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"Help the Horses" Day - volunteers wanted
Philadelphia Mountain Biking Association - Forums
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"Help the Horses" Day - volunteers wanted
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Topic: "Help the Horses" Day - volunteers wanted (Read 1826 times)
jpearce
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"Help the Horses" Day - volunteers wanted
«
on:
August 15, 2007, 01:32:51 PM »
Our friends at the stables have asked for a few mountain bikers to help with a horse/bike acclimation program that they would like to run on Saturday, September 15 at 1 PM. They're looking for about 4-6 bikers who can work with the HB riders in a training ring and on the trails to help acclimate the horses to being around bikes. Often the first contact a horse has with a bike is on a narrow trail, which isn't the optimal place for a new experience for the horse! We'll be helping these guys out, and in a way helping ourselves as well by reducing the chance of confrontation on the trail with a horse unfamiliar with bikers. It will probably take a couple of hours, and will take place at the stables near Wissahickon.
Unfortunately I'll be away that weekend, so we need one volunteer to be the coordinator on that day, plus a few other bikers to participate. I'll coordinate with our HB contact until then, and will collect and pass along all of the schedule and location information.
Please let me know if you'd like to help.
Thanks.
Jon
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Dmitri
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Re: "Help the Horses" Day - volunteers wanted
«
Reply #1 on:
August 15, 2007, 11:11:58 PM »
Do they promise to start using shit bags on those horses?
That sounds like a good idea. I would like to help.
But seriously, the horses aren't allowed to drop manure all over the city and everywhere else, why is it ok to cover multi-use trails with dumping?
dz
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I crash therefore I am!
fishnchips
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Posts: 813
Re: "Help the Horses" Day - volunteers wanted
«
Reply #2 on:
August 16, 2007, 12:33:34 AM »
The horses can't help it; it's a natural rebuilder. Call it "Trail Mix".
Tha ride was so flippen fast today I almost dropped a deuce myself. Keep your eyes open by the golf course hill
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Kelly
jpearce
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Re: "Help the Horses" Day - volunteers wanted
«
Reply #3 on:
August 16, 2007, 07:48:47 AM »
Well, I can't argue that point (Dmitri's, not Jess's). And it may take a little restraint to keep conversations fresh and upbeat on that day, judging from a few comments that I've seen from HB riders. But the overwhelming number of comments have been positive, indicating appreciation by the riders of the new line of communication with the bikers. I view this as another initiative to create better relations with other park users, similar to the good PR that we get from trail building.
Looks like Dmitri's in - thanks. We need about three more volunteers.
Jon
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Dmitri
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Re: "Help the Horses" Day - volunteers wanted
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Reply #4 on:
August 16, 2007, 08:18:58 AM »
Quote from: fishnchips on August 16, 2007, 12:33:34 AM
The horses can't help it; it's a natural rebuilder. Call it "Trail Mix".
I understand that! I'm not saying to prevent the horses taking a dump. I'm talking about the HB riders doing something about it, for the sake of the other users, after all it's not them who have to scrape it off their shoes/tires before getitng back in the car.
If they don't have time/man power to go pick it up from the trails, then they can do something like the carriage rides in NYC and Philly, which have those canvas bags strapped to horses behinds to collect the manure as it's "produced". That's what I was talking about.
It's a two way street, HB riders want consideration and respect from mtbers, slowing down, stopping, dismounting, etc. etc. to minimize our impact on their activity, but they do not seem to make too much effort to minimize their impact on our activity.
Jon, I perfectly understand what you're saying about friction, and would do my best to keep the tone and atmosphere light and cheerful that day, but I probbaly will end up trying to work the "shit bags" question into the conversation. In a friendliest possible way, mind you. I hope that would not distroy the efforts you've put into developing this relation. If you have any concerns about it, lets take it off line, into a private email, ok?
dz
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Krotee
PMBA Moderator
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Re: "Help the Horses" Day - volunteers wanted
«
Reply #5 on:
August 16, 2007, 09:13:28 AM »
I look at the shit as just another obstacle to avoid, I only really think of the HS when I'm hopping over it or zipping past...its a MT.B skill just like shifting on a hill, I am not against mentioning it to the HB riders or bringing it up the topic, but lets keep it in prospective. It's all just a bunch of shit.
K
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Rico
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Posts: 424
Re: "Help the Horses" Day - volunteers wanted
«
Reply #6 on:
August 16, 2007, 09:30:08 AM »
Damn, this topic is in the shitter....literally!
I do agree with all the points mentioned, but other than noticing "shit" on the trails, do we even know if HB riders are aware of other trail users concerns? I am sure this topic has been discussed among them, it has had to come up.
I think that this "Help the Horses Day" is a step in the right direction to hopefully get some communication amongst all trail users to express their concerns in the proper way. This seems like a good start. Maybe they should organize a TM Day to move the "fertilizer" off the trail to a proper place.
Jon, I'd be willing to volunteer also. The only thing that may prevent it is the PMBA Party, if it happens on the 15th. I would need time to pick up the beer, food, etc. So if it does fall on that day, it would just depend on the party start time.
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Lust4singletrack
The trail/ tool guy
PMBA Moderator
Jedi
Posts: 1312
Keep trails friendly. Go by slow and say "Hello"
Re: "Help the Horses" Day - volunteers wanted
«
Reply #7 on:
August 16, 2007, 06:18:21 PM »
Horse shit, no problem. Easy to spot and avoid. Not very sticky. Like K man said, adds challenge.
Dog shit on the other hand is nasty. Hard to spot, sticky as hell and it has a tendancy to fling up at you as your tires spin. If your mouth is open.....better hope you have a breath mint in your camelbak. Anyone who lets their dog crap in the middle of the trail and does not clean it up should have their face rubbed in it.
