[pct-l] Bikes and Horses

[Edward Anderson]

I agree with all of the advice that you have posted. I will just add one thing. IF it is safely possible, move off the trail on the downhill side. Some horses will be frightened if you are higher up.
 
The only problems I have had, both on and off the PCT, has been with Mountain Bikes - because they are sometimes approaching very fast, downhill, and on blind curves. Motorcycles (Dirt Bikes) have not been a problem for my horses since they can be heard from a long distance and I have time to get safely off the trail. Where I come from, most of the people riding Dirt Bikes were polite, stopped and even shut off their engines so I could pass. There were a few exceptions. 
 
MendoRider-Hiker  

________________________________
 From: "bluetrail at aol.com" <bluetrail at aol.com>
To: pct-l at backcountry.net 
Sent: Friday, October 19, 2012 11:29 AM
Subject: Re: [pct-l] Bikes and Horses
  

I owned a horse and rode horseback for many years, including horseback pack trips in the Salt 
River Range of Wyoming.  Some horses are bomb-proof baby-sitters.  Others get highly excited when a leaf turns the wrong way.  I have titanium rods in my neck and bone spurs in my shoulder as proof of this.

A lot of horses would definitely flip out when suddenly, surprizingly approached by a speeding bike.
Some hoses would flip out even if they saw the bike coming for half a mile. To other horses, it's all just in a day's work.  In any case, even the most experienced rider can sometimes take a bad fall when a horse gets spooked..

On multiuse trails both bikes and hikers yield to horses. Get off the trail if at all possible.  I highly recommend that hikers and/or bikers stay absolutely still while the horse moves around you.  It also helps if you talk in a low, soothing tone.  

Say something like, "Well, aren't you a pretty one.  I'm just a human with a backpack.  I'm not as scary as I look.  "  Or some other such nonsense.  Speaking calmly helps the horse ID you as a person instead of sasquatch.  Give the horse enough time to get well clear of you before you start moving (slowly at first) again.

Joan








-----Original Message-----
From: Fred Walters <fredwalters2 at gmail.com>
To: pct-l <pct-l at backcountry.net>
Sent: Fri, Oct 19, 2012 12:45 pm
Subject: [pct-l] Bikes and Horses


Question: Not being a horse rider and not having hiked the PCT it is a
enuine question.  How do horses and Mountain Bikes get on ?  e.g. MTB
peeding 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
ere loads of horses and I got to appreciate that (some) horses can rear-up
hen surprised suddenly by something moving (fast).  And being thrown of a
orse rearing up is probably quite dangerous (broken ... or worse).
Fred
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