DMBA member Kathryn Macinnis doesn’t just ride bikes, she rides horses too. When the club recently got a thanks for helping out an equestrian in the Durham Forest she thought she’d send along some pointers for when you inevitably encounter a horse on the trail. Thanks Kathryn.

Some of you may know me and some may not -  I am a mountain biker but also an equestrian rider.  I was away this past week with a group of equestrian riders and the topic came up of sharing the trails with mountain bikers.  We had a long discussion about this and I said I would put together some guidance about the safest way to encounter equestrian riders on the trail when you are a mountain biker and distribute it to the club.

The horses do not have a problem with ATVs or dirt bikes because they can hear them coming, probably from a much farther distance than we can.  So they are aware that something is about to change in their world.  Mountain bikers don’t make any noise and they move very fast.  I am a strong advocate of wearing a bear bell on my bike, as annoying as it is, it has given many horse advance notice that I am coming up or down the trail.  Even if you don’t wear a bell, the best thing to do is to call out – just say hello, let them know you are there as soon as you see them.  Even if they are on an adjoining trail that may never intersect yours – call out.  You will not scare the horse by calling out, you need to let them know you are there and that is the best way.  You need to stop as soon as you see them as well and follow the instructions of the person on horse back.  Speaking to them also reassures the horse that you are human, not some creature with wheels under them.  I also strongly suggest getting off your bike as the horse passes you, not to straddle your bike with one leg clipped in.  Horses are animals and animals are unpredictable, so you need to be able to move in case the horse starts dancing around.  Again – communication is key here – follow the instructions of the person on the horse.  Some horse don’t mind bikes at all and the rider will instruct you how to pass by safely, others will think you are there to kill them and will become very agitated and upset. The rider will have a good idea how the horse will react, unless they are very young and this is the first encounter, but they need to know you are there in the first place – that is the key here.

My recent encounter with a couple horse back riding in the ganny – they had some young horse that were very curious of me on my two wheel thing,  but they were also very nervous.  The riders themselves had no idea that I was actually clipped to my bike and that I couldn’t get out of harms way until I unclipped my foot still attached to the bike (I was straddling the bike).  Even the action and noise of me unclipping my foot had those horses considering that I may be a danger to them.  So there are aspects that can be learned on both sides.

A few absolute DON’T’s – don’t pass a horse unless you have announced yourself and the rider tells you to – Don’t come up behind a horse without calling out -  Don’t Panic and wave your arms around unless at a far distance and trying to get their attention.

As you are all also aware – there has been great effort put forth into marking the Paul’s trails in the Central area of the Ganaraska Forest.  This should encourage more mountain bikers to go to that area to ride. The Central forest is a very popular place for horse back riding as well.  So please consider getting that bell  or consider singing some Karaoke while you ride, especially in the Ganny.

My wife also rides horseback, and the point she drove home to me is that horses are prey animals. They have evolved to think the fast moving, silent things are going to try to eat them. Even when you aren’t moving you don’t look like a person with a bike between your legs. I guess the horse would rather be safe then sorry. So take it easy out there when around horses.