TRAIL SHARING WITH EQUINES KEEPING TRAIL USERS SAFE

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Lawrence Sherman
5 years ago
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1 Intrductin t trail sharing Respnsible trail users, whether hiker, muntain bicyclist r equestrian have much in cmmn. We all seem t have an appreciatin fr public lands and want t enjy and experience what these special places have t ffer. The McDwell Snran Preserve is n exceptin. It has many attributes that entice guests t visit and explre a rich and clrful histry, intriguing wildlife and vegetatin, a well-maintained trail system with abundant access pints and all lcated within easy reach f a majr metrplitan city, a vacatin destinatin shwcased fr bth lcal residents and thse visiting frm all ver the wrld. Mst trails in the McDwell Snran Preserve are pen t three trail user grups hikers, muntain bicyclists, and equestrians. This is referred t as trail sharing and is a practice used by many public land managers thrughut the United States. Trail sharing prvides pprtunities fr a wide variety f individuals wanting t experience the utdrs. Limiting r prhibiting any ne f these trail user grups, reduces the number individuals taking advantage f these lands and may inadvertently reduce the value the general public places n the Preserve. Trail sharing can and des flurish when peple respect each ther and wrk cperatively t keep each ther safe. As users f these lands, it is ur jb t mdel safe trail sharing. Peple wrldwide are ften familiar and cmfrtable interacting with hikers and their dgs and with bicyclists bth cmmn in even the mst urban f envirnments. That s nt always the case when we interact with equestrians. Althugh hrses were used as a majr mde f transprtatin and necessity fr Americans a century ag, tday, it is cmmn t find individuals wh have never tuched a hrse r been arund ne. As a cnsequence, the purpse f this dcument is t prvide mre detailed infrmatin n trail sharing with equestrians in rder t help yu with these interactins ut n the Preserve trails. Surces fr this dcument include infrmatin frm the Internatinal Muntain Bike Assciatin, AmericanTrails.rg, the Cnnecticut Hrse Cuncil, the Natinal Trails Training Partnership, the Mntana Chapter f the Cntinental Divide Trail Alliance and McDwell Snran Cnservancy Stewards wh are lng-time equestrian trail users. Backgrund attributes f prey animals Hrses are prey animals and revert t instinct when anxius. As the species develped, survival depended n a gd flight respnse. In shrt, when frightened, a hrse will try t escape. This may include a sudden spinning turn r rearing, which culd unseat a rider. Althugh dmesticated apprximately 4,000 years ag, their natural tendency is t cnsider everything as a ptential predatr. Unless prven therwise, a hrse expects they are targeted t be tnight s dinner. Many a human finds this cncept difficult t cmprehend with such a huge, truly pwerful creature. Althugh the hrse s instinct fr self-preservatin is t run, their sense f security cmes frm being part f a herd and getting directin frm the herd leader. A cmpetent rider can becme the herd leader and is key t cnvincing the hrse that the perceived predatr is nt a threat at all. Hrses have eyes lcated n the sides f their heads and have a range f visin f abut 350. They have the ability t use bth eyes separately which prvides the hrse with the best chance SAFETY + COURTESY = A great McDwell Snran Preserve Experience Page 1 01/09/2017 Editin

