Leave it to Chocomare to get things going! :yes:
Thanks Alagirl 
Yay… Atlanta Bike.org posted it too: http://www.atlantabike.org/node/1594
Progress people…progress. 
This happened at an appropriate time. . .
I went out to the barn late yesterday morning and saw that a friend/riding buddy’s car was already there. She was out on trail, so once I tacked up my horse I texted her to see where she was riding, in case we could meet up somewhere. We ended up meeting a couple of hours away by the river, let the horses graze a bit and get a drink, then headed back to the barn together, with her mare in the lead. Ironically, we got on the topic of sharing trails with other users, and how different the interactions can be depending on the type of user (mountain bikers, road cyclists, experienced hikers, dog-mommies).
While we were on a nicer, dry, gravel section of the trail, two high school age guys suddenly came jogging around the bend toward us and my friend’s usually-mellow mare balked a bit. My friend yelled to them to please stop for a second, and THEY KEPT COMING.
Had they stopped, even for a few seconds, it would have been enough for her to get her mare settled again. But they didn’t say a word, didn’t even move to the side, even as the mare spun and began running sideways down the trail. I was yelling at them, too. . .telling them it was a VERY good way to get themselves kicked.
The boys did not react at all. . .never an apology, never moved to the side, never stopped. My friend was able to regain control of her mare and the boys just jogged on by. Neither had shirts on, and they were not wearing ear buds. . .so unless they were both deaf, they were simply ignoring us.
It doesn’t bother me to have to share trail. It does bother me when the trail users are inconsiderate, or just plain ignorant when it comes to sharing the trail (and that includes other horse people). Someone could have been seriously hurt yesterday. . .most likely, it would have been one of the boys. And, of course, it would have been reported as “two talented, athletic students were maliciously attacked by a crazy woman and her vicious horse while another rider verbally threatened the terrified young men.:rolleyes:”
The boys were both wearing the colors of a nearby school district, so I’m guessing they were both in one of the athletic programs. I am currently looking up the contact info for that school district’s athletic director. Honestly, I think it’s great that the park is in such an ideal location that their students can take advantage of the trails. At the same time, the coaches apparently need to have a talk with their athletes about the basics of trail etiquette.
HA! That’s when you get after them on your horse (provided it is a calm sort) and demand their attention. 
This would be especially funny if your horse was a cutter. Those boys could look like wee little cows
[QUOTE=Dramapony_misty;4790387]
HA! That’s when you get after them on your horse (provided it is a calm sort) and demand their attention. This would be especially funny if your horse was a cutter. Those boys could look like wee little cows ;-)[/QUOTE]
I actually did “stalk” some boys on bikes a couple of years ago, when they blew past me from behind. Didn’t spook my horse, but it pissed ME off. They didn’t stop, of course. . .and found it amusing that they were able to “outrun” a horse. . .only to get caught up in a muddy, steep creek bank a few hundred yards up the trail.
My horse isn’t big, and he’s very sweet and easy to work with. Still, if he gets a little revved-up while I’m riding, he does what I call “huffy and puffy,” where he really rounds his neck and pricks his ears and widens those big TWH eyes and seems to grow two full hands taller.
The same tough-guy teenage boys didn’t seem to think it was as funny when the horse they just sped past came 'round the corner. . .eyes wide, nostrils flared, mane flowing, neck arched, front feet prancing.
One of them had the sense to realize that there was no way they’d get out of the creek before I got to them, so he said to his buddies “ummm. . .I think we should just let this lady just go by.”:lol:
Badger nimbly scampered down the bank, through the creek and back up the other side, as I smiled “thanks, guys!” and rode away.:winkgrin:
Letter to the School District
I threw together an email, which I sent to the athletic director of the school district that I suspect the two boys were from. Actually, the first email I wrote, I lost. . .because my provider sucks and when I went to send the email I got a “your session has timed out” message. It was much better than the one I eventually sent. . .but I kind of lost steam when I had to write the whole thing over again.:mad:
Here goes:
[I]My name is {Jolly Badger}, and frequently ride my horse on the trails at East Fork State Park. I am writing to you about an incident that took place on Tuesday, April 6 on a section of the Green Trail at East Fork, which may have involved a couple of students from one of your athletic programs. The only reason I suspect the young men were Batavia athletes is the fact that they were both wearing the dark green colors of the Batavia school district, though if my assumption is incorrect, I apologize. Still, I hope that by sharing this, it
might help keeping your athletes safe on multi-use trails.
A friend and I are both experienced horsewomen, each of us having more than twenty years “in the saddle” in the arena and on trail. Our horses are also both seasoned trail horses that log approximately 1000-1300 trail miles each year.
We were riding on the Green Trail that afternoon in single file, her horse in front of mine, when two young men appeared around the bend, jogging side-by-side towards us. Their swift movement and sudden appearance startled my friend’s
usually-mellow horse. She asked them to please stop for a moment, but they continued to run straight toward her. The horse became more agitated, spun around and began running sideways on the trail. Again, my friend told the boys to please stop, but they ran right past her and the panicking horse.
