sustainable trails, sustainable trail riding, sustainable trails for equestrian use, trail sustainability, horse trails, trail riding sustainability
ils
If damp ground
must be crossed,
then hardening
the surface or raising
the trail tread
above the ground
will make the trail last longer. Several
rock armoring techniques can be found
at www.imba.com/resources.
Build a Bridge
If bridges are necessary, consider
load, approach, and tread surface.
Bridge load limits are a critical factor, as
the weight and way of travel by horses
is far more significant than pedestrian
or other trail users. For more information,
consult the Equestrian Design
Guidebook for Trails, Trailheads and
Campgrounds published by the USDA
Forest Service in cooperation with the
U.S. Department of Transportation.
(Click here for trail-building resources.)
Choose a Careful Path
Animals will often wear a path by
traveling from food to water to shelter,
but this should not be considered a
“trail” for horse and human recreational
use. Usually game trails run too steeply
down the fall line, so a more sustainable
route should be chosen.
We tend to follow the path of least
resistance when building a new trail.
However, plotting the new trail where
the brush and thorns are the thinnest
does not constitute good trail building
design and planning.
RYAN SPATES PHOTO; S&S TRAIL SERVICES
USRider ® Equestrian Motor Plan
Hitch Up! e-Magazine • Summer 2010
Rather, build the trail with the contour
of the land and with the use of a
clinometer to determine the appropriate
location for the trail based on the
slope of the land.
Maintain the Trail
Even the best built trails need periodic
maintenance. Once a season,
or as needed, trim back branches and
vegetation that encroaches on the travelled
space and remove fallen trees to
encourage riders to stay on the designated
trail.
For the health of the trees and shrubs,
it is important to trim limbs properly.
Tree branches should be cut back to the
next main juncture, all the way to the
trunk if necessary. Do not allow stray
branches to “poke” into the trail, as these
can cause serious injury to the horse
or rider. The recommended clearance
height for horse trails is 10 to 12 feet of
vertical or overhead clearance.
If puddles form on the trail, install
knicks (wide, shallow drains) and/or
rolling grade dips (or RGD, essentially
a reversal in grade). Carve a knick the
same size as the puddle to keep the
area drained in the future.
A rolling grade dip is a modern and
more sustainable alternative to the
water bar. On an
older trail that is
too steep, installing
an RGD forces
water off the
trail by creating
a raised mound of dirt immediately
downhill of a knick.
Ride Wisely
To extend the life of a sustainably
built trail and to reduce the need for
trail maintenance, follow this simple
rule — don’t use trails when they are
wet and muddy! Riding wet trails causes
significant damage because it greatly
magnifies the erosion process.
Additionally, “post holes” caused by
hooves can also harden over time and
lead to trip hazards for horses.
Failure to follow this rule and lack
of funds for maintenance is what often
forces public land managers to close
trails to equestrian use.
To help keep horse trails open, ride
on trails designated for horses, stay off
wet/muddy trails, and participate in
sustainable trail planning, building and
maintenance activities. Your participation
will help create a win-win situation
for all equestrian trail users and the
landowners and agencies on whose
trails we ride. USR
Horsewoman Deb Baillet is the CEO of
the Equine Land Conservation Resource.
Susan Stormer is the co-founder of S&S
Trail Services, LLC.
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Far left: A trail with
a badly eroded fall
line (the steepest
route of descent
down a hill). Near
left: A newly constructed
trail.
KEYNOTES MEMBER STORY TRAILER CLINIC ISSUES ISSUES TRUCK SAVVY ON-THE-GO-GEAR HAULING HINTS USR COMMUNITY USR BENEFITS
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