Horses on the Trail

“Has anyone had trouble with large groups of horse people tearing up and trashing trails and campsites. I spent 2 hours last week cleaning up a campsite in the Smokies before I could set up my tent. Beer cans, cigarette butts, plastic trash...etc”

“trouble... yeah I've had trouble with horses before.”

“I have friends that have horses and they're ok but not on my trail....I slogged through a muddy horse dung cover trail one rainy day out on the Russell Wildlife Area here in North Ga”

“I don't think there are any more reckless equestrians than reckless hikers...”

“Maybe, but I've just had bad experiences with the horse thing. I think everyone should practice no trace hiking and camping”

“A big problem with horse campers is that they don't have to do any work to get where they are going and can carry infinite amounts of gear. That tends to lead to a bit more relaxed attitude towards campsites and such. IMHO of course. If you have to walk two days to get to a place I think you will take better care of it when you get there than someone who sits on their butt and rides a day, carrying wall tents and coolers and such.”

“Dealing with the unpleasantries of horses might result in horse people having a low regard for their surroundings.”

“I'm a horse person and a backpacker. The problem is not with the horses, but the individuals. Of course horses can weigh upwards of 1300 lbs so they do tear up a trail in muddy spots but so do mountain bikes (which I also ride). We have horse/bike/foot specific trails in most parks up here.

Hike on!

If you feel that strongly about it, a little education can go a long way. Maybe post some LNT flyers at the local saddlery or feed stores?? I've found that it's usually ignorance that is the real problem, which is curable by knowledge. Keep in mind that most trail riders know nothing about backpacking.”

“If you don't like horses on trails, then hike trails where horses aren't allowed.”

“I agree with Dhutch, until I started doing more research on backpacking I had never heard of the term LNT. Although I had always camped like this I had never heard of the term, therefore other types of campers might not know of it.

Personaly I have always had respect for the outdoors when it comes to trash and I have always picked up any trash I have seen rather it be at a campsite or on a sidewalk.”