Grieving horse owner warns of trail danger
Rangers investigating horse's death resulting from illegal motorcycle use
“Get off the trails before some one gets killed.” That’s the message Jeri Sust, of Newcastle, wants to share with those illegally using off road vehicles at Folsom Lake. Sust’s 4-year-old horse, Toby, had to be destroyed after he was spooked by illegal dirt bike riders at Folsom Lake on Saturday, Jan. 3. The horse bolted, threw Sust and severely injured its leg during flight.
Toby, a 4-year-old appaloosa/Quarter Horse, had been owned by Sust for 1 ½ years. “God knows I loved that horse. He was a sweetie and tried hard to please. He loved people,” Sust said. According to Sust, she and Barbara Heyward, of Loomis, had trailered their horses to Sterling Point equestrian staging area in Loomis. They were riding on a Folsom Lake trail at approximately 12:30 p.m., when three unknown riders on “dirt bikes” frightened the horses. Apparently, the horses bolted and both riders were thrown. Sust hit her head in the fall, which broke her helmet, and both women suffered bruises and badly bruised ribs. Sust’s horse suffered severe injuries to one of his rear legs. Dr. Jack Abrahams, a Granite Bay veterinarian who treats the Sust’s animals, made an emergency call to Folsom Lake to examine the horse. He said the injured animal was in a remote spot and he had to be taken by a ranger in a four-wheel drive vehicle to the horse’s location. “There wasn’t a lot I could do for him,” Abrahams said, explaining that based on a visual exam, the horse had suffered a “deep laceration,” ruptured ligaments and had been hemorrhaging. Dr. Abrahams then euthanized the horse. Sust said she does not know if the motorcycle riders knew the effect they were having on the horses, nor is she sure how close the motorcycles came to them. Heyward estimated that the horses may have been traveling 30 miles per hour when the riders were thrown. “Jeri fell first and my horse swerved to avoid her and I was thrown. It’s a good thing she swerved,” Heyward said of her 20-year-old Morgan mare, Bailey. Sust said her horse, Toby, was found about half a mile away and was behind a bunch of boulders, unable to walk. Bailey, Heyward’s horse, was eventually recovered, uninjured, about five miles away. “It’s amazing that Bailey wasn’t hurt,” Heyward said. “These motorcycle riders know they’re not supposed to be there, but they sneak in,” she said. In response to the incident, Richard Preston, supervising ranger at Folsom Lake State Recreation Area, said, “We have a report in progress, we’re investigating and we’re working on a couple of leads.” Preston said it is illegal and a misdemeanor to operate off road vehicles in any part of the park, although street legal vehicles are allowed in certain park areas. Preston attributes lower lake levels to an increase in this type of illegal activity. He also said that officers are meeting with their supervisors to address the issue and come up with a plan for “limiting access” for illegal entries. Preston asks the public to report any illegal activities at Folsom Lake to the State Parks dispatch center at 358-1300. He said that illegal activities on private land bordering the State Park come under the jurisdiction of local law enforcement. For more on this story, see Tragedy on the Trail -Joyia Emard is a reporter for the Loomis News
|
Change Location:
|
I hope the riders who did this read this message. You're a**holes one and all and I hope, someday, somehow, you pay for this conceited, self-centered behavior.
Ms. Sust I'm sorry for your loss. To the journal...pleaes tell me the following quote should have been that the motorcycles were going 30 mph. "Heyward estimated that the horses may have been traveling 30 miles per hour when the riders were thrown."
I ride ATV's and UTV’s off road. I do not ride where I’m not supposed to ride and if I do see hikers or bicycles I slow down to avoid dust and just showing plain common sense. If I ever run into horses I STOP and let them pass as I am well aware they get spooked.
The bad riders give the good riders a bad name and it pees me off!
BigBelly you are right their are some very nice mountain bike riders and dirt bike riders. I have ridden my horse in Georgetown and all the dirt bike riders I came accross were very polite. My horse is trained to accept both dirt bikes and mountain bikes. However, I actually had a man on a mountain bike try to run me off the trail, a trail he was not suppose to be on. He found out just how tolerant my horse was. He does not know just how lucky he was, you see had I have asked my horse he would have pushed the rider and bike over the edge. The man with his bike weighted maybe 200 lbs, my horse over 1,000 lbs. I am also planning on bringing pepper spray with me from now on and having it handy.
People who ride these dirt bikes need to be stopped. If the area says they aren't allowed there, then they need to follow the rules. One of my friends was riding out there when it happened and said it was very bad. I feel sorry for the two riders that got hurt. I am thankful that the one horse is ok and feel very bad for the owner of the other horse. Jeri, my heart goes out to you at the loss of your horse.
Commontater you are one prejudice fool. "conceited, self-centered behavior"? I think not. if a person on a horse goes horseback riding at a non-designate riding location, does that make them conceited and self-centered? the fact is that nobody could have meant for that to have happened to the horses or their riders. it was a wrong place wrong time situation mixed with one seemingly harmless act of fun-seeking adventure. you cant possibly blame the riders for what happened to the horses, it wasnt intended. however, they shouldnt have been riding there, so if they are caught, a misdemeanor would suffice.
Perp...HUH?
I think the trail they were on should be named "Toby's Trail". There could be a sign posted that would tell this sad story. Maybe it would help prevent another accident. Perpetrator wrote, " it was a wrong place wrong time situation mixed with one seemingly harmless act of fun-seeking adventure." So lets educate people. Let's put Toby's story at the trailhead of evey trail in Placer Co. with a sign that says "Dirt bikers will be held responsible...."