2 t spt predatrs and leave the area fast! Even with this wide range f visin, a hrse has tw "blind spts" where the animal cannt see: directly in frnt and directly behind its head, which extends ver his back and behind the tail. Where d many trail encunters ccur? Yu guessed it, usually smene cming directly at r directly behind the hrse. Additinally, hrses are farsighted, s things up clse are blurry. When a bicyclist cmes arund a blind crner and suddenly appears within 50 feet in frnt f the hrse, the hrse cannt readily identify what is heading twards it. Once the flight mde has been engaged it is almst impssible fr the rider t cntrl the hrse s feet. Anther cntributing factr is that a rider s anxiety can be easily transferred t the hrse. Hrses have a keen sensatin t tuch. They may be big and pwerful, but they can als detect an small gnat landing n their bdy and have the ability t wiggle a small patch f skin in an attempt t encurage the bug t mve n. Nt hard t imagine a rider s tightening leg muscles can be felt by the hrse ften well befre the rider realizes he s cntracting these muscles. If the rider is anxius abut an appraching hiker and aggressive, barking dg, the rider s back muscles becme tense, his/her breathing shrtens, pressure n the reins intensify. All cues t the hrse that the herd leader feels that danger is appraching and all the mre reasn fr ur prey animal t run. And run they can. Tp speed f a hrse is miles per hur and at 1,000 punds, damage t nearby bjects, peple, rider and the hrse itself can easily ccur. One f the mst difficult f scenaris fr a hrse t tlerate is when apprached frm the rear, especially at speed. N matter reality, even the mst well-trained hrse may believe it is being pursued by a muntain lin r wrse. The hrse may (ut f fear) kick ut, pssibly injuring a hiker, muntain bicyclist, r ff-leash dg; blt and run ff with the rider; r at a minimum, jump frward, spin and face the ffending bject (javelina, deer, dg, hiker, cyclist, etc.). With such flighty, sensitive creatures why are sme hrses cmfrtable in extremely stressful situatins (e.g., hrses used by munted plice during Mardi Gras)? Like peple, each hrse is unique. Cnsider peple yu knw sme are fearful f spiders; thers uncmfrtable and claustrphbic in an elevatr r clsed envirnment, r perhaps smene yu knw wrries abut what yu cnsider minutia. Peple ften develp these reactins thrugh their persnal experiences and hrses are the same. The gd news is that when nt stressed, hrses are innately curius and experienced riders use this curisity t expand a hrse s cmfrt zne. But, hw can we help imprve safety fr all trail users? It s nt that tugh and the remainder f this dcument will fcus n steps that can be taken by varius trail users t enhance safety fr all. Guidance fr all trail users When equestrians n well-trained hrses and ther respnsible trail enthusiasts meet each ther n the trail the encunters can be enjyable scial exchanges, if the grups understand hw t wrk tgether t keep the encunters safe. These basic guidelines will help ensure that meeting n the trail will be a safe and enjyable experience. Cmmn Curtesy Fllw trail restrictins and use nly trails pen t yur mde f transprtatin. Be cnsiderate f thers. If yu ffer respect, yu are mre likely t receive it. Educatin with friendly respect will diminish negative encunters n the trail fr all users. SAFETY + COURTESY = A great McDwell Snran Preserve Experience Page 2 01/09/2017 Editin

When traveling n shared use trails, cntinually watch fr ther types f recreatinists. Slw dwn when sight lines are pr. Keep speeds lw arund ther recreatinists. Keep nise and dust t a minimum.

3 When traveling n shared use trails, cntinually watch fr ther types f recreatinists. Slw dwn when sight lines are pr. Keep speeds lw arund ther recreatinists. Keep nise and dust t a minimum. Keep yur ears pen n ear buds fr an ipd r MP3. Listening t headphnes r ear buds can make it difficult t hear and cmmunicate with ther recreatinists. Keep pets under cntrl. Preserve trails require dgs t be leashed (fr bth the dg s safety, as well as the safety f ther trail users). Be familiar with and fllw these rules. Cmmunicate let flks knw yu re there befre yu re there. A simple Hwdy wrks t get attentin, ringing a bike bell n a blind crner, r cheerful set f sleigh bells can help alert thers f yur apprach. Advising ther trail enthusiasts n hw many are in yur party is valuable infrmatin. Grups f muntain bicyclists r equestrians ften give each ther plenty f space between riders fr safety reasns. (N need t inadvertently rear-end smene!) S, when passing thers, letting them knw yu are a sl rider r the first f three equestrians is usually appreciated. Mst hikers, runners, and riders knw that trail etiquette requires them t yield t hrses, but hw, exactly, des a runner r cyclist yield? What shuld a hiker r muntain cyclist d when they encunter equestrians n the trail? And what can equestrians d t ensure they pass thers safely? 1) The rule f etiquette in the Preserve is that hikers and cyclists yield t hrses. It will prbably require a runner t slw his pace, r a cyclist t stp and give an equestrian time t respnd that is what yielding t hrses means. Fr equestrians, just because thers are t yield, desn t mean they shuld nt allw faster users t pass. The gal f yielding is t make the act f passing safe fr all. 2) As a hiker r cyclist, when yu see a hrse and rider, stp and greet the rider in a calm vice. Speak in a sft manner, and keep talking. Hrses will ften identify yu as a human, nt smething interested in ding them harm. Ask the rider what they wuld like fr yu t d. The rider knws their hrse s training and behavir and is likely in the best psitin t guide thers t a safe interactin. Depending n the size f the grup and the speed f the varius trail users, the equestrian may wish t mve t the side f the trail, nce space allws SAFETY + COURTESY = A great McDwell Snran Preserve Experience Page 3 01/09/2017 Editin

