Trail Etiquette 101: What’s the Scoop with Horse Poop on Trail?
- Lily
- Mar 11
- 3 min read
As I sat in an ER exam room getting my face stitched back together after an unlucky riding accident, my doctor turned to me mid-suture and asked, “So what’s the deal with people leaving horse poop all over the place?!”. This was not the first time I’ve been asked this question. In fact, comments about manure nearly always pop up in conversation when non-horse people hear that I spend a lot of my time trail riding. For riders, the little gifts that our horses leave behind on multi-use trails are so constant that we hardly think about them, but for other trail users, a lack of public knowledge about horse poop can lead to resentment over horses’ presence on trails and fear for health concerns. In the spirit of promoting trail etiquette and sharing outdoor spaces, here’s some information on how horse poop differs from other waste, why it is allowed to remain on trail, and a summary of best practices for trail riders to keep in mind when it comes to manure.
Is it really okay to leave horse poop on the trail? Short answer, yes, most of the time.
Arguably the biggest point of confusion about horse manure is why it is allowed to remain on trails when other forms of waste are not. Dog poop (and human poop, for that matter) are required to be disposed of properly on public land, and guidelines are typically displayed on trailhead signs. Yet regulations regarding horse poop are far less discussed in hiking circles, leaving trail users concerned that riders may not be abiding by Leave No Trace principles by failing to clean up after their steeds.
Unlike other types of excrement you might encounter, horse poop is classified as non-toxic by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and is excluded from solid waste regulations. An average 1000 lb horse will produce between 35-50 lbs of manure every day! As herbivores, horses do not pass many of the pathogens in their manure contained in the feces of species that eat a carnivorous or omnivorous diet. Manure piles are made up of around 80% water, which quickly evaporates into the air or leaches into the ground. Equine parasites whose eggs can be present in poop do not infect humans and the microorganisms passed from a single horse’s digestive tract into their manure do not contain high enough levels of Giardia or Cryptosporidium to contaminate water sources for hikers on trail and lead to illness. The remaining 20% solid component of horse manure is comprised of fibrous plant structures that horses are unable to digest. This material breaks down very quickly in natural conditions and resembles dried lawn clippings, quickly fertilizing into the ground.
When should riders be cleaning up after their horses?
Although it is acceptable for manure to remain on most natural trails, there are places where riders should not leave their animals’ waste behind. Here’s a list of situations where it is best practice to grab the pitchfork or scatter your equine’s poop so that it breaks down more quickly:
Final thoughts regarding horse poop on trail:
To horse people: Even though it doesn’t bother us, remember what a nuisance manure can be to trail runners, bikers, and other folks trying to dodge around piles who aren’t used to being around horses period, let alone their waste. When you get the inevitable question asking, “Are you going to pick that up?” try your best to respond politely and provide useful information on why it’s okay for you to leave your horse’s poop behind. Not everyone will be receptive, but remember that we need to treat others with respect if we want to maintain stock access to public trails.
To other trail users: Believe it or not, many of us on horseback often don’t notice when our horse is doing their business, as many horses will continue moving as they defecate. Just like other animal owners, we can’t choose where our horses choose to relieve themselves and I promise we aren’t trying to ruin your trail experience! Yes, maybe it's a a bit crazy that horse poop doesn’t gross us out at all, but science shows that there are minimal adverse health effects when compared to most other forms of animal waste.
Sharing knowledge builds stronger connections! I encourage everyone to try their best to adhere to trail etiquette while remembering that we can all make mistakes and should be open to learning from them, in the outdoors and beyond. Happy trails!
