Colorado Safe Horse

06/01/2026

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06/01/2026

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05/31/2026

⚠️NOTICE: Hiwan Heritage Park will be closed on Monday, June 1 for Mountain Pine Beetle preventative treatment. Please plan accordingly, work is weather-dependent.

Thank you for your patience and understanding as we work to protect the health of our forest.

05/31/2026

BLUE MOON! Get out there and FROLIC!

05/31/2026

05/31/2026

Thank you for your post Colorado SXS Adventures! The horse hit the trail back in Colorado (presumably without anyone riding them) in the 1600's. They represent an important part of our state's heritage and economy. We all need to take personal responsibility for safety. Your insight helps everyone understand more trail users and their concerns.

The Horse People

(By Doug Russell | Colorado SxS Adventures)

You want to know who deserves a little extra respect on the trail?

Horseback riders.

Not because they own the trail.
Not because they're better than us.
But because they're trying to control a 1,000-pound animal with a brain of its own.

Think about that for a minute.

When we see trouble ahead, we hit the brakes.
When a horse sees trouble ahead, it might decide to become trouble.

A horse can spook. A horse can bolt. A horse can react to things we don't even notice.
And when that happens, somebody can get hurt in a hurry.

Now, I don't know where you're from, but here in Colorado, the off-roading community shares the trail with non-motorized users every day.

Hikers.
Mountain bikers.
Hunters.
Fishermen.

And horseback riders.

That's just part of riding in Colorado.

These public lands belong to all of us, and learning how to coexist is part of being a responsible trail user.

That's why whenever I come across horseback riders, I slow way down.
Sometimes I stop completely.
Sometimes I shut the machine off.
I wave, smile, and let the rider tell me what they need me to do.

It's not about who's right.
It's not about who has the right-of-way.
It's about making sure everybody gets home safely.

The truth is, horseback riders were exploring these mountains long before any of us showed up with side-by-sides.

Most of them love the same things we do ....
The scenery. The solitude. The adventure. The freedom.

They're not the enemy.

They're fellow trail users.

And whether you're driving a SxS, Jeep, ATV, dirt bike, mountain bike, hiking, or riding a horse...
The trail works best when we give each other a little grace.

So the next time you meet a horseback rider on the trail...

Slow down.
Be patient.
Give them space.
Let them know you're there.

And remember ....

A few extra seconds of courtesy can prevent a lifetime of regret.

If you're a horseback rider, tell us what you wish motorized users understood.

If you're a SxS rider, tell us how you handle horse encounters on the trail.

Let's learn from each other.

05/31/2026

05/31/2026

05/31/2026

Ride Visible. Ride Safe. Whether you are catching the early morning sunrise, having an afternoon ride or heading home at dusk, you and your horse deserve to be seen. It's that time of year where trail time has many options. Make safety one of those options. Let's never forget the tragedy in Arvada in 2023 and prevent another one. https://www.coloradosafehorse.com/shop