Horse Camp Site Requirements
By Bob Cooper, 12/7/2016
By Bob Cooper, 12/7/2016
- Ample space to park and a good access road.
Required. Horse rigs have grown in length, width and height. The more room to park the better. Parking area should be all weather and reasonably flat. I consider Morgan Territory Rd. to be too narrow. Access road should not have sharp curves. If there is ample room to park trailers, they will fit. I’m against prescribing where horse rigs should park. Sunol Regional Park has parking berms to define parking spots and the berm are a serious tripping hazard for horses and people. - Display Camp Site Rules
Required. Let the equestrians know what they should and should not do. The sign that posts the rules is a good place for a map, too. - Stock water
Required. Few equestrians are equipped to carry enough stock water and horses need a lot of water during the summer and when exercised hard. Municipal or well water is much preferred. Reservoir tanks can have problems with bacterial growth and need to be filled which is added maintenance. If a reservoir tanks is used, select an opaque black or green color to reduce bacterial growth. - Access to trails.
Required. The camp site should be centrally located at a trail junction. - Toilets
Required. Pit toilets are fine. Portables are acceptable. - Hitch racks
Required. Equestrians need a place to tie their horses even if they are just stopping for lunch. There should be at least two. Most hitch racks are badly designed, especially the ones with “wings.” They must be strong. The hitch racks at Round Valley are safe, cheap, simply to construct and install. Most horses will tie to hitch racks overnight. Horse tied to trees are problematic and an alternative must be provided. - Manure Policy
Required. Equestrians need to be informed what the manure policy is: pile it somewhere, scatter it in the bushes, put it in the bunker, take it with you, or other. If equestrians camp for multiple days, taking their manure when they leave is impossible. - Stock pens
Not required will attract more equestrians to use the campsite. Stock pens should be at least 12' x 12' and made out of metal panels. The stock pens at the horse camp, Caballo Loco, in Del Valle Regional Park is a good example. The number of pens should be appropriate for the size of the camp site. Alternately, telephone poles can be installed so equestrians can set up “high lines” like at Stewarts Horse Camp in Point Reyes National Seashore. If stock pens are provided, hitch racks, though still nice, can be omitted. - Picnic Tables
Not required but will attract more equestrian to use the campsite. People can bring their own. - Barbeques
Not required but will attract more equestrian to use the campsite. - Fire Pits
Not required but will attract more equestrian to use the campsite. - Shade: trees or constructed
Not required but will attract more equestrian to use the campsite. - People water
Not required. Equestrians can bring their own. - Horse Troughs
Not required. They can be problematic with some people fouling the water. Equestrians who camp usually bring buckets with them. - Garbage cans
Not required. Equestrians can take their garbage home. - Manure Bunkers
Not required. They can be problematic if there is not an easy way to empty them.