AUGUST 2004 RECREATIONAL / TRAIL RIDING ISSUE
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AUGUST 2004 RECREATIONAL / TRAIL RIDING ISSUE |
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CONTENTS Trail Riding with Backcountry Horsemen
UPCOMING
ISSUES |
Using a Trail Bell by Bonnie Davis twohorse@horsecamping.com Trail riders move along trails with little to no noise. The squeaking of leather, the plodding of hooves on earth, a comment pointing out deer or other wild land beauty along with the clicking of a camera shutter are usually the normal noises of trail riding. But there are trails and times a trail rider will want to be heard coming down a trail which is why its important to use a Trail Bell. A Trail Bell is a little Swiss bell with a soft tinkle. It can be attached to the horse’s cinch or breast collar so as the horse walks along the trail, the bell lets other trail users and critters know someone is coming. It’s soft tinkle is just enough to catch an ear and attract attention. Close encounters on trails happen because the horse and rider are not heard. Rounding a bend and coming face to face with a bear or a whole herd of hikers may be avoided with a Trail Bell. It’s quiet and gentle tinkle is enough to catch attention so they tend to look in the direction of the ring. Bears and mountain lions want to avoid people too! But bears and other of nature’s critters have to be ‘notified’ that a trail rider is coming. A Trail Bell is advance notification that ‘someone’ is coming down the trail. For years commercial packers have used ‘bells’ on stock to keep track of them in meadows. A Trail Bell can be attached to a halter at night so a camper can keep an ‘ear’ on where the horse is moving. And one can even be added to a dog’s collar. Trail Bells are $4.95 each and available from Two Horse Enterprises, www.twohorseenterprises.com, dedicated to trail riding and horsecamping. Each Trail Bell has an attachment ring plus its own plastic storage bag so when not in use, it can be dropped in saddle bags or a shirt pocket. For a FREE catalog, contact Two Horse at P.O. Box 15517, Fremont, Ca. 94539, (510) 657-5239, fax (510) 683-9162. |
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