You likely encounter wild animals no matter where you ride, from the suburbs to the backcountry. Predators, such as bear and cougar, are obvious threats-but buffalo, elk, moose, and deer can also pose hazards. Such animals can charge when protecting their herds, and even a mere sighting at a distance can spook your horse, which can lead to a fall. And you know an encounter with a skunk or porcupine can be an unpleasant experience. Here are a few things you can do to help keep you and your horse safe.
• Check for sightings. Before you begin a trip into the backcountry, contact the ranger office that oversees the area in which you're planning to ride. Someone on duty can tell you whether there have been any wild-animal sightings/encounters. Armed with this knowledge, you'll be better prepared. Upon your return, report to the ranger office any sightings you experience on the trail.
• Be aware. Open your senses and become totally aware of your surroundings. Keep your eyes and ears alert to the sounds and movements around you. By doing so, you'll likely notice an animal from a distance, and be better prepared to ignore it, avoid it, or scare it away.
• Watch your horse's ears. A good trail horse will pay attention to his surroundings. Watch him for signs of lurking danger. One such indicator is his ears. If his ears are locked on a certain direction, he might've discovered something worthwhile. As the threat level increases, he'll turn his head to get a better look, then may come to a stop. As he becomes more attentive, so should you. If he appears disinterested, continue down the trail.
• Read the signs. Familiarize yourself with the signs and habitats of those animals that you'd like to avoid. Read, ask questions, and ride with knowledgeable trail partners. Learn to identify wild-animal footprints, scat, and other obvious signs of their presence. For example, scattered splinters and overturned rotten logs are usually signs of a black bear looking for ants and grubs.
• Announce your presence. When riding in an animal-dense area, talk loudly, sing, or give a shout every few minutes. Animals within the range of your voice will usually scurry off. Whistles and bells are used by some folks in the attempt to ward off scary predators. Note that bells need to be loud enough to be heard hundreds of feet around you to be effective deterrents. Generally, the small bells that folks tie to their trail saddles don't project the sound far enough to be useful in avoiding wildlife. TTR
Janine Wilder is an internationally recognized author and seasoned equine journalist. Her Web site (www.horsetravels.com) provides helpful information to the horse traveler and trail rider. She and her husband, Jim, are the designated American Trail and Travel Experts for The Long Riders Guild, a worldwide equestrian organization. Her book, Trail Riding (Western Horseman Books), will be available next summer.
