The Uxbridge Horsemen’s…

This comment is being submitted on behalf of the Uxbridge Horsemen’s Association who appreciate equestrian use being allowed in the new provincial park, but are disappointed and unsure of why horses are being segregated from other users on certain trails, and why they are required to wear manure bags when using those trails.

Re Trail Segregation:
Equestrians are considerate, quiet, responsible and safety-conscious users who are good stewards of the forest; we don’t create new trails, shortcuts or openings and we obey trail signs and rules. Our preferred gait on the trail is a walk, which results in less wear to the trail and increased safety and harmony with other user groups. We also benefit from our elevated position on the trail, where we can see other users before they see us and make them aware of our presence, thereby avoiding any unwanted surprises. Because we are on animals ourselves (and prey animals at that), we don’t disturb the wildlife as much as a dog (who is a predator ) might.

Re Trails:
Regarding the trails themselves, we wanted to emphasize that trail E, one of the trails all users including horses are allowed on, will suffer a greater degree of damage/wear because of its dead end design. Without even a loop to turn around on, all users have no choice but to turn around at the end of it, widening its footprint by doing so, and proceed back out on the same trail again. Given all the trails in that area, and this area’s location in the immediate vicinity of many backyard barns, we hope that in the near future more trails will be added to make for a more inspiring ride/walk/cycle, and perhaps reduce the possible congestion between users attempting to use this trail at the same time.

Re Manure Bags:
Given that none of your other properties have horseback riding as a permitted activity, we are curious where the idea of manure bags, or diapers as they’re sometimes called, came from. In your studies of these lands, was manure on the trails an actual problem, or do you perceive it to be a potential problem?

Apologies if you are familiar with the workings of manure bags but, in case you are not, these bags are primarily used on carriage horses where the bag is fastened to the crossbar of the carriage allowing the horse to move unimpeded. However, with riding horses, the bag is strapped directly to the horse by a series of straps and snaps that are secured to the saddle and right onto the horse’s tail. Not all horses will be accepting of this arrangement. Having something flapping around behind them every time there’s tail movement, that it can’t rid itself of, is not something a horse, being a prey animal, necessarily allows. It goes against their very nature. Physically, the primary functions of a horse’s tail that will be compromised by a manure bag are balance, the horse’s motions are counterbalanced by the tail which aids in keeping the animal steady and under control, and limiting the animal’s natural ability to control biting, flying and crawling insects, which are found in abundance in the forest and on the trail.
Furthermore, the skin on the underside of a horse’s tail and on its rump is some of the most delicate, fragile skin on its body and can easily be rubbed and irritated by the nylon or leather straps of the bag as it constantly moves against the horse as it travels, or when the contents of the bag move. And speaking of the contents of the bag, what happens when the bag is full and we’re still out on the trail?

Summary:
Given the small number of horses that will actually be using the new park, combined with the UHA’s constant educational efforts reminding riders to remove their horses’ manure from the trails, and said riders’ common sense and courtesy, we would respectfully request that we be given the chance to show you that manure on the trails will not be an issue. Signs can always be put up at a later date should you still decide manure bags are necessary.

We appreciate and thank you for including equestrians in the new Uxbridge Urban Provincial Park and look forward to working with you to make this unique new park enjoyable for all users.