaces.

Don't leave anybody behind.

Don't get seperated, even when there appears to be only one trail.

[Heidi]

I hope you told your cantering trail mate that what she did was a no-no.
Polly
We were 13 and I think I didn't talk to her for a week. Think she got the message? :-?
Me neither.
Heidi

[Carol Nelson]

If you are left behind, NEVER, NEVER, NEVER come cantering full speed up into the center of your group. I have seen more wrecks caused by this type of thing which should be a given...but it's amazing how many people can't seem to figure this out.
Come within sight of your group and then slow to the speed that they're keeping and rejoin at the tail end.

(on one trail ride, I noticed two stragglers come racing up into the group scattering horses and riders like bowling pins...many narrowly escaped serious injury from a really dangerous stunt).

[sporthorse]

also even in endurance riding(racing) if a rider is off for tack adjustment or dangerous dismount or fall all stop and wait untill remounted or tack is adjusted.
at watering while horses drink all wait close by so the herd does not keep a thristy horse from drinking. the fleeing from a water hole at speed signals predator lurking. So if leaving leave very easy and slow from water stop.

[finolover]

don't toss your beer cans way out in the bushes, droppem close to da trail soz the smokey bears can findem easy, that's where they git their overtime money fer xmas.... :lol: :roll:

[Beth Worden]

I've been trailriding on the east coast states and national parks for the past 25 years. I go in groups (of gaited horses) and alone. I guess the most important thing I can say is "ride your own horse". Be responsible for YOUR horse. Don't complain and whine about other folks going too slow, too fast, oh my God they are riding with DOGS, why are those people stopped there, how come she does not have a bit in that horses mouth, it's too dusty at tail, horse spooks at point, on and on and on... Take a map and if the group your are in is not compatable with you/your horse then break off and ride alone or break off with one or two horses that you think you can ride with. I ALWAYS ride with folks I know and that know how I travel. If I have the gradkids, I take them alone with me so I am not screwing up everyone's ride buy having to stop to check tack, potty breaks, going too slow, bla, bla; bla. When we leave camp we make it very clear that after a couple three miles, if the horses/pace is not working for everyone, then the group splits into smaller groups that work. And, if you are just starting to trailride after years of arena riding, pay a little attention to the way things are done in the assembly area - ask questions. Don't think because things are done one way in the arena that they will work on a picketline or straight stall situation. Be considerate of others' space, don't assume the entire assembly area is for you and your party alone so park efficiently. And...for God's sake turn you generator off at 9pm!

[cowboy ed]

another part of trail etiquette: drinking and riding is not much different than drinking and driving. many horse related accidents and rider "conflicts" are alcohol related. ride on the trail, if you want to drink, do it back at camp. cowboy ed

[moonrize]

Pack it in, pack it out. Do not leave any garbage on the trails (even though some rangers need overtime ;-) ) Don't destroy the natural terrain and stay on trails where appropriate.

Be on time to the ride, always bring water for the horses and yourself.

Stay with the group and never leave someone behind by themself. Intersperse green riders with more advanced riders.

If you're organizing the group, try to invite "like" people on rides - for instance try not to invite the rowdy drinking people who love to race with your quiet go slow friends. This is not an easy task, but makes life so much easier in the long run when possible.

Wear a HELMET! Safety first!!!!
Have fun :lol:

[PASOFAN]

I am gonna have to put a green and red ribbon on storms tail..lol Just to keep people of me for a while when I ride... He does kick horsese he doenst know and he is green.lol

Someone said dont canter up hills, dont see how that is trail edicate? We run up hills quit often... we love it.. I can understand if you cant see the top of the hill, other riders might be resting that I understand..

Be nice and ask how the pace is for everyone, we all know our gaited horses sure can move..

I have 3 different groups I ride with:
-Trainer and Cowboy bud: Light speed ahead! Boy they move!
-Middle range- up and downs walk, corto, largo, canter
-Laid back-Walk, corot. Very seldom any faster than that..

It is nice to know your specific groups and what is expected..lol

[finolover]

one group around here learned that riding, rowdy and drinking don't mix the hard way.. :cry:

one of the drunk riders rode up to his female cousin and bestest buddy and thought it would be funny to reach over and remove her horses bridle.
she died there from a broken neck, after the wreck..
now for the last ten years he just sets at the bar, stareing at the whiskey in his hand, waiting on iT to kill him..........that's about as bad as it gets

[Beth Worden]

About that kicking horse... FLAG him/her. And...IF your horse kicks at another horse CORRECT HIM - right then and there immediately! Yell, smack with the lines, shake that horse up, so that the horse never lifts its foot again while in a group - Or, at least thinks twice. When I'm on a green horse I warn the group at the beginning of the ride that the horse will probably try to take a swing - never had a youngster that didn't - and that it's going to get real noisy and sound like the hammers of he!! are raining down on us when I feel the horse make it's move. How to make a horse that kicks out at other horse? Don't correct them when they are started.

[DebbieS]

Someone said dont canter up hills, dont see how that is trail edicate? We run up hills quit often... we love it.. I can understand if you cant see the top of the hill, other riders might be resting that I understand..

