Trails here are temporarily closed to ATV's because of alledged fire danger, so I've been walking a lot and getting out on my mountain bike. I've noticed that horse tracks are starting to skuff up the trails. That's just from a few riders. It's not a big thiing yet, but I'm wondering what if these trails get real popular with the horsey crowd? When I was a kid we had a horse pasture and those animals cuts some mean ruts into hillsides over time. Have horses on the trails caused problems anywhere? If they have, I would imagine ATV's were blamed.

 

I peel out on my horse all the time! LOL! I especially like to do wheelies! OH,and don't forget the horse puckies he leaves behind!

 

In the Sierras, the packtrains pulverize the hiking trails. If it were not for the foot traffic packing it back down, it would lead to considerable washouts every time it rains. This is a much different kind of trail wear than an ATV or dirt bike creates.

Horses ideally need to be ridden off-trail, and never in single file. Their hooves knock out divits, and this has the effect of turning over the soil and making places for new seeds to take hold. I suspenct that this may be one of the horse's roles out in nature, and seems to be a good thing for the land when not concentrated in any one area.

There are a lot of horses around here, so the biggest issue is always safety. Don't want to come around a blind curve and startle the horse and cause a wreck. There are complaints about off-roaders trespassing on private property (land boundaries around here are rarely fenced or marked), but the horsey crowd is way way worse!

 

Careful with what you say, some people might have more than one hobby. (yes I am into horses as well)

 

Given time, any animal/vehicle will damage a trail. I have no problems sharing a trail with the horse crowd, but I do prefer to know that was indeed mud the person in front of me just roosted me with.

 

Well I would think a horse would do as much damage to a trail as a moose. Ban moose on trails lol. I have 4 horses and ride them on the trails all year round, just like my atv. I would find it hard to believe that recreational horseback riding will damage any trail system. If there are horses on the trails that you ride use caution. One of my horses hates atvs and trucks. One day while horse backriding a atv came down the trail so I motioned him to stop about a dozen times but the atv rider would not stop or yeild. When he got to close my horse spun 180 deg. and kicked with both rear legs breaking his front fender and light. The atv rider jumped off. I thought he got kicked in the head. But he was ok. He just needed to change his underware thats all. I told him he was SOL and he should of stoped when motioned to. So please use caution when shareing the trails with others. BTW my animals will wheelie ( rear up), peel out on pavement ( slip when wearing steel shoes), and when they poo I get off and kick it off of the trail. Just rember a spooked horse can kill you or me. But my EX will only do what I make it.

 

I've never heard anyone complain about 900 pound animals with steel shoes on the trails, but too many people want to ban ATV's. Personally, I feel that the more people using trails, the better. More use means more value to more people, which ensures we will continue to have good trail systems. I do object when one group of users tries to exclude another group. Trail use by any group will leave its mark. Everyone just needs to accept that and not let it hamper their own enjoyment of the trails.

 

Well put Deeplaker!

 

This is especially true of the horse folks.....These days they often have big bucks with quality connections into the legal system.....Well represented come trail discussion time with various Govt orgs. Good people to have on your side.

The USFS views horses as "destructive" both in the east and the west. Horses in the Green Mountain National Forest were not welcome anywhere they wanted to go. -Horse trails are often built to certain standards, but not always. I see no comparison between a wide, relatively soft rubber tire and a sharp hoof on a soft trail. Horses can't really "Tread Lightly" in soft areas. They punch right through and sheer the roots right off a lot of vegetation. So there are lingering affects for horses that you don't immediately see. -Trail design, maintenance and enforcement is key.

There's not that many of them around here and I think it's pretty cool to see a big animal like that doing it 's thing. But I used to ride them a lot as a kid, so there's still a certain fondness for a fine horse. -Gotta say, I prefer my 4-wheeled horse though.

 

Yes horses cause trail damage, along with bikes, motorcycles,and all OHV's including ATV's. That is exactly why we all need to work together. Don't be shy about helping a horse , bike or motorcycle club on a trail work day. Actually, you would be surprised at how attitudes can change when one user group helps another, even the hikers and backpackers. Threre are groups out there that would like to keep all user groups out of a lot of areas, so sticking together makes a lot of sence.