Ghost Riders on the Trail
A Leave No Trace (LNT) Primer for Trail Riders
Story and photo by Robert Eversole Trailmeister
You’re only riding your horse to and from your trailer or camp spot, and LNT just applies to camping right? Wrong.
Leave No Trace principles are just as applicable to the recreational trail rider as to the dedicated back country packer. In fact the actions of those of us that ride in the “front country” may even have more impact due to the greater number of users. We get so much enjoyment from trail riding that we should take every opportunity to make sure that trail restrictions do not increase and threaten our ability to ride on our favorite trails. As equestrian trail users we have wonderful opportunities to protect our trails from before we saddle up to when we arrive back at camp or trailer. These simple and easy Tips will help.
Before the ride – Before we take the first step on the trail we can start minimizing our impact by planning for the ride.
• Choose your trail wisely – Save rides in historically wet, or muddy, areas for times when conditions are typically drier. The object is to “Leave No Trace” and a horse on muddy or marshy ground is going to leave holes and churned mud. The whole idea of LNT is that no one will know you’ve been there.
• Practice with your horse at home – Make a point of crossing water, logs and other obstacles during your regular rides. A horse that fights his rider at a stream crossing is not only dangerous but tramples the bank and pushes sediment into the water. Backcountry horses need to be trained not only for rider safety but also to protect the environment. Getting lost causes undue damage to the land and considerable risk for rescuers. Carry and know how to use a map. Know your route and how to “Stay Found”.
Unfortunately it happens all too often.Before heading out with Fido your mount should also be prepared. Hopefully your horse is used to your dog and won’t kick when the dog is following behind. She’ll also need to be calm enough to deal with a variety of different situations such as a dog running underneath or suddenly appearing out of the brush. If your trail mount is a trail novice or high strung adding a dog to the mix may be too much to ask without significant additional training before the three of you hit the trails together.
The third and most important part of this trail riding menagerie is you, the rider. The reason most organized rides ban dogs isn’t because of the dogs, it’s because the human component has failed in their obligation to ensure that they can control their dog in a safe and responsible manner. Have you taken the time and effort to teach your dog what is expected of it on the trail? The training doesn’t stop with the dog either. It’s a great idea to teach your horse to remain calm during unexpected encounters. After all it may not be your dog that bounds out of the brush alongside the trail. And finally have you spent the time required to become a competent rider as opposed to merely a passenger? As the pack and herd leader it’s your job to address all of these issues before you hit the trail.
From a cowboy’s faithful companion to coach dogs that bounded alongside stagecoaches, dogs have been a wonderful part of the equine world for centuries and I hope that they remain so. For me few things are better than going on a ride with my dog along. That being said, my dog doesn’t get to accompany me nearly as often as he’d like to. His trail rides are restricted to front country areas where the chance of encountering other riders is low. Boo has generally been a good dog, and he’s become even better as the years have gone by, but my concern is for the other riders’ capabilities and their mounts. For me it’s safer and more enjoyable to include my dog on rides where my worry factor can stay low.
24 / Sport and Trail Magazine