Read and obey all signage

Trailhead signs list the types of users allowed and the length and type of trail. Keep in mind that some trails restrict certain types of users based on safety, terrain, weather, parking or trail traffic considerations. Horses can be hard on trails. So, be sure to respect the trails that are open to horses so that they will stay open to horses.

Pass Politely

Try not to crowd other riders or tailgate when you wish to pass. Be sensitive to their (or their horses’) anxiety when you approach. Wait for them to pull off to the side and thank them as you pass. Be patient, and wait at a reasonable distance until the riders ahead of you have room to pull over and let you pass. Don’t be pushy.  

Respect other users 

Don’t be surprised if you encounter other outdoor enthusiasts (hikers, cyclists or even motorcyclists) on these trails. Non-riders on trails may be unfamiliar with, and even afraid of, horses. Be polite and sensitive to their anxiety around horses and allow them some space.

PREPARE YOUR horse FOR NEW encounters

Spend time familiarizing your horse with the types of other users you might encounter on the trails. Bikes, motorcycles, wildlife and even horses or riders with unusual gear might spook them. Loud noises and sudden movements made by riders and other horses may startle them. The more you expose your horse in your home environment to these potential bugaboos, the better.

Prepare your horse to negotiate varied terrain

Teach your horse, ahead of time, to walk through mud, negotiate uneven surfaces, cross streams, maneuver down a steep hill, stay still when you open and close gates and stay behind when other horses are passing and moving on.

Bring your cell phone

Bring your cell phone and keep it on your person. It doesn't do any good to put it in your saddle bag when you get separated from your horse. Important apps include:

Maps: Locate where you are and navigate.

Horse Riding Tracker or Equilab Equestrian Tracker: Track your rides on a GPS map within the app and record detailed statistics (route taken, distance, speed, duration, etc.).

Find My app (iOS; similar non-iOS apps available): So others can locate you and your horse. This is very important if you ride alone. This GPS app both finds your iPhone and tracks your friends.

If you’re wearing earbuds and talking on the phone or listening to music, you may not hear others approaching from behind. Likewise, be aware that others may be using cell phones and earbuds and may not be able to hear you approaching. Consider leaving your earbuds behind and immersing yourself in the experience.

Horses have the right-of-way on public trails, BUT

You should be prepared to step aside and allow others to pass when necessary (e.g. a jogger or biker struggling to go uphill). Be a good ambassador and represent horses and riders everywhere in a positive light by being kind and courteous and making safety your number one priority.

Be in the know

Keep informed about land use developments that impact trail availability in your area. Protect trails by using them as marked and using them responsibly. Support the efforts of conservation nonprofits like EPIC!

Allow others to pass

Stay aware of other trail users coming up from behind who may want to pass. Look for a widening in the trail so you can safely pull over and let them pass. Make sure your horse sees the passing horse or vehicle so it isn’t a surprise that may spook your horse. If the approaching horse doesn’t slow down, pull aside quickly.

Yield to the descending rider

If you’re going uphill, be sure to pull off to the side and let downhill riders coming toward you pass by. Riding downhill requires more effort on the part of both horse and rider making it harder for them to slow down and pull over. 

DON’T LEAVE ANYTHING BEHIND

Clean up your horse’s manure by spreading it over the ground. Be sure to carry out all trash if you stop to eat. This includes food items you think may be OK to leave, like banana peels, but which actually take a long time to degrade. Be a team player and carry a bag to pick up others’ trash you see along the trail.

Stay on marked pathways

It may be tempting to go off the trail or follow on unmarked animal trail. However, this may lead to deterioration of the area, erosion that makes it harder to maintain the trail and… you might get lost.

HELP OUT along the way

If you’re handy, carry a handsaw and cut back branches you find blocking the trail. Carefully dispose of cut branches well away from the trail to avoid creating a hazard.

watch your temper

When you encounter a reckless trail user, don’t be the one who explodes in a fit of rage or chastises others for perceived incursions of the rules. Make sure you’re following the rules and do your best to avoid anyone who isn’t.

what to wear

Wear seasonal clothing and bring rain gear just in case. Also, consider wearing a properly-fitted safety vest. Finally, during hunting season, wearing a blaze orange vest. And, of course, wear a properly-fitted, safety rated equestrian helmet and be sure to keep the strap buckled.