Equine Research - Dept. of Animal Sciences Colorado State Univ. 2000 Research Report. K.N. Forde, J. Hyatt, and J.L. Traub-Dargatz Colorado State University Department of Animal Sciences Colorado State University Veterinary Teaching Hospital Ft. In the western United States recreational horseback trail riding is a very popular activity on public and private back country trails. Government regulatory agencies have raised concerns as to whether horses used for back country recreation are a significant risk to these wilderness areas.
Reliable data is needed to determine the amount of trail use that is occupied by horses.
The objective of this survey was to determine the number and times horses utilize public land trails in Colorado. Data were collected between July and November and the demographics associated with trail use were collected representing 23 different trail heads. The data was collected at random from horse people using trails for recreational and commercial uses. Data was gathered from the owners of 300 horses. In the United States recreational horseback trail riding is a very popular activity on public and private back country trails.