A man walking his dog looks over his shoulder as Riata Hudson (left), 7, her mother Crystal Hudson (center) and her sister Kodi Culbertson take their horses along the trails at the Hells Gate State Recreation Area on Sunday afternoon in Lewiston. (Photo Pete Caster/Inland 360)
As we turn to nature for solace during the pandemic, horses will be sharing our trails. Here’s how to coexist safely.
Commentaryby Karen Young
As a horse person who rides trails locally, I’ve noticed a huge upsurge in hikers and bikers since the COVID-19 virus appeared in our lives. I want to cheer you all on for getting out and getting exercise in our beautiful outdoors.
But I also want us all to be safe. Let me explain something about horses: They are large, fast, strong flight animals. A flight animal is an animal that runs first and asks questions later; a prey animal. We humans are predators. Our eyes are on the front of our faces. A horse’s eyes are on the sides of its face, and it can see almost 360 degrees, but not so well directly in front. Horses have much better hearing than we do, and can swivel their ears to hear all around, something we cannot do. As a prey animal, horses have evolved to run away from strange sights and sounds. If they cannot run away, they “blow up.” If they run or blow up, everyone near them is in danger of being badly hurt or killed. That’s the reason that in Idaho and Washington, horses have the right of way on trails.
When I am riding a trail, my horses are usually aware of any other trail travelers long before those people know I’m present. I am careful to try to set them up in a place where we can all have a safe encounter, but lately, with the much larger numbers of hikers, this has been challenging.
Here’s how you can help if you encounter horses on a road or trail:
- As soon as you’re aware that a horse is approaching, step to the downhill side of the trail (predators leap from on top) and talk to us, don’t hide behind anything or crouch. Control dogs and small children. Children should only approach a horse when the rider has given permission, and then slowly and quietly.
- If you’re on a bicycle and you see horses approaching, step off the bike on the downhill side of the trail, talk to us and wait until we pass. If you see a horse ahead of you and you want to pass, talk to the rider but do so without riding very close, or fast. We will pull over in a safe place and let you go by, slowly, please.
- It’s the same for motorcycles and all-terrain vehicles. If I get off the trail and motion you to pass, do so slowly and keep a slow pace until you are a good distance away.
Talking is the best way to reassure most horses. Say hello, and keep us all safe.
Karen Young, of Lewiston, is a member of Twin Rivers Back Country Horsemen. She takes her horses Belle and Babu on frequent trail rides.
2 Comments
Trail Enthusiast
“Horse people” are out on the trail expecting others to accommodate their needs. Instead of saying, hey there’s more people out enjoying these trails, maybe it’s not a great idea to ride here, they write articles that make them the victim. Horses don’t make great trail stakeholders, even with all the nonsense reasoning riders will argue that point. Dog walkers are shamed when they don’t clean up after their dogs on the trail, or have control of their dog. Yet, horses make a huge mess that smells, draws bugs, takes up a large portion of the trail and the rider does nothing to clean up after the horse. If the horse rider loses control of their animal, it’s someone, or something else’s fault. Where’s the accountability? Why doesn’t Karen say in any of her scenarios, I’ll get off my horse to let others by, or try to ride somewhere else during busy times? I grew up in a family with horses for 20 + years, I hike and love to bike. I’ve been a part of all these groups, horse riders are the most selfish, on average. Maybe we should start banning horses from the local trails, with all logical reasoning, it makes sense.
TP
And car drivers say the same things about motorcyclists, runners, and bicyclists on the roads. Have you ever lived anywhere with a relatively low drawbridge and lots of boaters? Boaters have the right of way, because their vehicle is more difficult to control, and the drivers just have to wait until the bridge is lowered. Same with railroad crossings…the train is more difficult to control, so it has right of way, and the drivers just have to wait until it passes. It’s called cooperation. When using shared spaces, we need to understand one another’s circumstances, and be accommodating to the one in the most challenging position. Then everyone can be safe, with minimal inconvenience all around.