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Reply to Horses on trail
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Anonymous on 11/21/2009 12:34:24 PM:
Recently, my wife and I had an unpleasant experience with horsemen as we were riding our bikes east of Calhoun. We could see them standing on the trail about 3/16 mile ahead of us, and as we approached a bridge, they rode to our end and stopped side-by-side so that we could not pass. They shouted at us saying that by park law horses have the right-of-way and that we must get off the trail while they pass by. I understand that bicycles may upset horses, but it would seem to that both could calmly walk their vehicles each other and that neither would need to get off the trail.

 
Trek on 11/22/2009 8:02:27 AM:
From the DNR website:

Safety Guidelines and Trail Etiquette

RIGHT-OF-WAY. When approaching oncoming users, always move to the right of the trail. Always pass on the left side, and make your intentions known by announcing your approach. Bicyclists should yield to pedestrians. Everyone should yield to horseback riders.

Horses have the right of way.....it doesn't say anyone has to get off the trail. It does say to move to the right of the trail and yield to them. I would interpret that as stop to let them pass.

 
kim from independence, mo on 11/23/2009 8:49:02 AM:
I have to say that from experience encountering horses on the trail, I believe that yielding the right-of-way to them means stopping, not riding by slowly.

When you have a pace going, this isn't always fun to do, but always remember that your bike can't get nervous and throw you. Consider things that you have, like flags or clothing that is blowing in the wind and try to remove them before getting close to them. As the horses are passing, speak softly if you need to talk.

That being said, insisting on taking up the whole trail was rude and unnecessary. However, the riders may have done this because of previous encounters with bike riders who are not willing to yield and have started their horses in the past.

 
Doug from Bluffton on 11/23/2009 2:08:44 PM:
I would say in this case that "Two wrongs don't make a right of way". Additionally, to interpret yield as "stop" would not allow the cyclist to pass when approaching from behind the horse. A yield sign on the highway does not mean one must stop, only that one must allow the opposing traffic first movement in a safe and orderly fashion and follow their lead. However, ALL are responsible for safe passage. Having the right of way does not relieve one of consideration for the rights of others. Horse riders do not have the right to force others, be they pedestrian or cyclist, from the trail. My own belief and practice born out of experience on a variety of trails,is that cyclists should have more control over their mount and approach with advance notice and proceed cautiously past the horse being prepared to move aside or stop as needed. A horseback rider yelling at the cyclists seems to negate the idea that his horse may be spooked by a loud or sudden noise from the cyclist. I don't particularly favor horses on the trail but I would not behave in a manner to endanger one either. Nor do most of the equestrians I see endanger the cyclist or even treat them with belligerence. So it would seem that we are left with a few inconsiderates in either camp that make it difficult for the rest of us to coexist. I reckon we ought to just have us a hangin'.

 
TopShelf on 11/25/2009 2:39:03 PM:
Horses should be not be allowed on the trail surface, but rather on the grass alongside. This is the rule for many trails in Ohio, Pennsylvania, and elsewhere. Horses tear up the trail surface. Also, if a horse reacts badly to a bike riding by, it should not be anywhere near a bike/multi-purpose path. That's not to state that cyclists should ride close to horses or intentionally aggitate them. But a horse is a large animal that can seriously injure not only to the rider, but also pedestrians and cyclists. If a rider cannot fully control his horse, the rider has no business riding that horse on a bike/multi-purpose trail where it could injure others.