helped to create hideously braided sections of trail filled with multiple mud pits. Now we often hear that it’s best to ride through a muddy spot to avoid widening the trail. This can create a year round mud pit that is nearly impassable.
So What To Do?
Two factors for you to consider when deciding whether or not your favorite trail is ready to ride during wet conditions include:
Trail Terrain
Damp, soggy trails are inevitable in the Pacific Northwest. If we wait for the trail to dry completely we’ll be waiting for a while. This doesn’t mean that you have to stick with arena work until after Memorial Day. It only means that you may want to consider alternatives to sodden, single-track trails. Logging roads for example. Gravel roads can handle more abuse than trails can, and they’re already wide. If you don’t think old logging roads offer enough challenge, try some of the older routes pocked with potholes and bulging with boulders. If you still yearn for a ride on natural trails try to avoid flat or low lying areas as well as loamy trails in favor of naturally hilly and rocky areas that resist damage and drain well.
Trail Maintenance
Some trails can handle wet weather riding better than others because of how they’ve been built. A well-designed trail will help to keep erosion at bay and extensive damage from occurring in the first place. If you feel the need to ride in the rain please make your way to the next trail work party and lend a helping hand.
Well there you go. My thoughts on spring riding and wet trails in general. As representatives of the equestrian community we should make a conscious effort to preserve the environment that we ride in. This should include an honest evaluation of the trail condition and an effort to minimize damage to it. As always for more information on this topic as well as the worlds largest and most comprehensive equine trail and camp directory please visit www.TrailMeister.com.
If you feel the need to ride in the rain please make your way to the next trail work party and lend a helping hand.
others because of how they’ve been built. A well-designed trail will help to keep erosion at bay and extensive damage from occurring in the first place. If you feel the need to ride in the rain please make your way to the next trail work party and lend a helping hand.
Well there you go. My thoughts on spring riding and wet trails in general. As representatives of the equestrian community we should make a conscious effort to preserve the environment that we ride in. This should include an honest evaluation of the trail condition and an effort to minimize damage to it. As always for more information on this topic as well as the worlds largest and most comprehensive equine trail and camp directory please visit www.TrailMeister.com.
The “TrailMeister” is a guy who wants to know the skinny about a riding area before he arrives and wasn’t able to find good, accurate info anywhere else. So he created TrailMeister and publishes for the passion of horse riding.