My son got dumped off his horse one time when someone did this. I was about 20 feet from him, watching to make sure he and his horse were going up this hill okay - it was a long, steep hill. We were in a group of about 40 riders. Some girl came racing by between us, I got my horse under control and watched as my son fell off and the horse kept going up the hill. Someone grabbed the horse but we realized my son's foot had gotten stepped on. He was fine, got back on his horse - I think his ego was bruised. It could have been much worse.

It's kind of like letting your horse run home... once they get into the habit, it's hard to break.

[Beth Worden]

An unannounced "run-by" is not good up hill, down hill or on the flat when it's a string of 40 horses. Cantering up hill is not dangerous. It's the same old thing - You have got to be prepared for the "other" guy. If you have a non-rider then you need to go with a small group that will cater to the non-riders. 40 horses in a string is waaay more than I ever want to ride with. How do you hear yourself think? LOL

[Beth Worden]

Oh, Oh the BIG No-No for horse camping, trail riding...

In NY State most of the camping and trail systems are FREE. The facilities can range from very primitive to running water and flush toilets. Most of these places have straight stalls. Your horse MUST be stalled in a straight stall - no tying to trailers, roping off/fencing off areas, picket lines, etc. If there are straight stalls then the rules read the horse MUST be tied in the covered straight stalls. Now, if your horsey does not tie - leave him home! We don't want to come back next week and camp (in the poop)where your special horse had to be "corraled" because he/she won't tie. One other thing - Do not SAVE stalls 'cause your friends are coming. The rules are first come, first served. EVERYONE has friends coming. How would you like to drive 7 hours and pull into a camping area and have no place to unload your horses because someone had "roped off" stalls for their friends that are coming later. Good way to get your rope cut, too.

[Ginger]

Take "weird stuff" one at a time, like steep hills, big logs, ditches, water. Nobody wants to have a horse jump right up their butts, OR be rear-ended by one. Case in point- Dad's mare plods THROUGH ditches, but Ickis leaps OVER. Wait until Beauty's far enough away from the ditch for Ickis to make his landing. With hills, let Tater (well, back in the day- she's unrideable now) get done and to the side before the others come through.

And for god's bleeding sake, if you're going to get off and pee, do it somewhere nobody can see you. Something about the male ego around here makes them think that everyone just LOVES to see them pissing on a tree, grinning. Sorry, boys- it's nothing I can't buy on ebay.

If one horse goofs up, everyone stop and stand still until he stops. Correcting "on the fly" is hard to do sometimes.

If your horse hates to be separated, KEEP UP or don't ride him. Zumi hates to be left behind and will buck and crowhop if a horse gets forty feet away. Never be ashamed to yell "heads up!" if you're jumping something, either.

[Mona Lisa]

Actually this is more of a pet peeve of mine. When riding on a trail that has to be ridden single file......please please please....let the most trail steady horse go first. More than once it has happened that the lead horse on the ride would spook then come flying back. What a mess! Last time on a ride I was riding a mare that is absolutely fearless, another rider on a "mr spooky" horse insisted on the leading the ride.....this time I put my foot down and said "you guys/gals follow me!!"

Folks need to get a reality check on what a good trail horse is.

Mona

[DebbieS]

That is so true. Although once you ask your horse to do something, you are commited. If there are just a few of us, we usually take turns being the leader. It's amazing what your horse will do when following, but try getting in front and doing the same thing... it's a different story.

Last weekend, Listo had to be the leader when we were going through the 'spooky forest' that was still smoldering and had some flames. The trail had been 'gelled' so no burning about 5 feet wide or so. He looked at me like 'Mom, you picked a bad time for us to be the leader'. It took a little coaxing (and my riding buddies were very patient) but we made it through. I have to admit, this is probably one of the scariest things we've done so far (we've done parades, tunnels, rivers, narrow wooden bridges, etc). A horse has to be pretty darn trusting to do it. I was a proud mom!!

Sounds like your horse trusts you very much, Mona!!

[pasogalinbama]

you mean that their is a trail etiquette, :roll: i have been on a lot of big trail rides, and most of the people act as if they don't have a clue.
i ride with some ladies that just bolt, ahead for everyone no thought as to how well the others can ride. or what there horse will do. stick there horses nose in the one in front of thems behind and then get mad if it kicks. i have been on rides where the gaited all ride to gather, they will go through the woods as fast as they can, to me that is not fun, i want to gait but not wide open all the time.
Happy Trails.

[Serendipity]

Just another thought trails around here have to share with 4 wheelers and dirt bikes and all those things.
so if rideing and you heear a motor coming up stop and wait for it to pass.
some young horse are not rode safe
and most people who ride thses have no Idea how to go by horses or will try to spook them "because its fun" or will just go by as fast as they can.

I try to keep an "unrode safe horse" beside on that is that way when the crazy 4 wheeler goes by the green horse sees its nothing to be afrad of.
Another thing we do is if you get a 4 wheeler or something like that going slow ask if you can fallow them a bit and have them speed up on occation your horse is chasing away the bad guy.Its a win win deal then.