Keith_Beef
Novice equestrian, accomplished equichetrian
Here are a three instances of when going out on a trail ride has met with an overgrown trail and the horse or rider not being willing or able to push through.
First was on a two hour trail ride about three years ago, with the senior instructor (who I suspect retired in 2017; I've not seen her around since about May). Six or eight of us from the riding centre were on a trail through the forest that we used to follow two or three times a year, but hadn't been on for several months. We got to a spot where new growth had come through right on the trail, fast growing, supple shoots of about three feet high, fairly close together, about 1/4 inch thick. On foot, I would easily be able to walk through it, pushing the shoots to the side. The leader's horse refused to go through; however much she tried, he just would not go.
Second was a similar situation with a younger leader. This time a tree had fallen across the trail and was resting about a foot off the ground. Heavy rains had softened the ground at some time, and strong winds had pushed the tree over, leaving the tree alive with plenty of root in the soil: loads of young grown coming straight up off the trunk, almost making a hedge. Again, soft grown, but the horse refused to step through it. I was bringing up the rear of the column, and turned my horse off the track and managed to get him to push through more saplings to go around the tree, and the others followed.
Third and last was on a three day ride in September 2017 (three of us: the leader, an experienced German lady rider of around 60, and myself) that involved a section down a path behind an agricultural college. Bushes and trees (lots of climbing roses, blackthorn, bramble, mixed in with the small trees) making almost a tunnel at the start of a quite steep descent towards a stream. The German lady was at the head at this time, and she got her horse to go into the path, but the rider's clothes and helmet were getting snagged on the branches and thorns... The leader had her maps out and found another path down, but it took us out of our way and didn't fix the basic problem of an overgrown trail. The next riders (if there are any) down there will have the same problem, and probably worse.
Knowing that these trails are often left unmaintained, but that there is no legal restriction where I am to prevent me from clearing an existing path (I'm not talking about cutting a new path), what would be a good set of tools?
I have some other chopping knives that I use around the garden, the Martindale is similar in thickness to the Ontario, but considerably longer and more pointy, the heavy Columbian made 14 inch golok machete I think is too big and heavy for riding, and a kukri. Or I could either make up my own tool or get one made up to my design...
Any ideas about this?
First was on a two hour trail ride about three years ago, with the senior instructor (who I suspect retired in 2017; I've not seen her around since about May). Six or eight of us from the riding centre were on a trail through the forest that we used to follow two or three times a year, but hadn't been on for several months. We got to a spot where new growth had come through right on the trail, fast growing, supple shoots of about three feet high, fairly close together, about 1/4 inch thick. On foot, I would easily be able to walk through it, pushing the shoots to the side. The leader's horse refused to go through; however much she tried, he just would not go.
Second was a similar situation with a younger leader. This time a tree had fallen across the trail and was resting about a foot off the ground. Heavy rains had softened the ground at some time, and strong winds had pushed the tree over, leaving the tree alive with plenty of root in the soil: loads of young grown coming straight up off the trunk, almost making a hedge. Again, soft grown, but the horse refused to step through it. I was bringing up the rear of the column, and turned my horse off the track and managed to get him to push through more saplings to go around the tree, and the others followed.
Third and last was on a three day ride in September 2017 (three of us: the leader, an experienced German lady rider of around 60, and myself) that involved a section down a path behind an agricultural college. Bushes and trees (lots of climbing roses, blackthorn, bramble, mixed in with the small trees) making almost a tunnel at the start of a quite steep descent towards a stream. The German lady was at the head at this time, and she got her horse to go into the path, but the rider's clothes and helmet were getting snagged on the branches and thorns... The leader had her maps out and found another path down, but it took us out of our way and didn't fix the basic problem of an overgrown trail. The next riders (if there are any) down there will have the same problem, and probably worse.
Knowing that these trails are often left unmaintained, but that there is no legal restriction where I am to prevent me from clearing an existing path (I'm not talking about cutting a new path), what would be a good set of tools?
- I had a folding saw and a couple of decent knives with me on the three day ride, but wouldn't use a saw while on horseback (it's slow, often needs two hands to hold the branch while sawing).
- I have an Ontario 410-10 field knife, and I've read recommendations for trail riders to carry this kind of knife or (even a machete) in a sheath suspended from a stirrup bar, for brush clearance.
- I've also thought about secateurs or loppers: I have a pair of Spear and Jackson ratchet-mechanism secateurs that will cut green hardwood up to about 1/2 inch thick quite easily, and have a pair of branch loppers that I could adapt to have removable handles.
I have some other chopping knives that I use around the garden, the Martindale is similar in thickness to the Ontario, but considerably longer and more pointy, the heavy Columbian made 14 inch golok machete I think is too big and heavy for riding, and a kukri. Or I could either make up my own tool or get one made up to my design...
Any ideas about this?
