On the Trail

Tips for greener trails: part 2 in a 3 part series
by Alayne Blickle, Horses for Clean Water

This fall we are highlighting a new Horses for Clean Water brochure, Stewards of the Trail, which offers ideas on how to reduce our impact on the land where we ride. Last month we started with tips for the start of your trail ride. This month we’ll talk about what can be done while you’re on the trail. We finish up next month with rules of the road as well as resources.

Stay on the Trail
When mud and puddles develop along a trail, teach and encourage your horse to step through them. Riding around these areas widens the trail, destroying more vegetation.

Stay on marked trails and do not cut new trails, switchbacks or corners. Whenever possible, riding single file will help keep from widening and degrading trails. Never go off a trail into a sensitive area such as a wetland, bog or marshy meadow. Creating new trails without permission of the landowner can cause those areas to be closed to future use. New trails can’t be maintained and may decrease the amount of maintenance the whole system receives. It also potentially destroys wildlife habitat and may cause erosion and loss of valuable topsoil. When sediments end up in streams, ponds and other water bodies, serious water quality problems can occur.

In the parking area, avoid driving your truck and trailer over vegetation or into sensitive areas, or widening parking areas in any way.

Water Bodies
Only cross through creeks, waterways or other sensitive areas in designated locations. Existing crossing points have been chosen and designed to make the least amount of impact on waterways. Crossing in other areas potentially increases erosion and the loading of sediments as well as nutrients and bacteria (from manure and urine) in water bodies, resulting in increased water pollution and possible trail closures.

Cross single file so as not to widen the area further.

Weed Control
Invasive weed species in open spaces and wild areas are a huge problem everywhere. Non-native weed seeds are transported in, take root and quickly out-compete native plants. This is a particular problem when wildlife loses critical habitat or food sources, or when toxic weeds move in.

It is thought by some that horses convey weed seeds onto trails and rural lands through their manure. Recent academic studies show that this may not be the case after all, since horses rarely eat weeds. Fibrous weeds in the seed head stage are particularly unpalatable to horses. Instead, weed seed conveyance may be via weed seeds caught in horse hooves or on the soles of riding boots. Take care to inspect your horse’s hooves before leaving home to eliminate weed seed transmission. Brush your horse’s coat well while still at home to remove potentially harmful seeds, particularly if your horse lives in a weedy area. Be sure to remove mud and foreign debris from riding boots as well.

Consider seeking help from Horses for Clean Water, http://www.horsesforcleanwater.com/, or your local Conservation District or Extension Office regarding how you can manage invasive weeds on your property. You should be able to eliminate, or at least substantially reduce, problem weeds and their spread onto other properties.

Permission
Only ride in areas where you have permission from the landowner. If you open a gate to pass through, be sure to close it after you. Respect the property of others.

Tying
Avoid tying your horse to a tree or other vegetation if at all possible. Doing so can seriously harm the tree, perhaps even destroy it. If you must tie, such as during lunch breaks or rest stops, be sure to look for the sturdiest tree possible or a low-hanging branch. Teach your horse to stand quietly. Pawing may damage sensitive tree roots.

Wildlife
Observe wildlife from a distance. Be careful not to stalk or approach wild animals, and never feed them. Feeding wildlife damages their health, changes natural behaviors, and exposes them to predators and other dangers. Dogs should be kept under control at all times, but especially around wildlife. Avoid wildlife during sensitive times: mating, nesting, raising young, or, for those species that hibernate, in winter.

Dogs
A dog should be under control at all times. Many dog owner associations recommend leashing your dog. Leashed dogs are protected from being lost or injured by wildlife, and from harming or chasing wildlife or other dogs on the trail. Unleashed dogs can frighten other trail users, including their dogs, depriving others of peace of mind and the use of a public area. Horses and riders can be startled or hurt by a loose or aggressive dog. An out-of-control dog increases the chances of dogs being banned from your favorite public lands and trails.

Riding a horse with a leashed dog may be dangerous, especially with pedestrians or horse traffic around, so consider leaving your dog at home.

Emergency Considerations
While riding on a trail, especially in a remote area, carry a whistle and a cell phone. In case your cell phone dies or is out of range, it takes less effort to blow a whistle than to yell for help.

Always carry ID, and consider an ID tag for your horse. The ID should contain your name, the horse’s barn name and your cell phone number. Should you and your horse part ways, the cell phone number will be the fastest way to reunite you.

Carry a map of the area you are riding in or a GPS (Global Positioning System) unit that you are familiar with.

Other basic emergency items include a hoof pick (for hoof problems) and duct tape (for emergency tack repair or in case of a lost shoe). A sharp pocketknife and matches are other necessities to consider carrying. Drinking water for people is always important. Use the buddy system and ride with at least one other person. At the very least, let someone else know where you are planning to ride, when you plan to return and with whom you will be traveling.

Stay tuned next month for trail riding rules of the road. Until then, happy trails!