4 and will ask thers t pass them. Talking in a calm manner, giving a wide berth and passing each ther in a slw and relaxed manner prvide the best pprtunity fr a safe interactin. 3) Fr equestrians, when they see a hiker r biker, the same applies greet them and let them knw yur preference t safely pass. If the hiker r cyclist is silent, engage the individual in a cnversatin. Yu may need t tell them t talk s the hrse can identify them as a human. Thse with little r n equestrian interactin are ften appreciative f a rider s knwledge and directin fr safe passage. It is nt uncmmn fr Preserve visitrs t phtgraph equestrians ut n the trail they likely represent the wild, wild West and are indicative f the heritage and attractin f the Preserve. With these basics in mind, we ll g in mre depth and ffer additinal tips fr the varius trail user grups. Tips fr equestrians Be sure yu can cntrl yur hrse and that it has been expsed t things yu will cmmnly encunter in the Preserve this includes ther recreatinal trail users. If yur hrse is new t shared trails, chse rutes with wider trails, greater visibility and wrk t gradually expse the hrse t new and different bjects. (Bikes, backpacks, strllers, sun umbrellas, dgs, children are but a few f the scary things yur hrse may encunter.) One f the best ways t first expse a hrse t bicycles, is t d s at hme leading the hrse while pushing the bike. Depending upn hw reactive the hrse, it may initially require tw individuals ne pushing the bike at sme distance frm the hrse, with the secnd individual leading the hrse behind the bicycle being pushed. Eventually the space between hrse and bike shuld be shrtened and the hrse given the pprtunity t sniff/tuch the bike with its nse. When ut n a shared trail fr the first time, alert thers f yur hrse s newness t the envirnment. With their permissin, use the same technique yu initiated at hme use yur hrse s sense f curisity and these interactins as a training pprtunity. (Many a muntain bicyclist has gleefully allwed a hrse t sniff/tuch their bike and still thers have allwed the equestrian t have their hrse chase the cyclist building the hrse s cnfidence such that the cyclist is perceived as being afraid f the hrse and nt the ther way arund.) Every hrse can kick, even thugh many rarely d s. Hwever, with safety in mind, if the equestrian is ging t let ther trail users pass and mves the hrse t the side f the trail, the hrse s head shuld be facing the trail. Psitining the hrse in any ther manner can needlessly put ther s in harm s way. The equestrian shuld be prepared t let ther trail enthusiasts knw what needs t be dne t keep thers they encunter n the trail, as well as themselves and their hrse safe when meeting n the trail. Thugh mst hikers and bikers will yield the right f way t hrses, many d nt have experience with hrses and/r may nt d things the way the equestrian may want. These encunters are great pprtunities t infrm and educate with a friendly, respectful apprach. Keep the tne f yur vice calm and welcming. Becming terse r angry gives yur user grup a bad reputatin, makes thers less interested in trail SAFETY + COURTESY = A great McDwell Snran Preserve Experience Page 4 01/09/2017 Editin

