Horse Safety & Etiquette

Part of having an enjoyable experience in the Santa Monica Mountains is ensuring that everyone is safe. Riding a horse in a multi-use environment requires even a higher level of awareness. Remember, safety starts with the individual!

Reading and following these tips will make sure we keep our parks a pleasant place to visit.

Safety

• Stay on maintained trails and observe all posted signs. It is best to ride with a buddy and tell someone where you are going and when you expect to return.
• Watch for overhanging branches from shrubs and trees.
• Keep horses at a walk when passing other visitors and stay to the uphill side.
• Carry first-aid and your vet’s phone number in case of emergency.
• Bring water for yourself and have water in your trailer for your horse. Stream water may not be suitable for all horses, and is unavailable in many areas.
• Walking dogs while riding horses is not advised since dogs must always be on a leash no longer than 6 feet. (*Dogs are not allowed on State Park backcountry trails.)
• Loose horses are not permitted on park trails.

Etiquette

• Be courteous to other trail users. Hikers and bikers should yield to horses, but may be unaware of protocol.
• Horses are only permitted to walk, trot, or canter on park trails. Galloping is not permitted.
• Horses are not permitted in picnic areas, campsites, and lawn areas.
• Please, do not lunge horses in park.
• Manure must be picked up from parking lots and other developed areas.

Resource Protection

• Horses are allowed only on designated trails.
• They must keep out of ponds and only cross streams at designated trail crossings.
• Off-trail use is not permitted.
• DO NOT tie horses to trees. Please use hitching posts or ground tie or hobble.
• After rains, check with national and/or state parks for trail conditions and closures.
• Trail use is not recommended when trails are wet and prone to damage.
• Grazing is not permitted.