Criteria for Equestrian Parking Lots

7/31/2019 Criteria for Equestrian Parking Lots

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ONTARIO TRAIL RIDERS ASSOCIATION

CRITERIA FOR

EQUESTRIAN

PARKING LOTS


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EQUESTRIAN PARKING LOT REQUIREMENTS

AccessA combination truck and horse trailer can easily total 50 feet in length. Some may exceed

this length. Lengths such as this result in certain needs to accommodate vehicles andtrailers. See photo.

Entrance

The entrance approach ideally should have a minimum 12.2 metre turning radius into theentrance to the property. This meets the needs of tractortrailer traffic. Some horse trailers

are tractortrailers. This wide improved approach, treadway, or driving surface is essentialto eliminate "curb jumping", or interference with structures or other traffic. In

conjunction with this wide approach, any ditching should be very gradual if terrainpermits and well set back, and the vicinity should be clear of trees, signposts or otherstructures. See photo.

Entrance Gate/Fence

In the event that fencing and/or a gate system is present, the opening needs a minimum

width of 9 metres, which should facilitate 2-way traffic. See photo.

Drive

The driveway or park road leading to a parking area ideally should be minimal grade. If

terrain dictates that an incline is necessary, the grade should be less than 6 percent. Thepark road should also have minimal and very gradual sloping ditching if terrain permits.

Again it is imperative that the vicinity be clear of trees, branches and other structures.The lane must also be clear of branches to a height of 4.6 metres to ensure clearance for

all sizes of trucks and horse trailers. The drive must have no tight turns. See photo.

Loop Road

A park loop road that incorporates a parking area or parking areas is ideal, as it reduces oreliminates the need to reverse. This is a safety feature for persons, horses, vehicles and

trailers. The road must have no tight turns. See photo.

Parking Area

The parking lot itself must be large, level & well graded, functional, and should be void

of curbs, fences, posts, gates, signs, or other structures that reduce or interfere with trafficflow, turning, parking, unloading, handling & saddling of the horse.

Area

The most common shortcoming in horse trailer parking areas is limited or insufficientsize. Too small an area results in tight trailer turning or manoeuvering, cramped space for

trailer door opening and unloading horses, and inadequate spacing for horses that are


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temporarily tied to the side of a trailer for grooming and saddling. Remember that truck

& trailer combination may be in excess of 50 feet in length, the opening of the back door

requires perhaps 8 feet, and a safe and comfortable space for the length of the horse being

unloaded would be another 10 feet. Thus, you can visualize the amount of space requiredby one (1) horse trailer alone.

One might argue that a day use parking area does not need to provide for as many horsetrailer units as a horse campground; however, a day use parking area likely has a higher

frequency of trailer units arriving, manoeuvering, parking, unloading, etc.

It is recommended that a parking lot be larger than 200 feet by 350 feet in area. See

photos.

Unimproved & Informal

An area designated for horse trailer access and parking can be a natural dirt or sand

surface if it has a firm base and is well drained, to minimize mud in wet conditions. It is

not necessary to have an asphalt or gravel surface. Natural footing is more user friendlyfor the horses and is safer than asphalt. An advantage to a parking area not defined withpavement or heavy gravel is travelers have more access to pull off into shaded areas. The

key element is a large area. See photo.

Level Grade

A parking area must be level to allow full use of area, safe trailering and parking of unit,

safe and comfortable loading and unloading of horses, trailer & trailer door clearances,

fridge operation, etc. See photos.

Functional, Not Pretty

In a parking area serving as a trailhead for horseback riders it is important to construct aparking lot that is big, well drained, with ample room for horses to access the trail or

trails in a safe environment. Minimize the use of curbs, rockery gardens, boulders, posts,structures, flag poles. These things each add a possible hazard for the horse. Keep it

simple. See photo.

Surface

Small pit run gravel is the most suitable for trucks & horse trailers. Small gravel is easier

on the horses feet. Asphalt parking lots may tend to be slippery for unloading horses in

certain weather conditions. See photo.

Pull Thru Access & Parking

Imagine the design of a highway rest area truck parking area. The drive-thru route and

pull-thru parking spaces eliminate the need for backing up large trucks. Thus, parking oflarge rigs is easier, quicker and safer.

This pull thru model is used at large agricultural complexes and rodeo grounds, withmore space between designated spaces to allow for horse handling, grooming, and

saddling. This system can function well on dirt or grassed areas. Spaces are identified

with hydro hookups, water hydrants, or a simple lot numbering system. See photo.


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Trail Entrance

The entrance to a trail or trails should be given some separation from parked vehicles.