Never once did they change their speed, nor did they move to the side of the trail or even change to single-file. In fact, they never said a word or even reacted to the repeated requests to stop or move to the side of the trail.
Aside from the fact that they were not following basic trail etiquette, they were putting themselves at risk for getting kicked. Both of our horses have steel shoes on all four feet, with Borium (tungsten carbide) tips for added traction. A horse that is frightened or feels “cornered” may kick out to defend itself, and a well-placed steel-shod hoof can do significant damage to skin, muscle, and even bone.
My friend’s horse calmed down once the boys passed by, but we were both very frustrated by their behavior and total lack of basic trail etiquette. Just as motor vehicles must yield to pedestrians and cyclists on the road, pedestrians and cyclists are supposed to yield to equestrians on multi-use trails. This is not because equestrians think themselves “better” than anyone else. It is because horses are very large, very powerful animals and it is not always feasible (or safe) for a horse to step off to the side.
As I said, the main concern that prompted me to contact you is the safety issue. I don’t want to single out the young athletes involved, nor do I want to get them into trouble, but I really don’t think they realize just how easily they could have been injured.
Please feel free to share this information with the coaches in your athletic programs, especially those who use the trails at East Fork State Park as part of their training and exercise programs. By educating their students on trail etiquette for multi-use trails, they can not only ensure the safety of their own students, but also encourage them to be respectful of the other people who use those trails.
Thanks, and Happy Trails![/I]
Nicely worded letter Jolly. Hopefully this will be passed along to the students.
HEARTS JollyBadger 
I love it when you get all huffed up like that and so does your horse…makes you feel like even more of a team with a shared sense of purpose!
Nice letter too. It doesn’t accuse the school of anything and reads like a great PSA. Hopefully the message will be passed on to keep their kids safe.
Wow! If that kind of stuff really happens where you are it makes me thankful for having grown up riding in Valley Forge Park where people were always pretty respectful - and still have been on the few times I’ve been there recently.
Now I ride out in Radnor and other than some drivers not slowing down enough - but many more being kind enough to stop completely - I have to say we’re really lucky.
People like you meet up with would make me want to take the sanest widest orneriest pony I know - one that would enjoy pissing people off - and just march down the middle all prancy and snorty and face all comers down. I had one as a kid that would have really enjoyed a game of chicken with some bikes. But then I’m just contrary - tell me I can’t do something and I want to all the more!
[quote=ChocoMare;4789484]And mine is quite large! She’s a Clydesdale/Standardbred Cross.
http://pets.webshots.com/photo/2576938350015305252cakkSQ
[/quote]
Chocomare - she’s lovely and looks like she’d be perfect for that game of chicken!
JollyBadger - that was a great letter. I’d love to hear what kind of a response you get.
It has been my experience that rude people are rude people and it has little to do with cyclist/dog walkers/etc. being rude to horses, but just rude.
I trail ride on Fair Hill often, as does my step-mom. She and people from her barn have had discussions with kids on bikes that are barreling down on them and do not seem to comprehend what ‘right of way’ means.
I also witnessed the true nature of rudeness. I was on a trail in the valley. The trail was wide enough to easily fit two, possibly three horses across. Making a right turn led you over a bridge. Straight ahead, at the curve, was a bike only trail up a hill. The trail is windy, but since it was winter, it was easy to see the trail. A group of about four bikers respectfully passed me on my horse (we moved over, as we were walking and hence the ‘slower traffic’). As they were approaching a bike trail, you could see someone racing down the trail. Never looking up, he emerged onto the main trail and almost ran into the first two bikers of the group that had passed me. A bit of a talk ensued. I just continued on my way and shook my head at the narrow minded lone biker.
Welll, I can’t say for certain, but during my 2 hour ride on Saturday, Penny and I were certainly treated with MUCH more respect and courtesy.
I went west this time, where I have to go under 2 roadway over passes, cross 4 bridges and go through a VERY dark tunnel. Each time, either the cyclists gave a good ON YOUR LEFT or waited for me to get through/over. Each one was thanked profusely by me! :yes:
For those that still hadn’t quite gotten the message, I politely said “An ON YOUR LEFT is appreciated when passing.” Most said “Oh, ok. Will do!”
