WHAT HORSE PEOPLE NEED TO UNDERSTAND TO GET MORE AND BETTER TRAILS ON ENVIRONMENTAL LANDS

Linda Conway Duever
Conway Conservation, Inc.
10952 County Road 320
Micanopy, FL 32667 USA
352/466-4136
conwayconsrv@conway.com

This is an outline of a talk entitled "Environmental Management of Horse Trails" given August 18, 1996 at the Sunshine State Horse Council Conference at Kissimmee, Florida.

What is a natural area?

Natural areas are lands managed for the purpose of restoring and preserving native ecosystems. They may include state parks and preserves, national parks, county environmental lands, water management district lands, and other public or private lands. Protection of biodiversity is the guiding principle for decisions regarding uses permitted in such places. They are often administered under legally binding guidelines that demand that such environmental concerns take priority over conflicting demands.

Why do natural area managers worry about horses?

In sensitive situations and/or where there are too many horses, poorly designed or maintained trails or riders who don't obey the rules, horses can contribute to soil and vegetation disturbance, exotic species invasion, habitat fragmentation, wildlife disturbance, and user conflicts. These processes can result in erosion, changes in species composition, and interference with natural processes.

What do horse people need to understand?

Some of the crazy-sounding things land managers tell you about environmental impacts have a sound basis. Some are utter nonsense.

Be sure you know the difference.

Cumulative impacts can be both Invisible and devastating.

• The difference each horse makes may not show, but, over time, repeated trampling can eliminate rare plants and leave mostly weeds -- even if the ground never looks bare.
• Learn to recognize especially sensitive habitats.
• Stay on the trail!

Horses might transport exotic weeds that could overrun natural habitats.

• Learn to recognize problem species.
• Check pastures and hay for weeds.
• Don't go into natural areas with mud or seeds on your horse.
• Understand that special feeding may be an appropriate requirement for entry into some areas.
• Stay on the trail!

Fertilizer is bad for natural systems.

• Minimize manure around natural vegetation.
• Stay on the trail!

Green horses and beginners don't belong in sensitive areas.

• Train at home.
• Be prepared to cross water and negotiate steep hills and obstacles without off-trail disturbance.
• Stay on the trail!

Medium to heavy horse use can damage trails.

• Respect hiking trails.
• Direct traffic towards lightly used trails.
• Offer to help with maintenance.

Cooperate for more and better trails

Obey the rules.

Communicate your needs to managers and listen to theirs.

• Speak as a united user group to the maximum extent possible.
• Be cooperative.
• Be specific.
• Ask open-minded questions.
• If something doesn't make sense, inquire politely -- don't dismiss it as a smokescreen.
• If something sounds ignorant, first assume that you don't understand the statement.
• If something really is ignorant, find an expert to help you educate the land manager.
• Offer to help with user education and policing.

Volunteer.

• Give an hour's work back to the land for every hour you ride on it.
• Organize a mounted patrol unit and negotiate for special privileges (access routes, entry hours) in return for services
• Help design better trails.

Be courteous to other users.

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