Hello SVT Community! Some questions have arisen in regard to the etiquette bikers should follow around horses. To best ensure that everyone is able to enjoy our trails & local roads safely & fairly, we’d like to clarify how to appropriately interact with horseback riders while out riding bikes. Under state law, both are considered legal roadway users. Because bicycles can be both quiet & swift, cyclists should always yield to horses, pass slowly at a safe distance, and communicate with the rider. While horses are not permitted on our trails, cyclists may encounter horses while riding local gravel roads and it’s important for us to be good neighbors.
Horses can become nervous and skittish around bikes, so when approaching horses from behind, please slow down or stop and wait for signals from the guide before proceeding. If approaching from the front, please stop on the side of the road and wait for them to pass.
If riding on Pond Hill Road, please do not stop to rest in front of the horse stable or in the ranch parking lot to ensure safety for animals and riders alike. Proceed 50 yards past the building & stop on the side of the road. The road is public but the Pond Hill Ranch property is privately owned & not open for public use. Many of its fields are grazing areas for rodeo bulls which can be dangerous.
Thank you for your care & consideration in the way we share trails ❤️
