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Who Yields to Whom? by Elaine A. Powers, Author

In recent years, I’ve taken up horseback riding. I have a 20-year-old mare who I ride for trail riding. Most of the time we are out in the washes of the Sonoran Desert, away from other people, but occasionally we like to use the county trails. These trails are intended for use by pedestrians, inline skaters, bicyclists and equestrians. With the pandemic, activity on these trails has increased, since people can maintain safe social distances, get some fresh air while exercising.

The increase in use has led to some encounters between the different groups. Who has right-of-way on these trails? Ann Brown recently wrote an article about trail etiquette in the Arizona Daily Star, clarifying who yields to whom on the trails. Slower, more vulnerable trail users get priority.

Vulnerable: I think people riding horses fall into that category. After all, they are on top of thousand-pound creatures with minds of their own, which instinctively flee when something startles them, like a bike whizzing by. That they have a person on them can be of little consequence. I’m pleased to say the trail management agrees. Here are the rules issued:

Bikes yield to inline skaters.

Bikes and inline skaters yield to runners, pedestrians and horseback riders.

Everyone yields to horses!

I like that it’s recognized that everyone and everything needs to yield to horses.

As riders, we try to desensitize our horses to things that might scare them, but you can never predict just what might set them off. I wasn’t really surprised to find out that horseback riding is more dangerous than motorcycle riding. 20X more dangerous! The injury rate for motorcyclists is one every 7000 hours of riding, while it’s one every 350 hours for horseback riding.

We should all be respectful of each other as we share trails, but please remember to yield to horses. Riders and their horses will thank you.

Happy Trails!

BOOK NOTE: In two of my books about making new friends, Clarissa the Catfish learns about both boundaries and yielding. It’s not easy being a fish out of the river! Find out how Clarissa’s friends help save her, use their ingenuity to show her around the museum, and make sure she is not taken for dinner! The books are fun summer reads for the child with a curious mind.

Clarissa Catfish Visits the Peoria Riverfront Museum, ages 8+

an illustrated children's book cover, blue water with a catfish swmming and a bu9ilding in the background — A flooding river takes Clarissa Catfish to the Peoria Riverfront Museum. She had thought exploring the Illinois River was exciting, but once she is taken inside the museum, the real adventure begins. Clarissa explores the exhibits and makes new friends–but will she escape the man who has dinner plans for her?

Clarissa the Catfish Makes New Friends at the
Peoria Riverfront Museum.But One Employee Makes
Plans For Clarissa: Dinner Plans!

A Chapter Book for
Reading Level: Ages 8+

48 Pages

Modern Illustrations
by Jacqueline Klene

Clarissa Catfish at the Peoria Playhouse Children’s Museum, ages 6+

A golden orange book cover with a green catfish on the cover — Clarissa Catfish liked her new home at the Peoria Playhouse Children’s Museum, but she couldn’t see the exhibits or the children in her tank. How can a catfish see the sights when she needs to stay in the water? Come inside to find out and join Clarissa as she explores the marvelous museum.

“Don’t worry, Clarissa! We will take you on an Adventure!”

Reading Level: Ages 6+

30 Pages
Including a Channel Catfish
Fun Facts Section

Written in Rhyme

Colorful Illustrations
by Haley Gray

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