🏇 Social License to Operate

We're lucky enough to live in a National Park. Not the biggest one in Europe, not even the biggest one in our region. Still, we live in a National Park with miles and miles of dirt roads for humans, mountain bikers and equestrians.

There are even some asphalt and concrete paths for people that come with a baby stroller, walker or even a wheel chair.

All in all, for absolute zero fees for parking and or entries, just about anybody have the opportunity to get into the National Park and enjoy nature.

We, as in me and my significant other, do it on a regular basis not only cause we live here. So in the weekends, and after work even, we hit the trails and bike. Sometimes we even hike, but biking really is our number one activity in the park.

But what I cannot grasp my head around is how some horse people don't use their brain one single bit when out and about in the park.

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They ruin both the roads and trails, and also let their horses dump their business on roads made for human activity only. Just imagine this, you're wheeling around your grandpa along an asphalt road in the forest where he fought in WWII [a very much real life scenario where we live] just to get stuck in a big pile of horse shit [sorry for language]!

And here's the thing.

You don’t need to wear a team jacket or post your latest training videos online to represent the horse world.

Cause the second you step out in public with a horse, whether you’re riding down a gravel road, leading one to a paddock, or even trot by a dog walker out on a forest trail you are visible.

And what people see is what they think we all are.

That might sound unfair. But it’s also true, and I personally believe it’s time we paid more attention to it.

I am the first to say cars need to slow down. Even so, being nice and polite and use common sense should never be considered a one way street.

Riders acting like they’re entitled to every freakin' meter of country road, as if a wave or a nod to a passing car is beneath them is actually equally bad as any of the speeding cars.

Cause these are the things that make non horse people start rolling their eyes when they see horses.

When ignoring traffic, or turning forest roads into mud-pits for no-one but any kind of retriever dogs to enjoy, then we've given the general public ammunition to stop welcoming riders on the shared trails.

It only takes one bad impression to sour the view for everyone.

Right-of-way is not the same as right-to-rudeness. And there is a massive difference between being confident in your right to ride, and being oblivious to the world around you.

Be an ambassador!

Dogs, strollers, cyclists, runners are not obstacles. They’re people trying to enjoy the same space we are.

They might not understand horses. They might even be afraid of them. And they absolutely have the right to be treated with respect.

Like it or not. We can’t afford to forget that we are ambassadors. The days of riding across town without being noticed are long gone.

Every camera phone, every dash cam, every Karen, every frustrated Facebook post is a reminder that our actions don’t just reflect on us.

They reflect on everyone who rides.

So next time you’re out and about, do it nice.

Smile.

Wave.

Thank people who slow down.

Dismount if you have to kick that pile of crap to the ditch.

Say hi!

Cause decency from the back of a horse isn't optional. It’s essential. Because what they see is what we are. And I, for one, would like that to be something good.

💬 If this made you think, please pass it on to a fellow horse person and let’s keep the conversation going.