Equestrian Encounters: Safety Tips for Approaching Horseback Riders on the Trail

I'm going to be totally honest. Until recently, I hadn't the slightest idea of how to act when encountering horseback riders while hiking. It's just not something that crossed my mind, as I have never been a horseback rider and have very few people in my life that ride horses. In fact, for as much hiking as I've done on Delmarva over the years, I've only encountered people on horseback 2 or 3 times.

One of my recent posts on Facebook about hiking trails at Tuckahoe State Park stirred up some comments about trail etiquette around horses, and I was intrigued to learn more. Because you know what? During a very recent trip to Tuckahoe over Labor Day Weekend, my family and I DID encounter a woman on horseback along the Sandtown Trail.

We've all probably seen those signs about yielding to horses on the trail, but there's a little more to it than that. I recently had the chance to briefly chat with a board member of the Tuckahoe Equestrian Center. Here are some tips I picked up.

When approaching a horse on the trail, either from behind or head-on, it's important to SPEAK. The easiest thing to say is, "Hello, horse!" This warns both the horse and the human that there is a human nearby. If you're on a bike, ringing the bell is not always loud enough. Sometimes the horse can hear it, but the human cannot.

As you make way and yield to the horse, do your best to STAY VISIBLE. I have a healthy respect for horses because they're just... so darn big! And my lack of knowledge of horses just makes me want to rapidly get out of the way and hide. But if the horse sees you lurking behind a big tree on the side of the trail, it may perceive you as a threat.

So if you see a horse in your path, start by saying, "Hello, horse!" If you are unsure of where to stand while the horse passes, simply ask the rider. Every horse has a different temperament so asking the person riding it will be the best advice.

It's also okay to chat! Ask questions beyond safety. What's the horse's name? How far do you plan to ride today? Most horseback riders welcome the questions and the opportunity to spread a little education and awareness.

Now you're probably wondering where you might see people riding horses on Delmarva? Aside from Tuckahoe State Park, many other state parks permit horseback riding, although it may not be on every trail. And most state forest trails welcome equestrians. The Pocomoke State Forest, Chesapeake Forest Lands, Wicomico Demonstration Forest, Blackbird State Forest, Redden State Forest, as well as some of the Natural Resource Management Areas - they all permit horseback riding on most of their trails.

Next time you encounter a horse on the trail, STOP, SPEAK, STAND BACK, and STAY VISIBLE.

~Laura Scharle Creator/Founder of DelmarvaTrailandWaterways.com