5 sharing and mre imprtantly, the emtin is ften transferred t the hrse making the situatin even wrse. Less experienced hrses and riders can ften learn frm mre trail-wise hrses and riders. Fllwing behind an experienced du is a gd way fr a new rider and hrse t becme prficient n the trail. When riding in grups, maintain a safe distance between hrses. Stay at least ne-hrse length between each hrse. D nt speed past r up behind anther hrse, and never pass in dangerus terrain. When necessary t pass the hrse in frnt f yu, call ut yur intentins. Warn thers f hazards n the trail. When stpping n the trail, equestrians shuld stp clear f thers and advise them f the reasn fr yur need t stp. If at all pssible, equestrians shuld nt stp n inclines r declines, r in thick chlla, especially when thers are behind. At trailheads r staging areas, park vehicles and secure stck in a manner that prvides a safe distance between hrses and passing traffic. Tips fr muntain cyclists when encuntering a hrse When yu see a hrse, assume the hrse is new t trail sharing and its flight instinct is well hned. Yu might als want t assume the rider is new t trail riding r has limited experience with hrses just as cyclists ccasinally lse cntrl f their bikes, sme equestrians may nt be in full cntrl f their animals. Slw dwn, be prepared t stp and pull t the side f the trail, far enugh away fr the hrse t pass. Let the equestrian knw f yur presence. Yelling ut, bikes as sn as yu see a rider and hrse is usually appreciated. It tells the equestrian what type f interactin t expect and helps prvide the equestrian with time t maneuver the hrse int psitin fr a safe bike/hrse interactin. Ask if the equestrian has a preference n hw t safely prceed in passing. The human vice helps the hrse identify the cyclist as a friendly human and nt a ptential threat r predatr. A greeting such as, Hi! Great weather tday! is apprpriate cming frm in frnt r behind. Hrses ften recgnize the human vice as safe and a spken salutatin helps ffset the ptentially threatening appearance f a bike. Fr this reasn, equestrians ften prefer a vice alert ver bells. Keep the tne f yur vice calm and welcming. Becming terse r angry gives yur user grup a bad reputatin, makes thers less interested in trail sharing and mre imprtantly, the emtin is ften transferred t the hrse making the situatin even wrse. With yung r inexperienced hrses, yu may be asked t remve yur helmet if it cnceals part f yur face. This is usually a very rare request, but in sme cases full-face shield helmets (which appear mre like a mtrcycle helmet than a bike helmet), can be disturbing t an inexperienced hrse. The hrse will be mre likely t recgnize yu as a human when this type f helmet is remved. An equestrian may pull t the side f the trail a safe distance away if they hear a bicycle appraching, but this des nt necessarily mean it is safe fr yu t pedal by. Engage in a cnversatin with the equestrian t determine the safest methd f passing, which is ften determined by the hrse s training, experience and temperament. SAFETY + COURTESY = A great McDwell Snran Preserve Experience Page 5 01/09/2017 Editin

