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[RC] RAIN and trail Damage - Jonni JewellIn areas that have hills and mountains (ie California) horses can cause a LOT of damage by riding over them after a rain. The problem is, that on those single track trails, all the horses cause the trail to form a bit of a rut. Then, when the next rain comes, those ruts make perfect shoots for the water to rush down (kind of like a water slide), taking away the loose clumps and soil broken up from the horses, thus, causing major erosion. Where the trails are flatter, such as here in TX and Florida, the soil is a different mix, and the lack of hills, has the water usually just forming puddles, bogs, or over all mud, as it has no place to "run off to". The way trails are built in mountain areas is also much different than flatter areas. Water bars are installed (most folks around our area don't know what a water bar is) to divert the run off on steep trails. A water bar is often a piece of wood, rail road tie, 4x4 or such, that is installed in the trail, and when water runs down the trail, it hits the water bar, and diverts it off to the side of the trail, so ruts and erosion are minimalized. Trails in National Forest areas are often maintained by volunteers, as the Forest Service is limited in man power to keep most in good shape. I can understand rides being cancelled in an area where trails could be damaged after a rain. As much as most riders would consider riding the ride, I bet most would not volunteer to come back out after the ride to fix them. If the trails are not used for a few days after a rain (depending on soil type) then they will dry enough, that the impact of the horses feet, do not cause the trail to be compromised the same as when it is in a muddy condition. Jonni =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Ridecamp is a service of Endurance Net, http://www.endurance.net. Information, Policy, Disclaimer: http://www.endurance.net/Ridecamp Subscribe/Unsubscribe http://www.endurance.net/ridecamp/logon.asp Ride Long and Ride Safe!! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
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