Bridle Trail No Place for Bikes

Mountain bikers are being reminded to keep out of the Lake Mangamahoe bridle trail after a horse was spooked during the weekend.


It is the latest in a series of incidents where mountain bikers have been using the 5km-long bridle trail in the north-eastern section of Lake Mangamahoe Forest, despite bikes being banned from the area.

“It’s a matter of public safety – mountain bikes and horses just don’t mix,” says Manager Parks Mark Bruhn.

“The track has been designed for riders to walk their horses two abreast, with the public able to walk on it as well.

“Mountain bikers have their own dedicated tracks on the opposite side of the lake and they should be staying in that area.”

During the weekend a Bell Block rider was on the bridle trail with a young horse that had just been broken in, when it was badly spooked by three mountain bikers.

This was not his first run-in with cyclists: A month ago he had to grab the reins of this 16-year-old granddaughter’s horse to prevent it from bolting after it was spooked by mountain bikers on the same bridle trail.

Mr Bruhn says such incidents are becoming increasingly common.

“With the warmer weather approaching we could well see more of this happening, so this is a reminder that no cyclists should be on the bridle trail at all.

“If people want to bike in Lake Mangamahoe Forest, they should go to the mountain bike tracks on the lake’s eastern side which are purpose-built for riders of all abilities,” he says.

Access to the mountain bike area is from Plantation Rd, off SH3.