Rode "Horse" Custer today

[Green Giant]

So I've been riding Fort Custer for well over 15 years now. Every once and a while I get fired up about the horses but it's usually over horse crap (literally) on the trails.

While I don't care for horses on the trail, or crapping all over it, in the parking lots, etc.. I'm also polite on the trail to horseback riders (or at least not impolite) I don't say much to them other than a warning if I am coming up from behind, and I still always dismount if they are riding in the opposite (wrong) direction to make sure I don't get kicked, or as much as I would like them to get accidentially dismounted - I'm an adult and don't want to be the cause of a broken neck, injury, etc. I don't yell, cuss, *beep* etc.

Today however that would have changed if I saw a single *beep* horse out on the trails. I rode all 3 loops - blue, red, and green. I'm not sure if there was an event this past weekend or what, had I seen a horseback rider I would have gone off.

In my almost 20 years of riding at the Fort I've NEVER seen it so torn up by horses, and I've NEVER seen so much horse crap on the trails. The blue loop, which I don't ride much, was an absolute nightmare. Trail was torn all to *beep*, many of the climbs were churned up so bad I couldn't ride them, and riding through horse crap was unavoidable.

The Red loop was slightly better on all accounts, but a few of the climbs again, particularly where it was at all loose - was churned all up. A fair amount of horse crap.

The Green Loop wasn't as bad as the blue, but was worse than the green. Clearly horses were out there in soft conditions, and a lot of them based on the amount of horse crap out there. They had also gone through the newer green sections where horses really shouldn't be.

I know there is a new plan for horses out at the Fort as I've been to most of the meetings.

How soon is that going to be implemented. Honestly today had I seen one person on horseback I told myself I was going to speak up and say something.

Last week I was out there and had a couple of riders going the opposite direction tell me to slow down (while I was off my bike allowing them to pass and biting my tongue to the point of blood) and then today there was this.

I'm tired of the *beep* horses and I think I'm done staying quiet. Today was one of those days I wished I had a video camera with me to take some shots of the damage and the horse crap all over the trails.

[wizarddaw]

I went out Friday evening and indeed there was a " horse camp " taking place and there were numerous horses around. I came across 4 on the blue trail, and it was torn up already. Where the yellow and red merge it was pretty bad also. Like you, I had 3 guys going the wrong way on the red/yellow portion that yelled at me! I ended up riding as much as I could, as slow as I could and then went to the pavement and rode for some time. I hope someone did take pics. Count me in when it is time to meet and discuss this. The lady at the booth said there were lots of horses and they were camping near Whitford lake, but I could not go down there and check it out so I remained calm and just headed home. It was still better than not riding, just real frustrating.

[Mr. Bojangles]

Lets find out when another event is and we will also hold an event at the same time... Lets get as many people as possible and make sure they do not ever come back. numbers speak. My mother is an avid horse rider and owner and maybe she could shed some light or give us pointers to talk to them. If they can't understand that WE BIKERS BUILT THE TRAILS, well then its on like donkey kong.

[Green Giant]

Why was this post moved from the General to the Western?

Suprised that it was moved at all... and to the Western, not the Southwest as a minimum. I initially posted this in the general section - trying to shed light on the horse problem.

[c0nsumer]

Why was this post moved from the General to the Western?

Suprised that it was moved at all... and to the Western, not the Southwest as a minimum. I initially posted this in the general section - trying to shed light on the horse problem.

Ah, you're right. Sorry. I meant to move it to Southwestern but then picked the wrong one. It'll get moved now.

[johnnyg]

People don't believe you! (I thought that would get your attention.)

Believe it or not, there are equestrians out there that find these stories to be grossly exaggerated. To make our case, we need pictures, dates and stories. What may be self-evident to you is mere urban legend to others.

The MMBA Advocacy leadership has been working hard with the Southwestern Chapter for a separation of the trails at Fort Custer. It is a slow and deliberate process. Your story shows the urgency and reason for acting more quickly.

Help me, help you. Please get photos and video of this and provide the who, what, when, where and why.

[wizarddaw]

I agree with you JohnnyG....I usually check the horse riding site to see whats going on our there, but I did not this time so I was surprised which meant minus camera etc. Your advice is good and I will make a point of at least keeping a camera of some sort with me when heading out there. Thanks,

Dave
Battle Creek, Michigan

[mkirk]

Aren't horses supposed to be going the "wrong" direction on the trails? IF you come up behind them they are going the wrong way. That's why on the back of all the posted signs there is a colored horshoe sign. It's like our markers, just the other direction. I, for one, would much rather come up on a horse from the front than the rear. Let them see me coming.

[Green Giant]

I really wished I had a camera or even a video camera with me the other day, though I would have spent more time shooting pictures and video than riding. I was angry then, and I'm still angry now about how bad the churn was and how much horsecrap there was.

As for the wrong way... I've been yelled at by horseback riders going both directions so to speak. If you approach them from the front they wig out, and if you ask if you can pass from behind they also get *beep*.

I've ALWAYS remained calm and either not said much or tried to politely acknowledge them, never going off or even responding when they get upset at the bikes, but i'm real close to speaking up, and not real politely anymore.

I was out again yesterday in the AM and there were several horse trailers in the main trail lot... and a few piles of horsecrap in the lot to go along with them.

[c0nsumer]

Don't most of you have cell phones with cameras built in? They aren't the best, but generally a daylight-lit well-taken cell phone shot is quite decent.

[jonw9]

Does this link work for non-Facebookers?

http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id= ... 944&ref=mf

[Loren]

I've looked at a number of recent photos, and I haven't seen anything that would be convincing to an equestrian. Sure, there's loose sandy soil. Sure, some muddy areas with hoof prints. And *beep* happens. But all this is natural, and there's nothing here that shows lasting damage of any significance that would keep a horse from walking down the trail. All paths look like this, so what's the problem?

How do you photograph a trail in a way to show damage has environmental impact, and this damage was caused by horse traffic?
What sort of photograph would demonstrate the negative impact to other trail users?

[c0nsumer]

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[scat silvurz]

Perhaps a picture like this....not all of us can huck over a horse-plop.....



If equestrians think horse-plops are so benign, why don't they just make a career out of it?

[jonw9]

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