[pct-l] Fwd: [FWD: Bikes and horses]

[Brick Robbins]

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From:  <tom at bache.me>
Date: Fri, Oct 19, 2012 at 11:08 AM
Subject: [FWD: Bikes and horses]
To: Brick Robbins <brick at brickrobbins.com>


Brick,

I haven't tried to post to PCT-l for a long time.  The last time I
tried, there was something about my
settings that prevented my postings from appearing.  I don't remember
the nature of the problem
or whether I fixed it.  I think this note has some useful information
on a hot topic, so I hope it
can be posted.  I'll see it if it is.  Otherwise, after a time, I'll
notice that it never appeared.

No need to answer if it does get posted, but if not, I'd appreciate
your help to fix whatever needs
fixing.

Thanks,

Tom Bache

-------- Original Message --------
Subject: Bikes and horses
From: <tom at bache.me>
Date: Fri, October 19, 2012 11:00 am
To: pct-l at backcountry.net
Cc: "Fred Walters" <fredwalters2 at gmail.com>

Lengthy note to emphasize this point -- horses and mountain bikes
cannot coexist on a trail without
there being serious injuries (and perhaps worse on rare occasions) to
horses and riders.  Motorized
vehicles are actually better from an equestrian perspective because
they make enough
noise for the rider to get ready for them.

I'm a PCT hiker (nearly finished my multi-year section hike) and
equestrian endurance
rider (i.e., ride 50-100 mile races).  I do much of my training on the
PCT north and
south of Warner Springs.   I love to see hikers.  I stop and chat
if the hiker is willing.  Most hikers seem delighted to see my
beautiful and sleek
Arabian horse.

I'm always going fast on my horse -- faster than a bike on uphill and
flat -- so I have to be careful in hiking season.
But a horse is very different from a bike.  First, we make a lot of
noise (thundering hooves), so
we are unlikely to sneak up on a hiker.  Second, horses sense a hiker
far before a human will (smell?
sound?), so I watch my horse's ears when I can't see ahead.  All my
racing horses will tell me that something is
ahead, and they will refuse to run up on whatever it is.  I'd probably
get dumped if I tried.  Of course,
most equestrians are walking calmer horses, so they are even safer to encounter.

Anything unusual is scary to most horses, and high-tuned Arabians like
mine are especially spooky.  I've
been dumped by a horse spooking at a large beetle on the trail.  A
mountain bike is terrifying, and
even a rodeo bronc rider would have trouble staying on a horse
surprised by a high-speed mountain bike
coming around a blind corner.

Anecdote to make the point -- a couple of years ago I was riding with
one of my daughters up a switchbacking
climb on the PCT north of Warner Springs.  A speeding mountain bike
came skidding around a blind corner
as we approached it.  Both of our horses went crazy, and we both hit
the ground hard.  My daughter
sustained a big cut on her face and came up dripping blood.  Her horse
went down the very steep slope
in a panic.  It was an idiot teenager.  Naturally he said he didn't
know that bikes were not allowed
on the PCT (almost certainly a lie).  I was in a rage (don't hurt a
man's daughter and expect sweet
reason), but my daughter restrained me before I threw his bike over
the cliff (I don't think I would
have thrown him behind it, but it could have happened).   I soon
learned that he knew there were
horses on the trail because he had passed some only a few minutes
before starting
his irresponsible thrill ride down the switchbacks.

I know responsible people who love their mountain bikes, so I'm not
going to say that all mountain bikers
are irresponsible thrill seekers.  But most are thrill seekers, and it
is difficult for thrill seekers to reduce
their thrill because of the statistically small chance of encountering
a spooky horse or hiker who
jumps the wrong way.  So mountain bikers on the trail will certainly
cause accidents and injuries.  It is
a simple question:  do the benefits of greater mountain bike access
outweigh the cost of more
accidents and injuries?

Tom Bache
San Diego

Date: Fri, 19 Oct 2012 17:45:19 +0100
From: Fred Walters <fredwalters2 at gmail.com>
Subject: [pct-l] Bikes and Horses
To: pct-l at backcountry.net


Question: Not being a horse rider and not having hiked the PCT it is a
genuine question. How do horses and Mountain Bikes get on ? e.g. MTB
speeding down a fast curved stretch, round a blind corner to meet a horse
(oncoming or same direction). I ask because where I used to live there
were loads of horses and I got to appreciate that (some) horses can rear-up
when surprised suddenly by something moving (fast). And being thrown of a
horse rearing up is probably quite dangerous (broken ... or worse).

Fred