Tread Lightly!’s Tips for Responsible Horseback Riding

To view this information in a brochure format, Click Here 

• Stay on designated roads, trails, and other areas open to horse use.
• Ride single file to reduce trail damage, and don’t cut switchbacks.
• If there are no trails, and horseback riding is permited, spread out in open country. Spreading out, rather than following each other’s tracks, disperses impact and avoids creating a new trail.
• Comply with all signs and barriers.
• Buddy up with two or three riders. Traveling solo can leave you vulnerable if you have an accident.

• Be considerate of others on the road or trail.
• Leave gates as you find them.
• If crossing private property, be sure to ask permission from the landowner(s).
• Be especially cautious around hikers, bikes, and motorized vehicles.

• Keep groups small and carry lightweight gear to reduce the number of animals needed.
• Obtain a map of your destination and determine which areas are open to horseback riders. 
• Make a realistic plan, and stick to it. Always tell someone of your travel plans.
• Contact the land manager for area restrictions, closures, and permit requirements. 
• Check the weather forecast for your destination. Plan clothing, equipment, and supplies accordingly.
• Carry a compass or a Global Positioning System (GPS) unit and know how to use them.
• Carry water and emergency supplies even on short trips.
• Pre-plan camp locations that provide plenty of room and the proper environment for confining animals.

• Other sensitive habitats to avoid unless on designated routes include cryptobiotic soils of the desert, tundra, and seasonal nesting or breeding areas.
• Avoid disturbing historical, archeological, and paleontological sites.
• Avoid “spooking” livestock and wildlife you encounter and keep your distance.
• Water animals in areas where stream banks and water access can withstand hard use and are downstream from campsites.

• Pack out what you pack in.
• Practice minimum impact camping by using established sites, and camping 200 feet from water resources and trails.
• When selecting a campsite, first consider your stock; the site should accommodate your animals without damaging the area.
• Inspect grazing opportunities before making camp.
• Use yards, paddocks, and hitching rails where provided.
• Use hitchlines, hobbles, and staking to confine animals. Erect hitchlines in rocky areas with established trees and use straps or tree savers to protect bark.
• If you use temporary corrals, move the enclosures twice daily.
• When breaking camp, remove or scatter manure; remove excess hay and straw; and fill areas dug up by animal hooves.
• Observe proper sanitary waste disposal or pack your waste out. 
• Bring pellets, grain, or weed-free hay to areas where feed is limited or grazing is not allowed. This helps reduce the spread of invasive species.
• Wash your gear and check your animal before and after every ride to avoid the spread of invasive species.