Trail marking - good and bad

Here's a laminated sign marking a running event route, in this case attached to an existing post.The sign will be removed after the event. This is all good practice over here.

Here's how last year's endurance riding event was marked.

Here's another piece of typical paint marking by the endurance people.

It ought to be a matter of "enough said".

However the national endurance riding federation insists on its "right" to mark trails with paint. It declines to use removable signs or ribbons. Therefore government officials are now involved on grounds of environmental protection.

The crux of the issue is simple: the endurance ride organisers want to mark the trail with the minimum of effort. That means not clearing up after themselves. Last year's event was short-handed - to the point that horses and riders were placed at risk on hazardous road crossings - largely thanks to their failure to recruit helpers from local riders and riding clubs.

The sport of endurance riding will be held in contempt locally if the organisers don't sort their act out.

Comments

[funder]

It wouldn't fly in America, that's all I'm saying. We use powdered chalk for ground arrows, and I think some other groups get mad about THAT!

[Laura Crum]

Painted arrows on trees? That's awful. As Funder says, that wouldn't fly over here. I would be furious if any group painted arrows on our local trees/trails.

[Transylvanianhorseman]

It happened two years in a row. The governing body of endurance riding over here was furious that anyone dared challenge them! Whilst the riders for the most part seem quite normal and considerate, the organisers have proven themselves arrogant and out of touch. I put this in part due to our archaic class system and in part due to the patronage of wealthy Arab nationals whose funding, whilst inflating egos at HQ level, hasn't trickled down to pay for proper organisation on the ground. It's a completely unnecessary problem. The event attracts hundreds of entries. Add another £10 to the entry fee and give the nearest Scout troop a decent donation to mark the trail with removable signs. Or pay a professional event organiser to do it.