Trail Riders Let’s Take Charge

Written by Brandy Miller, Equine Trail Subcommittee Representative, Central Lower Michigan

If you are an equestrian who enjoys trail riding, then you have noticed an increase in trail usage over the past 3 years or so. This increased usage is by equestrians along with hikers and bikers. Whether you primarily ride trails, or if it’s just a nice change of pace from another riding discipline, it’s always more enjoyable if the encounters we have with other trail users are positive and uneventful. Speaking from personal experience, I have been witness to and experienced both uneventful and rather eventful interactions. Now, we have signage that helps explain how non-equestrian trail users should safely approach equines, and we hope very much that they read it and apply what they learned when they encounter us. However, I often feel that this is just not sufficient. It’s absolutely necessary, but I still feel as though my fate (I ride a spooky mule) is still in the hands of the non-equestrian approaching me. Rather than hope and pray that the hiker or biker is going to be considerate and know what to do, I prefer to do what I can to manage my own risk. There isn’t much risk involved for the hiker or biker who does not honor the right of way to equines, but us equestrians bear the brunt of the potential risk and danger. Personally, I don’t feel right putting my fate solely into the hands of others, so I am always thinking and looking for ways to manage my own well-being in these situations.

The following are a few things that I believe help me, the rider, take control of a potentially frightening situation for my mule.

Make sure your “Whoa” works. But seriously, have control of your animal. Make sure you can stop, turn, back up and move that animal around should you need to. Of course, things can go south even with the best laid plans, but if they do spook, you have some tools. If you have an inexperienced or new rider with you, or someone on a green horse consider ponying them to keep them out of trouble.

Expose your horse or mule to as many sketchy situations as possible. Our natural tendency might be to avoid what we can, and live to ride another day, but each positive encounter will make the next one less dangerous. Enter judged trail rides, hunter paces, etc. where people are located along the trails. They usually have umbrellas, chairs and clipboards with flapping papers too. Yay!

Stand next to passing vehicles and bicycles when given the chance in a safe situation. Take the time to let your horse settle and relax in these situations. Ask a fellow rider to just stand with you to give your mount some extra confidence. A few treats never hurt.

Talk to hikers, bikers and hunters as they approach. Not once have I had a hunter be anything but courteous. When you find someone that isn’t in a rush, stop and ask them how the hunting is going, or how many miles they are planning to hike that day. Again, let your horse settle and realize that there is nothing to get in a yank about. I have even asked kids to feed a treat to my mule while out on the trail.

Follow a bike or cart. Bicycles prove to be particularly challenging for a few reasons. They are quiet, they don’t move like an animal moves, and they’re fast. They also seem to stop pedaling when they get close, causing the bike to make that buzzing gear noise. It’s just what they do, so I usually look for a spot to give my mule a little extra space and may even put my hand up, to ask the bike rider to reduce speed and take caution. Again talking to them works, so long as they don’t have ear buds in, as I have learned. The best way I have seen someone handle bike desensitization is to follow the bike for a while. This also works if your horse has a fear of horse carts or buggies. Just ask, “Hey can I follow you for a few minutes to let my horse know it’s OK?”

RELAX! Or at least pretend to be relaxed. Easier said than done, especially if you or your horse or mule have had any bad past experiences, but it’s crucial. They feel everything we do up there so when we gather up the reins and tense up in preparation for a reaction, they are put on high alert for something dangerous. Keep talking to your fellow riders, or keep talking to your horse for that matter Again, treats after an uneventful pass never hurts.

It takes a lot of patience, time and positive experiences to make a solid trail horse. Unfortunately, many people view trail riding as “just trail riding” thinking that it does not require a finely tuned horse or mule. I strongly disagree. I feel it’s far more important for me to successfully maneuver an animal in a trail situation, than in a riding arena. No risk of a car hitting you, falling on rocks, or on a road or off a bridge in an arena, just to name a few. So, think about what you can do to improve you and your horse's confidence, which will improve your trail encounters and improve your entire day of riding.

Happy Trails, Brandy

Brandy Miller has a diverse equestrian background spanning over 40 years. She has competed in MQHA/AQHA ALL-Around events, Halter, Barrel Racing, and loves Trail Riding She is a United States Pony Club Alumni. Brandy currently enjoys participating in Top Trail Horse mileage challenges with her mule, Bristol and creating trail “tips and tricks” videos on her YouTube channel (BrandyandBristol). Brandy also serves as the Equine Trails Subcommittee Representative to the DNR for Central Lower Michigan.

https://www.michigan.gov/dnr/about/boards/mtac/equine