Horse Safety & Etiquette

Part of having an enjoyable experience in the Santa Monica Mountains is ensuring that everyone is safe. Riding a horse in a multi-use enviroment requires even a higher level of awareness. Remember, safety starts with the individual!

Reading and following these tips will make sure we keep our parks a plesant place to visit.

Safety

· Stay on maintained trails and observe all posted signs.

· It is best to ride with a buddy and tell someone where you are going and when you expect to return.

· Watch for overhanging branches from shrubs and trees.

· Keep horses at a walk when passing other visitors and stay to the uphill side.

· Carry first-aid and your vet’s phone number in case of emergency.

· Bring water for yourself and have water in your trailer for your horse. Stream water may not be suitable for all horses, and is unavailable in many areas.

· Walking dogs while riding horses is not advised since dogs must always be on a leash no longer than 6 feet. (*Dogs are not allowed on State Park backcountry trails.)

· Loose horses are not permitted on park trails.

Etiquette

· Be courteous to other trail users. Hikers and bikers should yield to horses, but may be unaware of protocol.

· Horses are only permitted to walk, trot, or canter on park trails. Galloping is not permitted.

· Horses are not permitted in picnic areas, campsites, and lawn areas.

· Please, do not lunge horses in park.

· Manure must be picked up from parking lots and other developed areas.

Resource Protection

· Horses are allowed only on designated trails. They must keep out of ponds and only cross streams at designated trail crossings. Off-trail use is not permitted.

· DO NOT tie horses to trees. Please use hitching posts or ground tie or hobble.

· After rains, check with national and/or state parks for trail conditions and closures. Trail use is not recommended when trails are wet and prone to damage.

· Grazing is not permitted.