Sorry jon for going off topic. Umm..Yea...let's help the horses.
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"Trails help humans make sense of a world increasingly dominated by pavement. They allow us to come more closely in touch with our natural surroundings, to soothe our psyches, to challenge our bodies, and to practice ancient skills"
jpearce
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Posts: 523
Re: "Help the Horses" Day - volunteers wanted
«
Reply #8 on:
August 16, 2007, 09:37:50 PM »
Tom, your expertise on a wide variety of topics continues to amaze me. Who knew...
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Rico
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Posts: 424
Re: "Help the Horses" Day - volunteers wanted
«
Reply #9 on:
August 22, 2007, 09:00:10 AM »
Quote from: jpearce on August 16, 2007, 07:48:47 AM
Looks like Dmitri's in - thanks. We need about three more volunteers.
Jon
How may people are you up to? If you saw my post earlier, I said I would help out too.
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jpearce
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Posts: 523
Re: "Help the Horses" Day - volunteers wanted
«
Reply #10 on:
August 22, 2007, 09:35:40 AM »
Rico - I was counting you - thanks. Can't tell from Tom's reply if he's also in. We need a couple more people to volunteer, please.
Jon
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jpearce
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Posts: 523
Re: "Help the Horses" Day - volunteers wanted
«
Reply #11 on:
September 07, 2007, 02:45:52 PM »
NOTE - this event has been postponed to Sunday, 10/7 at about 1 PM. I'll be around for that date, but we'll still need some volunteers. Anyone want to help out?
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We do these things not because they are easy but because they are hard.
Lust4singletrack
The trail/ tool guy
PMBA Moderator
Jedi
Posts: 1312
Keep trails friendly. Go by slow and say "Hello"
Re: "Help the Horses" Day - volunteers wanted
«
Reply #12 on:
September 10, 2007, 07:07:00 PM »
I am....sort of in.
I've become a dog owner as of saturday. I'll try to keep the poop off the middle of the trail.....Actually my biggest goal right now is keeping it off my floor
. Man dogs are a lot of work.
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"Trails help humans make sense of a world increasingly dominated by pavement. They allow us to come more closely in touch with our natural surroundings, to soothe our psyches, to challenge our bodies, and to practice ancient skills"
fishnchips
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Posts: 813
Re: "Help the Horses" Day - volunteers wanted
«
Reply #13 on:
September 11, 2007, 02:44:09 PM »
Congrats on the dog! Wow, a lot of things happening at the Hill.
Yes, a lot of work; I would have tried to warn you if I'd known. But he'll/she'll be good company for trail building.
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Kelly
Rico
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Posts: 424
Re: "Help the Horses" Day - volunteers wanted
«
Reply #14 on:
September 11, 2007, 05:37:12 PM »
Just checked my schedule and I am good for the new revised date of October 7.......Eagles BYE Week (whew!)
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jpearce
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Posts: 523
Re: "Help the Horses" Day - volunteers wanted
«
Reply #15 on:
September 13, 2007, 08:14:13 AM »
Thanks, Rico.
As was mentioned at last night's meeting, maintaining good relationships with the equestrians at Wiss is an important objective of PMBA. While we only need about 6 riders for this activity, it would be nice to have 10 or 12 bikers there to show support - even if you just show up for a short time and then go riding on the trails. I'll post the location (probably Courtesy Stables) once it's finalized. Note the date change to 10/7, at about 1 PM.
Jon
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mtrostle
Platinum Member
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Posts: 254
Re: "Help the Horses" Day - volunteers wanted
«
Reply #16 on:
September 13, 2007, 10:19:49 AM »
Jon, I should be able to help. I'm usually at my cabin almost every weekend in the fall, but I can be home in time to help out
. BTW, I was the guy talking with you about Floyd Landis in the parking lot last night. Just so you know who I am. PM or post when you have the location set. -M
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Lust4singletrack
The trail/ tool guy
PMBA Moderator
Jedi
Posts: 1312
Keep trails friendly. Go by slow and say "Hello"
Re: "Help the Horses" Day - volunteers wanted
«
Reply #17 on:
September 15, 2007, 01:03:04 AM »
Ok Ok I'm in. I like horses. Sort of. I think I may actually be a little bit allergic. Guess we'll find out. If you see me rollin out of there early, you'll know why.
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"Trails help humans make sense of a world increasingly dominated by pavement. They allow us to come more closely in touch with our natural surroundings, to soothe our psyches, to challenge our bodies, and to practice ancient skills"
jpearce
Platinum Member
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Posts: 523
Re: "Help the Horses" Day - volunteers wanted
«
Reply #18 on:
September 20, 2007, 08:19:36 AM »
Looks like it's Tom, Rico, mtrostle, Dmitri (right?) and me, which is about the right sized group - maybe we can use one more person. We want to limit the size to about 6 riders. We'll be at Courtesy Stables, which is at 901 E. Cathedral Rd. Phila 19128. I don't know if we can ride there from the park, but will check it out beforehand. I'll follow up with final details closer to the date.
Jon
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We do these things not because they are easy but because they are hard.
fishnchips
Platinum Member
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Posts: 813
Re: "Help the Horses" Day - volunteers wanted
«
Reply #19 on:
September 20, 2007, 11:58:10 AM »
Hey Jon, that's right were we climb the longest hill up to the fields. As we gather at the top and take off for the fields there is a path leading off to the left that is marked as non-biking. About 100yds down is the stables. If you show up actually walking the bikes that might make a good impression.
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Kelly
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