I’m still waiting to hear from Georgia DOT and will be putting a call into my County’s DOT office this week
A State Park in Orange County CA Right of Way Signage Equestrians, Hikers, Bicyclists. A friend and I were walking our horses on a dirt road about a lane and half wide talking within the Park when a bicyclist came up and rode between us, note room on left to pass. He actually tried to push my horse’s head out of his way, she spun and knocked him to the ground. He ended up with his head under my horse and his legs under my friend’s horse. His feet were in those peddle things so he was stuck. Luckily I had my horse park out (ASB) and my friend dismounted and held both horses. We waited a few seconds to let the horses settle down before I dismounted; we were afraid the horses might go off and dance on this idiot man laying in the dirt. We asked if he was alright and he said yes and we told him to be very quiet and still. I dismounted and some men came up and helped us to side pass our horses one at a time. There was no way this idiot could get up or out from under the horses until they were moved. Someone had called the Park Ranger and he showed up a few minutes after we got the horses moved but before the man got his feet untangled from the peddles and could get up. He had a few scapes but was ok. The Park Ranger took statements from us and witneses and the bike rider. The bike rider was given a citation for not yelding to the right of way and endangering persons and horses. I always think what could have happened…
WOW :eek: That could have been very ugly. :no: Kudos to the Ranger for writing him a ticket. Idjit!
[QUOTE=FancyASB;4802252]
The Park Ranger took statements from us and witneses and the bike rider. The bike rider was given a citation for not yelding to the right of way and endangering persons and horses. I always think what could have happened…[/QUOTE]
:eek:EEP!!:eek:
Seriously, what enters people’s minds when they do stuff like that? Riding between two horses and trying to push the horse’s head out of the way? Great to hear that the Park Ranger wrote the guy up, too.
After last week’s incident with the two teenage joggers/runners, I posted a Facebook status update. Some of my non-horsey FB friends also use multi-use trails, and my update was simply a PSA-style reminder that horses have right of way on trails.
I also added that, if they do encounter a horse that is acting up/spooking, and the rider asks them to please stop what they are doing, park their bike/stroller for a moment, or step off to the side of the trail, it is not a case of the rider trying to be rude or bossy. It’s because they want to be sure no one gets hurt!
I had a teenager slap my horse on the butt when he rode his bike by…I grabbed him by hair and yanked him off his bike…and ripped him a new one. His parents just looked the other way.
Oh a happy note, in Washington DC, I saw an old lady stick her umbrella in the front wheel spokes of a bike courier riding where he shouldn’t be (on the sidewalk). Nice sudden stop, crash and the old lady giving him hell for endangering real people.
Great 4x4 Rider Experience
This past Saturday I had my new horse out on the road/trails. We were trotting down a nice gravel road and a guy on a 4x4 was coming out way leading a pair of hounds on leashes. This was a “Hmmmm, wonder how he’s going to react?” moment for me.
His ears went up, I asked him to walk forward to see what would happen. The rider asked, “How’s he with 4-wheelers?”. I just replied, “Guess we’ll find out.”.
The rider stopped his vehicle, turned it off and told his dogs to relax. Turns out he was “legging up” his two hunting hounds…very pretty girls who never made a sound and didn’t want to scare the horse. Absolute gentleman.
Couple miles later I ran across a girl on a road bike. She stopped and chatted for a bit (she and her husband had horses).
So, what a nice day, met some well mannered people and goodwill earned all around.
[QUOTE=Trakehner;4803424]
I had a teenager slap my horse on the butt when he rode his bike by…I grabbed him by hair and yanked him off his bike…and ripped him a new one. His parents just looked the other way.[/QUOTE]
Driving a horse and carriage in Helen, Georgia while in college…more than a few cars had gotten pops on the windshield with a horse whip when they started to merge over into the horse I was driving/coming over in front of my wheel or came up beside us and laid on the horn and then kept doing it when the horse would just turn his ears instead of freaking out like they hoped. Luckily, my horse, even for being the youngest guy out there, was virtually bombproof and had the mentality of, “do you realize how much damage I could do to your car, buddy?”
Given the outcome could have been like sneaking in the open space next to a right turning semi, this dude got very VERY lucky! :eek:
[QUOTE=LexInVA;4787880]
I won’t even use the trails here for biking in the daylight. There’s nowhere safe from the horrors of family bikers who ride in duck lines, Lance Armstrong wanna-bes who think they are reasserting their manhood to get over their mid-life crisis, and menopausal banshees who are trying to make up for 40+ years of shitty living by power-walking in groups.[/QUOTE]
Wow, has to be one of the funniest things I have ever read on here! 
Reading this thread makes me glad that the land around here is too rough for any but the most dedicated cyclists–and they tend to be very aware of the rules, and very polite. :yes:
I’ve had to struggle not to be nervous around bikes ever since someone I was riding with was in a horrific accident–bucked into a tree–due to some idiot with earbuds in going way too fast around a mostly blind curve in a multi-use trail. We saw him through the trees and shouted at him to slow down but he couldn’t hear us, and we tried to move off the trail as much as possible but there was nowhere really to go. He almost hit my friend’s horse, who was normally good with bikes but panicked at that. My friend spent several days in the hospital and much longer doing rehab thanks to that jerk. He just kept going, too, and we never did find him. Probably didn’t even notice he caused a wreck.
