Opinions on horse/multi-use trail damage?
I couldn't find a thread on this(surprisingly) so I thought I'd start one. The main and nearest trail I ride around here is a horse trail and I have no problem sharing it. It's on Corps of Engineers' land and we're lucky to have a trail there at all, IMO.
My problem is the fact that some anti-mtbikers/environmentalists complain about the damage that bikes do to trails. Y'know, everthing from riding when it's wet to lockin' up brakes gets brought up-or used to anyway. I have never heard similar complaints lodged against horses or hikers, but it seems obvious to me that a horse, or even a hiker, does more to make a trail unrideable that a bike. Now, I'm not saying I want 'em off the trails or anything--I'd just like for them to acknowledge any damage they're causing and try to limit it. Sometimes it feels almost like I'm ridin' a jackhammer when I hit all the dried up hoofprints after horses have been ridden on a wet trail. I haven't had any bad experiences with horses/riders themselves, just the aftereffects. I was just wonderin' what everyone else has observed/experienced on this topic....