Route 104 Corridor Trail Feasibility Study - Genesee Transportation ...

ALTERNATIVES
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Route 104 Corridor Trail Feasibility Study
6. Equestrians
Equestrians include youngsters, elders, leisure riders, professional riders, organized groups, novices, people with
disabilities, and working ranchers. Riders recreate singly or in groups, and for many reasons--including pleasure,
exercise, or challenge. Popular group trail events include social trips, competitive trail rides, and endurance races.
Well-designed horse trails consider the setting of the trail system, the needs of all user groups, and the specific
needs of stock and their riders.
In 2005, 3.9 million horses were used for recreation in the United States, more than a third of the country's 9.2 million
horses (FHWA website, 2011). Many of the country's 2 million horse owners seek community and backcountry trail
riding opportunities. Recreationists with physical challenges also turn to horses and mules to enjoy outdoor activities
that would otherwise be unavailable to them.
Equestrians, or horseback riders, ride on a wide range of facilities. Therefore, equestrian trails encompass a variety
of designated trails, paths, forest roads, abandoned rail rights of way, utility corridors and undeveloped lands, both
public and private, that are open to recreational horseback riding. Trails for equestrian use are available in some
state and county parks and federal recreation areas. Equestrian organizations, perhaps more so than other trail user
groups, have created systems of equestrian trails on private land through agreements with the landowners.
Horseback riding can take place on multi-use trails, where permitted.
Horses are prey animals, resulting in a natural instinct to run when frightened. For this reason, horses may be
startled when they encounter unfamiliar users, such as bicyclists, hikers, ATVs, snowmobiles, and dog-walkers.
Horseback riding can cause physical impacts to the trail surface and horse droppings affect the use of trails by
others. Horseback riding typically requires more extensive trail head facilities than other trail uses, and may include
trailer parking, water troughs, and mounting stations.
Information on equestrian activity compiled from the FHWA’s Equestrian Design Guidebook for Trails, Trailheads and
Campgrounds, and the NJ Trails Plan Update, 2008.
7. Potential Areas of Conflict Between Users
Multi-use trails, when they are well designed, carefully
maintained, and effectively managed, are a significant
community resource. However, trails can have a
number of conflicts and challenges, which can be
addressed by physical design and management
responses. Potential conflicts along the Route 104
Corridor Trail include conflicts between different types
of trail users, conflicts between motorists and trail users
at road crossings, and conflicts between trail users and
property owners. Appendix K discusses ways to
manage conflict.
Prepared for GTC and the Towns of Ontario, Sodus, Webster, and Williamson, NY Page 36