Safety and Courtesy Around Horses

Give horses a brake! For your safety and theirs, please be considerate of horses and riders as you enjoy Woodside’s rural roads and trails. Equestrians will particularly appreciate the following simple rules of horsefriendly etiquette:

• Slow down when you see horseback riders.
• Give horses the right-of-way and stop to let horsemen cross the road.
• Please do not honk at horses; they are easily frightened by loud noises.
• Be considerate when in groups. Horses are unnerved by groups of bicyclists or runners.
• Do not obstruct roadside trails with parked cars or trucks.
• Make sure any trail crossing your driveway is safe for horses; slick asphalt is dangerous.
• Please be aware that balloons or streamers on mailboxes or posts adjacent to trails can be frightening to horses.
• Please be cautious when you encounter horses on a trail. If approaching from behind, a word to the rider is helpful for the safety of you both.

Preserve Our Rural Town!

Remember, the presence of horses is responsible for the rural atmosphere of Woodside that is so highly valued. Please help retain and expand our outstanding trail system by keeping your stable permits/trail user fees current. If you purchase a parcel of land with a permissive horse trail on it, please consider dedicating that strip of land as a Conservation Easement to the Town, which will then maintain the trail and assume liability for its use.

If you have an empty barn on your property, please consider reopening it for equestrian use. Because barns themselves are part of our rural picture, it is important to preserve, maintain, and/or restore them.