BLACK HILLS TRAIL RIDERS

TRAIL SAFETY TRAIL ETIQUETTE EQUIPMENT

2006

• Sensible leaders and established guidelines benefit everyone.   A little horse sense can carry you a long way.  Courtesy on the trail is the best safety measure.  The following information has kept the Black Hills Trail Riders in pretty good shape for the past six years.  With your help, our safety record will be kept in tact for the future. 

• At the trailhead, on the trail and after ride and before departing parking area make sure you leave only hoof prints.

• The night before a trail ride, contact the Trail leader, this is important; things change, directions to trail head, length of ride, difficulty of terrain, cancellations, rain check, sanitary facilities, etc.  Most riders are prompt, but things occur to make a rider late.  Try to inform the leader or someone you know that is also riding asking him/her to pass the message to leader so arrangements to wait, can be made. When the start time is indicated, that means, be saddled and mounted.  (Of course, there are exceptions.)  Never start off until all riders are mounted 

• Before leaving mount up area, Ride Leader will refresh guidelines that the Black Hills Trail Riders adhere to.   Each rider will be cognizant of the South Dakota Codified Law  Title 42 Chapter 41-11-1 and each rider will sign the waiver.  If all your questions have not been answered  ASK!!!!  

• Equip yourself.  Always check and recheck your tack.  Wear hard sole shoes/boots with good heels. Sunglasses help with ultra violet rays, dirt and dust, long sleeve shirt and long pants help avoid too much sun, brush and bugs, neck cooler for you and sponge for horse. Gloves come in handy all year round. Carry compact waterproof poncho. Bug repellent in form of lotion can protect both you and your horse, water for you (and in case none on trail) for your horse, cell phone, Compass/GPS/Map, camera, binoculars, first aid kit for you and your horse, bandana, watch, whistle, water proof matches, sunscreen, hoof pick, knife, Easy Boot, flash light, duct tape, pliers, wire cutters, couple of zip lock bags with tissue, length of cord/lacing, safety pins, during hunting season a orange vest for you and yellow/orange ribbons for your horse, Tag your equipment just in case you and your steed depart company, lunch or snack, halter and rope. A friendly smile.   

***NO SMOKING***NO ALCOHOL***NO STALLIONS***NO UNLEASHED DOGS***

• It’s not known as tree riding or field riding, it’s TRAIL riding.  Stick to the designated trails.  

• Inform other riders if your horse kicks or bits and wear a RED ribbon in tail.  Stallions wear a yellow ribbon. (except we don't allow stallions....so this one is mute!)

• Be aware that on multi use trails, bicycles yield to horses and hikers.  Hikers yield to horses and all vehicles (including off road vehicles) yield to horses.  Down hill users yield to uphill users.  Don’t assume all multi use trail users are familiar with this rule.  Be a bit forgiving and courteous to all users.  

• Leave at least one horse length between your horse and the horse and rider in front of you.  Leave three lengths going down hill.  

• Don’t barge ahead of leader.  Please stay with group.  

• Don’t barge ahead of other riders or users without saying something to the other users such as: “On your left, please”.   

• Call out to riders behind you, if encountering obstacles, back packing hikers, bike users or during hunting season folks with guns.  

• Try to keep horse moving when dumping or move off trail as best as you can.  If horse must stop to dump, then it’s your responsibility to dismount and spread manure.  Particularly on a multi-use trail.  

• Horses are usually considered “low impact” in nature, not so when riding occurs off trail or on heavily mudded trails take care and try not to get into a situation where you can’t avoid heavy muddy areas.  

• Leave gates as found.  Wait for gatekeeper to remount before moving off. 

• Don’t disturb wildlife or worry livestock.  

• While watering horses, do not depart until all horses have finished drinking.  

• Know and pay attention to signage yourself.  Read the trail ahead, behind and on each side of you.  

• Ride where you can, not where you can’t.  

• Leave no trace.  Pack out what you packed in.  

• Be a good horse and rider representative.  Respect, be courteous and be tolerant of other trail users  

• Remember  “abuse it, loose it!” 

Need more information phone Vickie Irvine 605 574 4376 Email: pony@rapidnet.com 

Check out web site periodically for updates at: www.hpcnet.org/blackhillstrailriders