moonshadowmetals

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Alright guys this has been fun but I am out. Have a nice day.

Just my point, bikers are less tolerant and egocentric.

I know quite a few of both, horse people and mountain bikers. And by far the nicest are the horse people. I am a mountain biker as well as a roadie. I know the extent to which all involved parties will go out of their way to appease the other. By far the horse people win. This is mainly due to the lack of knowledge that us bikers posses concerning horses. Horse people have a lot to deal with. When you meet a horse on the trail little things like knowing the horse has to pass on the uphill side of the trail, or that horses are afraid of things that bikers take for granted. Did you know a horse will spook if you are holding an umbrella. Not something bikers will have on a trail, but hikers do. I know a lot of mountain bikers go out of their way to be courteous when sharing the trail. But we don't actually realize how far we have to go just to keep from spooking the horse. To be fair, to keep from spooking my mountain bike, just don't approach it with a running chain saw, it has issues with two stroke engines. The horse, a plastic bag will do, scares the crap out of them. Horses hate Wal-Mart parking lots, littered with free range bags of all sizes and colors.

messmyth is a bit out of touch with horse people and their horses. Horses are closer to 700-1000 pounds for one you would meet on a trail. Those horses you would meet out on a wilderness trail are very well trained. You don't go out into the middle of nowhere with a horse you cannot trust. Horse people are the nicest people you will meet if you take the time to talk to them. They go out on rescues and do not get reimbursed in any way. I have seen them drive fifty to a hundred miles to go help look for someone they have never met. As for the piles of stink they leave on the trail, think of it as fertilizer. It is digested grass, nothing more. I do agree that on BLM trails you will most likely never find the DH bombers. Most of them cannot ride up the trail so that they can then descend said trail. But I disagree about the Enduro crowd. They will go out and do the what ever it takes to get to the top so they can bomb down the trail. Most of the enduro racers are in better shape than road riders. But I don't see them stopping to make berms to rail or jumps to fly. They would be out to train for the next event. Most likely a natural venue. People need to learn not to be so self centered. Learn to share your world with others and appreciate what they share with you. Just because you have to slow down to pass a hiker or horse does not diminish your ride. It adds another aspect to the experience. You cannot do a PR each and every time you ride. Enjoy the fast spots and take in the others sharing the trail with you in different ways. What I am trying to say is we (mount bikers) and other trail users need to come together and learn to share. Our lives are only so long, we are frail creatures prone to disease and malady that will end us sooner than we normally would like. We need to work with other trail users and police our own. Those that you know that will blow past other trail users just make our task of getting back the land for bicycle use harder. School them! Without good will we will never get our lands back.

Agassiz Berecloth McCaul

I have never seen a dog chase a moose but I have run from one. Valid points but I have seen dogs that are so loyal and dedicated partners that they would do anything their owner asked from them. This includes doing things while injured. They do not have the same pain/self preservation inhibitors that we have. All I am saying is keep in mind your dog does not think like you do. We would say I am in too much pain, I am done. The dog says to itself why cannot my owner see that I hurt? Then you stop and give you dog attention which the dog appreciates. But yet again you ride on and your dog dutifully runs after you... Just make sure you empathize with your animal. They are amazing companions that deserve us treating them better than we treat ourselves...just saying.

Szymon Godziek

Nice article. But really, taking your dog out on the trail is not as good as hiking or running with the dog. You don't get the exertion that the dog must put out to keep up. It is really hard on the dog. Your dog will never complain or refuse to go out with you. It will be injured and never let you know. Just make sure that you empathize with the dog. Take your dog to the Vet for check ups to ensure you not doing irreparable harm to your best friend.

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