6 Ask the equestrian hw he/she wuld like t prceed. The equestrian will knw his/her hrse and hw the hrse reacts t ther trail enthusiasts. Yu may be asked t stay put and the equestrian will ride past yu, r The equestrian may ride t the side f the trail and ask yu t ride r push yur bike past them. If yu ride by a hrse, d s at a slw, steady pace and keep talking in a calm manner t help reassure the hrse. When n uneven grund, and if pssible, mve t the dwnhill side f the trail since hrses tend t perceive unknwn threats n the uphill side as predatrs. When encuntering a grup f equestrians, remember that less experienced hrses and riders are ften at the end f the line. If yu apprach a hrse frm behind it s critical that yu annunce yurself ludly and calmly. Let the rider knw yu d like t pass at the next safe lcatin. Refrain frm quickly riding up t the tail f a hrse. It s dangerus fr bth yu and the equestrian. If an equestrian becmes terse r unfriendly, give them the benefit f the dubt their wn sense f fear may be affecting their tne f vice r chice f wrds. Althugh many f the Preserve parking areas have designated areas fr trailers, when that s nt available, try nt t crwd turnarund and parking spaces being used by equestrians. Clse prximity may make it difficult t unlad, lad r tack up the hrse. Mst imprtantly, wrk tgether t ensure safe passage fr all trail enthusiasts! Tips fr hikers and trail runners when encuntering a hrse Many f the same tips prvided t muntain cyclists apply t hikers and trail runners. By fllwing the tips abve yu re well n yur way t have a safe encunter with equestrians. The additinal tips belw are unique t hikers and trail runners: If traveling with a dg, keep it n a leash and under cntrl. Many dgs are specifically bred t herd livestck (sheep, gats, cattle, hrses). Dgs ften have the instinct t maneuver t the rear f the hrse, bark, and/r nip at back legs. This is a ptentially life ending tactic fr the dg and puts everyne else in harm s way. Like their wners, many dgs have never encuntered a hrse. Sme canines will exhibit fear, thers seek guidance frm their handler and yet thers turn aggressive. It is helpful t all invlved if the dg handler cmmunicates the dg s tendencies t thers. And, like ur guidance t equestrians and cyclists, keeping the tne f yur vice calm and welcming helps the canine remain calm. Becming terse r angry gives yur user grup a bad reputatin, makes thers less interested in trail sharing and mre imprtantly, the emtin is ften transferred t the hrse, canine and humans within earsht. If traveling with a large backpack, baby strller, sun umbrella r baby backpack, a hrse may n lnger recgnize yu as human. With yung r inexperienced hrses, yu may need t remve the backpack, clse the umbrella r mve well ff the trail with the strller. Summary f cncepts fr successful trail sharing SAFETY + COURTESY = A great McDwell Snran Preserve Experience Page 6 01/09/2017 Editin

7 RESPECT: It's a simple cncept if yu ffer respect, yu are mre likely t receive it. Educatin with friendly respect will diminish negative encunters n the trail fr all users. COMMUNICATION: Prductive, psitive cmmunicatin is the key. Let flks knw yu re there, yur experience level, yur dg s r hrse s experience. A simple Hwdy and thughtful, caring cnversatin wrks fr all trail enthusiasts t have an enjyable, safe experience. YIELD APPROPRIATELY: D yur utmst t let yur fellw trail users knw yu re cming a friendly greeting is a gd methd. Anticipate ther trail users as yu cme arund blind crners. Bicyclists shuld yield t ther nn-mtrized trail users, unless the trail is clearly signed fr bike-nly travel. Additinally, bicyclists traveling dwnhill shuld yield t thse headed uphill, unless the trail is clearly signed fr ne-way r dwnhill-nly traffic. In general, strive t make each pass a safe and curteus ne. REVERE THE RESOURCE: The Preserve has unsurpassed pprtunities t enjy the landscape, heritage, and unique beauty f the McDwell Snran envirnment. Help prtect accessibility by playing nicely with ther trail enthusiasts and treat these trails with reverence. Demnstrate and mdel psitive trail sharing practices. Pitch-in and give back pick up trash, learn abut becming a Steward vlunteer. Take actin and get mre invlved tday! BE INFORMED: It s yur respnsibility t be in the knw. Knw which trails are best suited fr different types f user grups and skill sets and select thse trails/adventures apprpriately. Learn hw t determine when there are trail clsures, and fllw Preserve rules. If yu are unsure abut where t get answers t thse questins, cntact the Cnservancy Office fr additinal assistance. We are all ambassadrs t an amazing place ne that creates a bridge frm the built envirnment int the natural ne. Helping encurage safety and curtesy cntributes t keeping the experience special. SAFETY + COURTESY = A great McDwell Snran Preserve Experience Page 7 01/09/2017 Editin

!!!!!! Vision & Strategy!!

!!!!!! Vision & Strategy!! Visin & Strategy Why Small Grups Exist: Therefre g and make disciples f all natins, baptizing them in the name f the Father, the Sn, and f the Hly Spirit. Matthew 28:19 At Christ Fellwship, Small Grups