Horse riding on the Rail Trail

Any incident or accident that occurs on the rail trail must be reported using the incident report form within 12 hours or as soon as possible after the incident.

Permit holders agree that, should an incident occur while they are riding on the trail, they will report the incident using the online form.

Horse-riders on the rail trail agree to always undertake safe horse riding which means:

• Keeping your horse under control and maintaining a secure seat at all times.
• Only ride on the rail trail if you are an experienced rider with a socialised horse.
• Avoid riding alone.
• Placing the most experienced riders at the front and tail of a group.
• Ensuring that less experienced riders are mounted on experienced and trusted horses to improve safety for horses and riders.
• Riding at the pace of the least experienced rider.
• Riding within your own abilities and your horse’s capabilities.
• You may encounter people who are unfamiliar with horses and who may be intimidated by them. Ride in single file at a walk past other rail trail visitors.
• Ensure your horse is familiar with and accepting of the type of hazards they may encounter on the rail trail. This includes dogs, cyclists, bike and e-bike riders.
• Give way to pedestrians at all times.
• Leave no trace. This means you must either collect/use a manure bag or remove any horse manure from the rail trail so that it doesn’t pose a risk or provide a poor experience for other trail users.
• Be aware that bikes may approach rapidly and unannounced and can frighten less experienced horses and riders.
• If you are leading a horse-riding group ensure that all riders are suitably mounted. If riding in a group, never ride off before all riders in the group are mounted and ready. Ride abreast or stay a full horse length behind the horse in front to avoid you or your horse being kicked.
• Never rush past riders who are proceeding at a slower gait, as this can startle both horse and rider and is often the cause of accidents. Instead, approach slowly and proceed past cautiously.
• Always wear protective head gear.
• Appropriate footwear should be sturdy and have soles that will slide easily from the stirrups but with enough heel to keep your foot from slipping through the stirrup. Sand shoes and thongs belong on the beach, not near horses.

The Northern Rivers Rail Trail member councils acknowledge the strong equestrian sector in our region and its contribution to the economy and the way it supports and grows the associated allied services allied industries in equine therapy, veterinary, dentistry, chiropractic, massage and other support services, which all provide an essential service across the region.

It also enables more broadly nature-based lifestyles and a healthier community, as well extending to, through organisations such as the Riding for the Disabled Association of Australian, important socially beneficial support services for many individuals and families.

Horses are permitted on the 23.4 km on the Casino to Lismore section. This section starts at Casino and continues past Back Creek Bridge, Bentley onto Kyogle Road, Lismore.

The decision to allow horses on a 2.2 km area of the Tweed section was well-considered and factors in Council’s responsibility to:

• provide access and inclusion for all
• deliver and operate a safe rail trail
• be environmentally and fiscally responsible for the ongoing management in these very early stages of the rail trail.

This has been considered against Council’s priorities to:

• make the trail accessible and inclusive for all people and abilities and meet our obligations under the Disability Inclusion Act 2014
• manage the overall risks of operating a rail trail and shared user path where less compatible user groups interact with the complexity of it occurring in an un-tested environment that may also be remote and isolated
• maximise user safety for all, including that of horses and their riders
• work within construction project funding and timelines, and physical design constraints including a limit on trail width (upwards of 3 m wide), highly vegetated environment, 26 bridges and 2 tunnels, one of them being over 500 m long and very dark
• minimise avoidable trail degradation and maintenance costs in the early stages of the trail operations.

Operational decisions for the rail trail are made to achieve the greatest good for the greatest number of people and it is reasonable for the community to understand that not every demand, expectation or desire can be attained, at least not in the first phase of the rail trail’s development.

Tweed Shire Council continues to advocate for and shares the vision for more connected horse trails throughout our region and Tweed’s rural villages to support the equestrian community. This requires collaboration with other recreational trail managers to expand wider access to horse riding trails in nearby National Parks or Public Reserves or Crown Land.

Council would support and be willing to contribute to an equestrian trail strategic plan for the Northern Rivers region to best connect the public assets and link other trails.