The actual entrance to the trail should not be too congested. This is the area that has themost user traffic, perhaps the area where people are signing a register, reading the map

board, rules posted, etc.The first 100 yards of trail are the most traveled by all users. Ideally the first 100 yards is

wider to minimize user congestion, and an easy trail when horses are meeting user traffic.Signage should be set back sufficiently as to not be a hazard to the head of a horse or

rider. See photos.

Overflow Parking Lot

An overflow parking area is optional. Often it is improved to a lesser standard than the

main parking area. See photo.

Partnerships

We see many examples of various levels of governments, interest groups and individualvolunteers working together to facilitate projects. In Del Norte, Colorado, corrals

provided a welcome rest area in an area of free range cattle (and mountain lions). These

public use corrals were made possible by a partnership between the Rio Grande National

Forest, Trailwise Back Country Horsemen and a grant from Colorado State Trails. See

photos.

If you have any questions please feel free to contact Ontario Trail Riders Association,

P.O. Box 64704, Unionville, Ontario L3R0M9, or contact us through our website

www.otra.ca.

Happy Trails,

ONTARIO TRAIL RIDERS ASSOCIATION


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EQUESTRIANPARKING LOT AREA

ACCESS

Wide, level, free of obstructionsRoom for passing oncoming vehicles

Lots of space to pass horses safely

Room to pull over if necessary

(New York State Otter Creek Horse Trails)


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ENTRANCE

Level & very gradual ditching

Good daylight triangle

Minimum 12.2 metre radius treadwayVicinity clear of structures & clear of obstructions

(Ontario Parks - Mono Cliffs)


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ENTRANCE GATE/FENCE

Minimum opening of 9 metres

These gateposts are 25 feet apart

Too narrow

(Ontario Parks Mono Cliffs)


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DRIVE

Minimal grade/less than 6%

Very gradual ditches if any

Good visibilityFree of obstructions & structures

No tight turns

(Green River Lake, Wyoming)


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LOOP ROAD

Loop Road or Entrance & ExitReduces need to reverse

Safety feature for persons, horses, vehicles & trailersWide, level, good visibility

Free of obstructions/structures

No tight turns

(Ontario Parks Mono Cliffs P.P.)


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PARKING AREA

Large, level, well gradedMinimum 200 feet by 350 feet, larger recommended

Functional


This lot measures 130 feet x 300 feet.

Difficult for parking of multiple horsetrailers if cars are already parked.


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PARKING AREASPACE BEHIND TRAILER

Calculation of space for length of trailers must allow for unloading

& safe saddling

Safe spacing around all sides for horse handling

(Black Canyon Trailhead, Arizona)

(Pull thru model parking spaces)


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PARKING AREASPACE BESIDE TRAILER

Room beside trailers for saddling livestock

(Elkhart Trailhead, Pinedale, Wyoming)


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PARKING AREASPACE BESIDE TRAILER

Room beside trailers for saddling and pack animals

(Elkhart Trailhead, Pinedale, Wyoming)


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PARKING AREA

Large informal parking areaUnimproved surface, no asphalt, no gravel

Good size for parking, entering, exiting

Some trailers find shade

(Catalina State Park,Tucson, Arizona)


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PARKING AREAS

Level, well drained

(Above Otter Creek Horse Trails, New York)

(Below Rest Area, Canyonlands, Utah)


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PARKING AREAS

Functional, not prettyAmple room for unloading horses

An area void of structures (eg. curbs, islands, flag poles)

is safer for horses and driver user-friendly



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SURFACE

Small pit run gravel is most common and very suitablefor truck & trailer, horse traction, and manure cleanup



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PULL-THRUDRIVE & PARKING SPACES

Highway Rest Area transport truck parking model

Drive thru access & parking spaces

Eliminates need for backing upDriver user friendly

(Highway in Michigan)


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TRAIL ENTRANCE

Avoid congestionAvoid tight spaces

Separation from parked vehicles


These posts are 76 inches apart. A horse + stirrups + saddlebags + riders

legs will fit between with ease. Many trail entrances and gate structures

are too narrow.

Within 50 feet the trail narrows to a single trail.

Ideally trail should maintain ample width for about 100 yards

for trail users to pass with ease and safety.


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TRAIL ENTRANCE

Avoids congestionAvoids tight spaces

(Elora-Cataract Trailway)


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TRAIL ENTRANCES

Tight space beside monster boulder is a potential hazard for horses(Ontario Parks -Hockley Valley P.P.)

(Black Canyon Trailhead, Arizona)

Opening is too narrow. A minimum of 4 feet is recommended.


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OVERFLOW PARKING LOT

Unimproved surfaceMain criteria large level space

Gate opening is too narrow here

(Ontario Parks - Forks of the Credit P.P.)


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PARTNERSHIPS

Success stories are often the result of a partnership(Frisco Trailhead, Colorado)

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Criteria for Equestrian Parking Lots

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