HORSE TRAIL ETIQUETTE and TRAIL RIDING SAFETY

General Safety in Parks and Parking Lots

• Always lock your vehicle. Leave valuables at home or out of sight.
  
• Be prepared to tie your horse safely and securely. A horse that will not stand tied may injure itself, people, and other horses. 
  
• Preserve trees and shrubs by tying your horse out of their reach.  Remember some plants are toxic to horses.
  
• Notice the name of the closest road access, the trails, and the landmarks. Some trails have sections named/numbered. Remembering this can make the difference in receiving help quickly.
  
• Be sure your hauling truck and trailer are safe and capable of getting to the trail and back home. Fill up your gas tank.
  

Basic Trail Etiquette

• Leave No Trace. Pack out what you bring in including any type of litter/trash/cigarette butts. Do not leave manure in parking lot or public areas.
• If your horse kicks, tie a red ribbon on his tail to signal other riders to be cautious. Better yet, consider hiring a professional to help you correct this problem for your safety and the safety of other horses and their riders.
• Keep at least 2 horse lengths apart. In larger groups, 6 or 7 lengths may be better.
• Stay off private property.
• Be aware that alcoholic beverages are prohibited in state and national parks.
• Respect all other trail uses, including other horsepersons and children that may not ride in the same manner that you do.
• If your horse gets excited when another rider approaches, move him off the trail, flex his neck to the side so he’s facing the oncoming rider. Bring his head around with pull and release motion – toward the side seam of your jeans where they meet your belt. Don’t pull back on both reins. If he stands, okay. If not –simply keep his neck flexed so that he moves in a small circle and remains under your control.
• Speak first to those you meet on the trail. This will often help calm your horse.
• Slow down to a walk when approaching others on the trail and always signal the person if you wish to pass-pass on left.
• If there are gates on the trail (most public parks don’t have gates), be sure you leave the gates closed as you found them.

General Safety on Trails

• Always let someone know where you are riding and when you will return. Leave contact phone numbers. Ride with one or more partners. 
  
• Know the trail system and conditions. Keep trail maps with you. Laminate trail maps to preserves them and to prepare for sudden weather changes.
  
• Know your horse and anticipate its behaviors. Do not force you or your horse through a trail situation that the horse or rider is unprepared to handle. Be confident to turn away from unsafe situations such as swollen streams, rock slides, & trails that are too narrow for your safety and the safety of your horse.
  
• Ride a horse that is broke to ride and that accepts basic requests for movement and stopping. Solid stop, go, turn, wait cues and controls are a must. However, be aware that other riders may be training inexperienced horses for trail use and ride accordingly.
  
• Your horse should be able to cross obstacles such as trees, rocks, bridges, streams.  An inexperienced horse’s first impulse is to jump which puts you and other riders at risk.
  
• De-sensitize your horse to as much as possible before riding. Unusual noises, birds, deer, water sounds, and smells are likely to be encountered on trails.
  
• Your horse should be able to ascend and descend a reasonable trail grade at a controlled pace. This is better for both the horse and the trail tread.
  
• Cell phones, whistles, radio should be attached to the rider – not the horse. Never wrap any equipment that is attached to the horse around any part of your body – this includes: lead ropes, lunge lines, all other equipment.
  
• Check the weather and condition of the trail before you go. Be prepared to cope with changes in weather.  Taking a poncho, hat, and gloves along is always a good idea.
  
• Wear proper attire suited for the weather conditions. Remember there are often briars close to the trail and a fall may be less damaging if cloth is covering your skin. Keep footwear (a heel) in mind to avoid having a foot slip through the stirrup and in case you have to walk out.  Consider warmth in winter, sun screen for bright days, and insect repellent in summer and fall for both you and your horse. Avoid loose clothing that can get caught on saddles, trees, and brush.
  
• During hunting season wear blaze orange and ride in middle of day or Sunday when hunting is prohibited. 
  
• Wear a safety helmet. Be aware that the most common cause of death from horseback is a head injury.  A fracture is the most common reason for hospitalization. The most common injuries for horse riders are lacerations, bruises, and scrapes.
  
• Be sure your tack and horses feet are prepared for the trail.  Dismount and check your tack periodically during the ride. 
  
• Have your horse in shape for the condition and length of the trail. Be prepared for elevations, grades, obstacles, and treads.  This will help avoid tying up and colic for your horse. 
  
• Remember: “Horses are only scared of two things: things that move & things that don’t.”
  
• Always mount your horse from an uphill position. Never mount your horse from downhill as this may pull the horse off balance and fall or step on you.
  
• Stay on the marked trails. This is for the safety of you and your horse.  Bees, snakes, ticks, and holes are more likely to be off the marked trail. 
  
• Keep both you and your horse hydrated. If you don’t carry water for your horse, be sure there is a safe water source for your horse, if needed.
  
• Crossing roads:  be sure you can see a good distance, halt, plot your route, look & listen for traffic,  maximize traction where possible (loose gravel provides better footing than asphalt), choose the path most visible to drivers (away from hills & curves). Look for wider shoulders on the road, watch for overhanging branches, let your horse see approaching traffic, watch for ditches.  Don’t assume drivers will slow. Use hand signals to drivers to stop/slow and do it with a smile. Hopefully, they will be happy to oblige. Watch for those drivers that have no ‘horse sense’ = honkers, screamers, bottle throwers, and speeders.
  

Group Riding

• When riding in groups, be sure to have a safety or drag rider.  All riders need a safety plan.
  
• Know the group and their horses that you will be riding with and the style that they ride in order to be sure that they ride at your level of experience or comfort level.  Be sure you have your Coggins papers with you & that vaccinations are current and up-to-date.
  
• Stay alert. Listen and watch the trail and movement of the other horses for the safety of your horse and yourself. Alert riders with you and those you meet of  holes in ground, low tree limbs, downed trees, hikers ahead, bikers/riders, bees and hornets, stump holes, hazards, and other unusual trail conditions.
  
• Never leave other riders behind either on a horse or on the ground.  Remember safety is in numbers.   Do not ride off until all are mounted and ready to ride.
  
• At a stream/pond/water wait until all horses have had a chance to drink before riding away. 
  
• Don’t let your horse scratch on or nuzzle other horses or riders – can cause disputes & broken headgear.  
  
• Never gallop away from group. Coordinate ‘fast’ work with other riders so no one’s horse gets ‘juiced up’.