Endurance.Net Ridecamp Archives

Now riding down here in the tropics - especially in the late summer when 
the banana spiders are carrying their eggs and bulking up for the winter 
- can be interesting. The banana spider is about as big as a silver 
dollar. I don't know if they bit or not - never had a problem. They tend 
to build their webs across open places in the woods about face to a 
rider on a horse. They seem to love horse trails. For some reason they 
seem to always build them around a blind corner. The key is to ride 
second. If you are first, be ready to duck and listen for the reaction 
behind you:-).

I always carry a crop or a dressage whip - the dressage whip is better 
since it is longer. That works pretty well taking out the webs. Their 
webs are very sticky and very strong and even if you get the web the 
spider will more than likely end up on you and you need to brush them off.

Thank goodness these big guys are harmless.

Truman

Jeff Brickson wrote:

> Dawn, to prevent getting web-face when being first rider down the trail,
> carry a light, long twig out and upright in front of yourself as you trot
> along.  The webs will stick onto it and the spiders fall to the ground soon
> after.  I've not yet been bitten by a spider while riding.
>
>  




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