GREEN Trailriding ?

Planning to go on the great adventure, again ?

Thinking about packing up a camp, saddling horses , pack stock, and heading into the backcountry ? Well think about it twice ! Restrictions for horse and rider on trail have multiplied over the years and opposite to this development less land is available for trail riding, due to America becoming subdivided and paved.

So the little land left for trail riding should be handled with care in order to keep trail riders priviledges! Keeping a “low profile” while on trail might be one of the key-issues here. The less the tracks left behind, the less others will have reasons to complain, put up new rules, build fences ec…..

I posted this issue on a trail riders discussion board asking what would be essential in order to make trail riding GREEN, but to my surprise there were not a whole lot of answers.
However it is simple, if one thinks about it.

“Research, plan, and organize accordingly”

I am not a trail-rider, but it is a fact to me, that PLANNING “to go on trail” is the main part of it all. Training for Eventing we do a lot of cross-country tours and we also take our horses on “fox-hunts” . The better we are prepaired, the smoother the event.

Here are some of the things I would suggest.

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  Talking to local authorities such as the Bureau of Land Management or United States Forest Service and owners, learn the regulations for this area and your camping destination, go online, inquire locally, and read trailhead signs.Let them know you are coming and listen to what they have to say.
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  Try to reduce the number of equines in string by packing only what’s necessary and load the horses up to capacity. Selecting light equipment and trying to do with one pack horse per every two or-better yet –three riders will help reduce impact on trail and campgrounds.
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  Treat your trail as if it was your friend’s living room !!! Don’t take shortcuts, don’t leave trail and don’t litter !!! Do not ride in extremely muddy weather, delay your departure until things dry up.
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  Clean up behind you in order to keep good relations with backpackers and other non-riders. Don’t leave manure and hay behind, clean it just the same way you would clean your stables. Bring plenty of trash bags, crush any cans, and pack it all out.
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  Think about a proper solution to contain horses at camp ahead of time. Think about protection of trees and grass. You might want to highline or bring an protable electric fence.

These are just a few things coming to my mind, but I am sure there are a lot more….

Happy GREEN Trail :-)