Horses and humans
From Trail-Finder -- Dedicated to getting you outside
There's a lot of trail out there where horses and humans share the trail. Interactions are usually friendly and without incident. To help them stay that way, here's some advice.
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Human Hikers
Horses weigh more than 1000 pounds (450kg). They are big and solid and can crush you underfoot without really noticing. That said, any horse which is being ridden is likely to be at least tolerant of humans, and there's a few things you can do to help.
Get out of the way
This seems obvious, but since you, as a hiker, are much more agile than the horse, yield the right of way. If you can get five or six feet, about two meters, off the trail, that should be fine. Less will do, if necessary. It's not necessary to go so far that you scale (or fall off) cliffs, jump into poison ivy, or wade out into a lake. Just go as far as reasonable while staying clearly visible from the trail.
Assume the horse is blind and stupid
Not all are, but some are one, or the other, or both. More commonly, they're just skittish of humans on the trail. The best thing to do to deal with this is to remain in clear sight, but not moving around a lot, and talk to the person on the horse. You can also talk to the horse, if you prefer. Really, as far as the horse is concerned, you can talk to yourself, although the rider might think it a bit odd.
Don't touch the horse without permission
Some horses are great with hikers. Some aren't. Even if you're standing right next to the horse talking to the person, ask permission before touching.
That brown stuff on the ground
Don't worry. It's got a lot of plant matter in it and it comes off your expensive hiking boots pretty easy. Just let it dry and brush it off.
Human Riders
You'll never get hikers off a public park trail, but if there are enough problems, hikers could successfully get horses off the trail. Most of the time, horse riders and hikers get along just find. To help ensure there aren't any problems:
Assume the human has never seen a horse
Don't be afraid to politely ask the human to step to the side, to not touch the horse, etc. It's entirely possible they really haven't ever been close to a horse before.
Talk to the hiker
The best way to ensure the hiker talks, helping the horse to identify him as human, is to talk to the hiker. Really, hikers talk to each other on the trail all the time. The fact that you're sitting and the hiker is standing shouldn't matter.
Don't hesitate to introduce your horse
The hiker really may have never been close to a horse before. They can be very big and very scary. If your horse has a good temperament, and looks fascinated by the horse, invite the hiker to pet him. Who knows, maybe you'll get him interested enough that you'll see another rider next time you're out.
Horses
Humans are stupid and squishy. They might not get out of your way, but if you step on them, you're going to get in trouble. Biting and kicking are also considered in bad taste.
Categories: Trails | Hiking | Horse | Horseback riding | Animals
