self defense for trail riders

[Jennifer]

we just had a pretty grusome murder here in GA of a woman my age taking a hike with her dog in the woods. even though she wasn't on horseback i though i'd pass along this link that was just sent to me to keep everyone informed when they are out on the trails...you just never know when you'll need it.

http://www.horsethink.com/

[SandyMM]

I have already received two emails with this link in it - along with some pretty scary stories back from people on my email list that I forwarded it to.... This should go to anyone you know who hikes, bikes, or rides!

[lisa l aka marci]

You never know what you may come across......my own story.....

A few years ago I was out riding at dusk with a friends' 9 year old daughter.....back dirt road in the middle of a County park.....along came a vehicle, which slowed/stopped when the female driver saw the horses.....I thanked her and we all continued on our way (opposite directions).....next thing I know a man is running down the road toward us yelling that he was robbed.......he had come from the vehicle that just passed us.....I sent the girl back to the farm to have her mom call the police (opposite direction that the vehicle went) - and I escorted the man along the road, giving him directions on how to get into the woods if the vehicle came back.....

Long story short - it was a DRUG DEAL that had gone bad - he was being held in the back of the vehicle (tinted windows) when it stopped - he was able to escape before it got going too fast.......I was able to give a basic description of the vehicle/driver to the police, and a couple hours later, while I was in the station writing a deposition, the perpetrators were FOUND!

Who knows what would have happened to this man if we hadn't been out riding late that evening.......

[CarolU]

A hiker in Utah was just murdered this past week too.

Good video. thanks

[moonrize]

The GA murder is tied to one here in Tallahasee. Where they found her car and her (chopped up) body is a part of the national forest that's designated horse trails. SCARY.

[Jennifer]

yeah, this hits way too close to home. according to the Atlanta Journal she was "bludgeoned to death and then decapitated", an autopsy released Tuesday revealed. how sick can one person be. you can never be too careful out there...

[dana]

Yep, time to put Mr. Rueger back into use and take him along with me when i ride. :flag:

[Mellifluous]

If I remember correctly, a number of public lands with horse trails do not allow firearms in their boundaries. I think if you have a concealed carry permit, you should be able to carry a firearm on public lands. All that no firearm policies do is ensure that the creeps have easy pickings.

[motorgypsy]

I don't know the law on this but a friend said that he heard the absolute best defensive weapon is a can of wasp spray - the kind that sprays 35 feet. It is totally disabling - better than pepper spray for man or beast. We did immediately go out and buy a couple of cans.

A friend was out riding when a man approached her. Her horse started getting antsy and she told him to stay back - that her horse was very protective of her. To this day she doesn't know what might have happened if the horse hadn't started acting up.

[DebJ]

Our daughter lives in Marietta, near Atlanta, and she just told us about the man. She says he even showed police where the body was. She walks her dog in parks all the time, so we told her to not go by herself for awhile.
The person, Scot, will be in Harrisburg end of Feb. for the Horseworld. We have seen him before and he is very good, we wil attend his clinic again.
Keep safe out there. Luckily we have only come across wildlife, no humans yet on our rides.

[tinomino]

that's really scary. I guess now I have a good reason to have taught Tino to "act up" on command. I can get him looking really nervous and crazy without actually having him that way. I am also glad that my dog would protect me to the death. I am sure of it. He has tried to bite before when someone came up in the dark all the sudden. Of course at the time it was a friend and not a threat but I know now how he would react.

[pasobeat]

You cannot carry a firearm if you're riding in a National Park (have to check on National Monuments), but I know you can carry a firearm on National Forest Service or Bureau of Land Management Land. You'd have to check your state and county regulations for their policy. I'm sure it's different nationwide.

[CarolU]

LOL, in my state it is illegal to ban guns anywhere except private property. Anyone with a Concealed Weapon permit can carry anywhere. The University of Utah lost funding when they tried to ban guns on campus. Since it is State property they have to abide with State law.

I think the wasp spray sounds like a good idea. That stuff's nasty and sprays a LONG ways away accurately. I hate that any of it might be necessary, but do have to admit the possibility of problems stops me from going into the mountains to ride alone. Luckily I have several retired and non-working friends that can/do ride as much as I do, so don't have to ride alone other then here at home.

[jodiTowne]

It used to be I would hike where-ever and usually alone. I don't anymore....too many weirdos. I miss it and would love to take a walk with my girls, even my dog! But i don't go alone. i still ride almost always by myself. It's either that or i would never ride. Sad.....

I will pick up a can of wasp spray.

[pnalley]

As a teenager I would ride by myself frequently. One day I was riding to a friends house. I turned off the paved road onto a gravel road. On the left was a small rocky shoulder then a fence, to my left an larger somewhat grassy shoulder and a canal. As I was riding along a VERY large obese man came out of the canal naked. He grabbed my arm and tried to snatch me off my horse. My horse would kick if I pressed a hand behind the saddle. Of course I let go of the reins and asked for a kick. She did kick, but didn't hit him, luckily his hand was wet and I was able to break free and we RAN like the wind to my friends house wich was the next house. I jumped off the horse and left her loose and ran into the house.

We called the police and a report was done. I later found out that the guy was a believed serial rapist that as yet they had not been able to convict. He was later convicted of a rape.

[jodiTowne]

Scarey stories!

[CarolU]

Yeah, I used to ride alone all the time too. Never worried about anything.

How times change.

[pasorider]

When I was just a kid, maybe 8 or 9, a neighbor friend and I would take off on the horses in the morning, ride to town, about 6 miles, and back again. My parents never worried about us. I wouldn't consider letting my granddaughter, who is 8, do this now. What a shame that the world has come to this.

[My Pasos]

Well, my days of riding alone are done. Last year I got lost on a trail, by myself till I fianlly found an access road that lead to the regular road.
After Mark seeing this post & video, he says I WON'T BE DOING THAT NO MORE!!