Trail users need common sense

I've ridden horses with varying levels of training in Anderson River Park since 1993. Not once have I thought that this beautiful area was unsafe.

Then I heard about an equestrian who called the Anderson Parks and Recreation Department suggesting the removal of watercress growing in a water passage.

I was dumbfounded.

I've ridden the trail that goes through this body of water to get to the island beyond more than 100 times and I have never encountered any problem that I considered to be the park's fault or anyone else's.

First of all, the City of Anderson manages this natural riparian section of the park for the California Fish and Wildlife Service. Most equestrians consider it a privilege just to be able to use it.

I guess somebody's horse got its feet tangled in the watercress and panicked itself into deeper water where it fell over. Thankfully, the horse didn't drown.

There is no place that is perfectly safe to ride a horse. Especially when that place contains either water or vegetation. There are boogers to spook an animal anywhere you ride, whether they are man-made or natural. Things can happen the minute you put your foot in the stirrup. In my opinion, it's the rider's responsibility to know whether it is safe to proceed. It is the rider who must accept the consequences if it's not.

There are always extenuation circumstances, deliberate acts and so forth that are beyond a person's control. Sometimes, these things cause injury. But basically, we humans need to have common sense about our own actions.

I've been bucked off by a young, green horse while riding in the park. I suffered a broken rotator cup, but the accident was my responsibility. The incident could just as easily have happened on my own property or out in the wilderness or somewhere else.

Any equestrian should know that horses can be inherently dangerous. It's the nature of the beast. If horses are not trained properly, guess what? You are taking chances with experiencing an incident. Even seasoned equines can have a bad day or react to something brand new. We can't expect a body of government to babysit our recreational choices. Let's not spoil our privileges by making unnecessary complaints because that's what happens when you are dealing with public lands. The public is losing enough recreational lands because of the few who can't seem to take responsibility for their own actions.

The watercress in the park is necessary to the riparian life. To remove it would raise all types of environmental issues, not to mention the prohibitive costs of its removal.

I've been dumped off a horse in the lagoon in question, in the middle of winter. I was riding a green horse and once we were in the middle of the water trail, I noticed floating nearby a one-inch by six inch by two foot board. I watched the wave motion from the horse bring it our direction and could do nothing about it. When it finally went beneath the horse and bumped the animal's back legs, all chaos broke loose as she lunged. This sudden movement unseated me. I went head first into the murky water only to come up and see the horse's tail waving as she disappeared down the trail.

I just pulled off most of the watercress dangling from me, gathered up my hat, riding crop and, well I never did find my glasses, then went trudging after the horse, squeaking and sloshing all the way back into the saddle.

The thought that somebody else was responsible did not ever occur to me. I made the decision to go to the park that day, north wind blowing with a chill factor of about 30 degrees. I learned a lesson. Don't go there under those circumstances. Let's see, a green horse, cold day and north wind - not an ideal combination.

My suggestion is this, if your horse isn't ready for obstacles like water crossings and vegetation, go back to riding in a smooth, sandy arena.