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[RC] ... disappoints me when I run into discourteous riders - shermanTitle: MessageRiding from Auburn
to Cool and return last week a loose dog came around a blind corner startling my
horse, Paloma, not once but twice, as the dog continued trotting at us after I
had checked my horse, then she was scared the dog was going to attack her and
spun again, this time I went off hard on the rocky trail and was barely able to
hold onto Paloma as the dog trotted up almost between Paloma and I (on the
ground). Later the hiker/owner came from a different direction, very apologetic,
offered to give aid, name, insurance info etc. I thanked her for her concern,
then just asked her to keep dog on leash, then there would have been no problem
as the dog would not have kept coming fast and close. She agreed...end of that
story.
Today, a couple of
riders did the same thing, dog far up ahead, narrow single track trail with a
drop off on one side, and I could feel Paloma start to be concerned at the fast
approaching dog and no room to escape. I yelled at the unseen riders to call
their dog back, and I got a flippant response of "horse training dog" (I assume
she thought it was her decision as to when and where I train my horse, I
certaily wouldn't choose a narrow trail) and continued trotting by. As they
passed I told them horses may think a dog is attacking when it doesn't slow down
because it is not in control of the owner, they simply gave a stern look and
continued on. About 100' behind me, my trail partners horse nearly climbed the
bank in fear of the "attack dog". Which we know it wasn't, but neither horse
knew that. They sure looked like endurance riders...do you know
them? Ask them how they would have felt if it had been a biker
refusing to slow for them while approaching their worried horse on a narrow
cliff trail???? IMO, there is no difference, and both bikers and loose dogs are
not allowed on the trails, loose dogs are not allowed on any of the trails that
I ride on. The women were on big bays, with a big pointer dog of some sort in
the distant lead. There is a reason for the "no dogs off leash" law, I
wonder why they think they don't need to comply. I hear the rangers are
contacting/citing loose dog owners up around Cool, too bad they missed this
one.
Kathy
Michelle Aquilino wrote:It always disappoints me when I run into discourteous riders.
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