The Trails Safe Passing Plan
Horses are prey animals and naturally can be afraid of unfamiliar people and objects. Horses have natural "flight“ survival instincts and prefer to move their feet towards an exit route. Therefore, people with horses should pass at a walk while other trail users remain STOPPED until passed.
by Equine Land Conservation Resource
According to a study by the Outdoor Industry Association, 8.1 million more Americans hiked in 2020 than in 2019. The dramatic increase in outdoor recreation adds increased pressure on trails and emphasizes the need for a trails safe passing plan for all trail user groups on public and private lands.
The TRAILS SAFE PASSING PLAN: STOP, SPEAK, and STAND BACK is an action plan and educational resource developed to help all trail users understand the importance of yielding to people with horses since horses are prey animals and naturally can be afraid of unfamiliar people and objects.
Published June 2022
The Equestrian Land Conservation Resource (ELCR) is a national, not for profit organization whose mission is to advance the conservation of land for horse-related activity.
Visit Equine Land Conservation Resource
ORV – Social & Management Issues
posted Jul 15, 2022
Off-road vehicles can have a substantial impact on the experience of other non-motorized visitors on trails that are shared or even on adjacent forest or park settings.
Informal and Formal Trail Monitoring Protocols and Baseline Conditions
posted Jul 15, 2022
This research developed and applied state-of-the-art trail condition assessment and monitoring procedures and applied them to the park’s formal and informal (visitor-created) trails.
posted Jul 15, 2022
This research investigates horse trail impacts to gain an improved understanding of the relationship between various levels of horse use, horse trail management alternatives, and subsequent horse trail degradation.
Hub for Information on Trail Users
posted May 9, 2022
Everything you need to know about trail counters, trail user surveys, and other information to better understand and engage your trail users.*
