Maryland Horse Council

Trails & Greenways Committee

Keeping Your Trails Open

Will you go on a trail ride one day only to find your favorite riding trail closed to horses, or your trail blocked by a new subdivision? That depends on you! Or phrased more accurately, “It depended on you!”

Trail closures don’t happen overnight. Urban sprawl, the rising popularity of paved trails, and objections to erosion and manure are gradually taking away trails. Here’s what you can do to protect your trails:

1) First, practice good trail etiquette. Just one negative encounter with an equestrian can give rise to significant adverse actions.

• Take care not to scare anyone with your horse, not even by accident.
•  Remove manure dropped on paved trails and clean up around your trailer.
•  Preserve your trail by not riding on muddy, soft, eroded, or closed trails
•  Respect the rights of other trail users to enjoy their activities
•  Do not trespass on private property or ride over planted fields
•  Stay on the trail
•  Don’t create new trails or alter the terrain without permission
•  Serve as a good will ambassador every time you ride

2) Secondly, join an equestrian group. It is critical that equestrians have a unified communication with state and local governments and private property owners if you want your voice to be heard. Become a member of the MHC directly, or join a group that has a representative on the MHC, so we can provide information to help you:

• Establish good will with your local trail manager
•  Contact other equestrians and trail users who have a common interest
• Keep abreast of current issues and problems affecting your trail
• Effectively lobby government officials on trail matters
•  Apply for funding for trail improvements
•  Protect trails in designated greenways and open space

Trail riding on public and private property is a privilege that can be revoked. It only takes one gallop through a cornfield to make a farmer really mad. It only takes one horse making a muddy mess on a wet trail to justify closing the trail to equestrians. There is only one person who can save your trail. YOU!

Want to do more? Ask your club to publish this article in their newsletter. And let the MHC Trails and Greenways committee know that you’d like to be a trail steward for your favorite trail. It’s easy, and we promise to make it fun!

E-mail Trails and Greenways at green@riva.net