If someone I didn’t know from Adam, but who’d agreed to show me some new trails rattled off a list of rules, I have to admit I’d be a little put off by that presumption on their part on my assumed goofiness.
Me, I am looking at how a person handles their horse as they unload, tack up, mount up, ride up…you can sorta see what you are getting into from the start. I might say something to someone who looks like they might be trouble, but I’m not lecturing the whole bunch. That’s just sorta rude. The only ‘rules’ I think merit a blanket share like that are things that are specific to the trail- maybe a reminder not to shortcut on switchbacks if they are :eek: at the base of the hill/mountain, let them know where water will be, let them know how much hot sun we’ll be in. But surely you aren’t that person who rattles off call your gait changes/no tail gaiting/no littering/ no passing the trail boss, etc? That’s just kinda like going to work.
The WORST trail offenders have been riding for ages and Just Don’t Care, folks. They are going to run slap over you and into you. They are going to get ****faced drunk and trash their horses. Learn to look for signs these folks are gathering up, and hit them with the my way or the highway rules, IF you actually want to ride with them. It’s NOT the newbies, they may tail gate b/c they are clueless- but it’s the sorry drunk who latches their horse onto your horse cuz he ain’t go no brakes…um,. yeah…good luck training them.
