BVH Trail Etiquette

There are a few items of trail etiquette which all trail riders should adhere to for the safety of the group during social group ride.

1. Please follow the ride leader’s directions. The leader should inform the group where the ride is going and the speed, slow, medium or fast. The leader may ask you to leave the group if you, or your horse, are acting in an unsafe or upsetting manner. If leaderless then agree to the above before starting.                                                                  
2. If your horse walks faster than the other horses in the group ask the leader/group if you can put your horse up front. There may be other fast walkers in the group, so be willing to give up the lead from time to time. Always state your intentions and pass in a safe place.
3. If your horse is a kicker, put a red ribbon in his/her tail. Make sure the red ribbon stays visible to others. Please correct your horse for kicking.
4. If you are behind a kicker stay far enough back, usually 1 horse length. If you want to pass, ask the person riding the kicker to pull over and let you pass. Pass in a wide spot on the trail. Do not run up on a kicker or any other horse. Stay alert of the behavior of the other horses in the group as well as your own.
5. If you want to go faster than the group is going, or leave the group, inform the ride leader/group then quietly work your way up front. Tell people you want to move out. When leaving try not to upset the horses staying behind. Leave at a faster walk/jog; wait until you are out of site of the group before you start to gallop. At best leaving the group excites other horses, so please be courteous. If you want to rejoin the group, do so at the group's pace.
6. If a horse is nervous about working an obstacle i.e. water, bridges, stuff in the trail etc., let the horse settle, give the rider a chance to work the horse through it. Don’t go rushing past, have some patience. If the rider, on the nervous horse, asks you to lead the way then do so in a calm quiet manner.
7. After working the obstacle, move down the trail a few paces and wait for the following horse to come through. If at all possible don’t get out of sight of the horse in back of you.
8. When waiting for horses in front to clear an obstacle, keep your horses spaced out enough to avoid kicking, nipping etc. Do not crowd the horses in front.
9. When other riders or trail users want to pass your group, the group should move to the same side of the trail if possible. If it is too narrow or unsafe to move over, communicate with those that want to pass that you will move over as soon as it is safe to do so.

The key to a safe, fun group ride is common sense, courtesy and good horsemanship.


                                                                                                                                                                            Rev. 1/19/12 BVH Trail Etiquette/CLH