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Many of the trails around Canberra are multiple use and are shared by walkers, joggers, bike riders and children. Some of the Pine Forests are open to vehicles and unless they are unregistered, they have a right to be there too. Many nonhorse people do not know how to react when they come across a horse and rider; mostly they will ignore you, but sometimes they jump off the track into the trees or bushes, making it worse for the horse and for you. It is a good policy to always talk to people you meet on the trail. This achieves three things: firstly, talking will help you to relax (which will help your horse cope); secondly, by talking back, the person you meet will help to reassure the horse that he or she is a friendly person (and not a monster!); and thirdly, it encourages good relations between all people who use Canberra's system of greenbelts and forests. The book Canberra Cycleways (which includes bush tracks and trails and which is quite useful for equestrians too) states in its 'Mountain Bike Code':
This is excellent advice for cyclists but horse riders need to do their bit too. Always return any conversation, or initiate it yourself. Be as friendly as possible and help to give the equestrian community a good name. If your horse is really 'spooked' and you feel able to dismount, ask the cyclist if you can show the bike to your horse. Let your horse spend as much time as possible around the bike so that next time the horse will be more confident that he can approach this two wheeled thing without it attacking him. Thank the cyclist profusely and explain how useful the opportunity has been. Rather than dreading the next encounter, you and your horse will both feel more confident. |
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