My deep sympathy goes out to the Jeri Sust and I hope both Jeri and Barbara Heyward are healing well from their injuries.
Did the jerks on the bikes stop and help? Doesn't sound like it, that is the real shame of this tragedy. Karma will get 'em.
perpetrator: You're wrong--it was a designated area for horses. Also, those riders motives were purely malicious--they didn't stop to help--instead they chased the horses.
Jeri Sust - I'm sorry about Toby, I can still recall the pain of having to put my horse down after a severe injury, my heart goes out to you.
I would like to call attention to the that Ms. Sust was wearing a helmet. Thankfully, this prevented much more serious injury, as evidenced by the fact that it broke. I see many people riding without them, and anyone who rides horses often can tell you, at some point you are probably going to fall off no matter what your skill level, so protect yourself. Parents especially, please be sure to have your children wear a helmet!
I'm so sorry about Toby. That is really sad.
I have a hard time believing they "chased" the horses. That's a pretty tough pill to swallow.
This is a tragedy, probably perpetrated by rich entitled spoiled Granite Bay teenage boys.
It is not confirmed that they chased the horses, however if they were traveling in the same direction as the horses once they bolted it didn't help the situation at all. Obviously the horses were scared and took off - so why continue in the same direction and cause even more trauma and damage.
More than likely the dirt bike riders were young and don't understand the full tragedy that occured due to THEM being in the wrong place (illegally). The horses were in the right, the motorcycle riders were wrong on every level.
I also would like to see the story of Toby noted for all to see on the trail.
And yes, please wear a helmet - no matter your age or riding skill or how "well trained" your horse is. My horse is quite the trail savvy horse, but she's still a flight animal with her own mind, and it's not always them spooking, but they could trip or stumble and cause the same result as being tossed.
And I'm sure those that ride with you or those that will be coming to your rescue would rather you wear a helmet so they aren't picking up the pieces so to speak.
Horses are more likely to spook by a bicycle racing past them than a dirt bike or quad because they can hear those vehicles coming.
I think that we should close trails to bikes, cycles on certain days so that equestrians can ride in peace. If the equestrians want to ride on cycle days, they are taking that into consideration.
As it is, multi-use trails are no good for equestrian riding because horses instinctively spook. Its their survival mechanism.
"it is illegal and a misdemeanor to operate off road vehicles in any part of the park, although street legal vehicles are allowed in certain park areas."
What parts would that be? This is a contrdiction. In order to get out to whats left of the puddle you must go off road. Street legal bikes like enduros are they permitted in these designated areas? I am only posting this because of the obivious. I am not saying that what the riders did was right or legal but this could be a little confusing to a reader.
Next where was the ranger? I know for a fact the acquestrian community is the first one on the cell phone to the ranger when they come across anyone breaking the park laws. These guys should have been picked well before this incident occurred.
Lastly horses spook. like Horseygrrrl stated no matter how well trained they still will spook. That is a risk that the acquestrians take. I am sorry the horse had to be put down, but by riding in a public place you are assuming that risk. There will always be someone who will break the rules and not care if they hurt someone or their animal. This is just bad situtation. Sorry for the loss of Toby.
perpetrator: You can join the group of self-centered, conceited a**holes. In fact, you probably are one of the original riders!
What don't people get about "illegal". Do you think that means hire someone from south of our border?
Common Sense folks and if they happen to catch the bike riders, hang them!
We have lost all perspective, even RT is confused. RT it is illegal to ride a motor driven cycle on trails that are designated equestrian. The kids/adults or whatever they are haven't stepped forward and admitted that they were responsible. I hope that they get caught and become a story in the Auburn Journal. If they are kids, then please make the parents take responsibility as they are the enablers.
localgirl1976, Motorcycles, ATVs, UTV and all other motorized vehicles are not allowed on any trail in Folsom Lake. All trail heads are clearly marked, a person has to want to ignore the signs and act stupid in order to be confused. Enduros are street legal, just like a car, the designated areas that the Ranger was talking about are paved roads. When the lake gets as low as it is now it is very tempting to go off roading, reading the signs posted at every entrance will tell the people that the activity is illegal.
In the Folsom SRA there are three kinds of trail. 1- Multi purpose, mountain bikes, equestrians and hikers allowed; 2- Mountain bikes and hikers only, no horses allowed and lastly trails designated for equestrians and hikers. None of the trails allow motor driven vehicles.
perpetrator, the trail in which this tragedy occurred happens to be an equestrian and hiking trail only, it is clearly marked. I usually ride with a lasso on my saddle which is a roping saddle and I can rope, if this were to happen to me rest assured that I would not only rope you off your motorcycle but I would drag your sorry a$$ a couple of hundred yards just as a harmless, fun seeking adventure. I bet you would not enjoy it, I would though.
Big Belly, I agree with you that bad riders give good riders a bad name. However the main reason that the trails are designated for their particular use is that some are too narrow, others lack line of sight, etc, the Parks folks have done a good job of determining the use of the trails.
One more time- It is illegal to operate any motor driven vehicle on any trail or off paved roads in Folsom Lake SRA.
Observant, I must have missed your post somehow. The same happened to me a few years ago, a mountain biker came downhill from behind and as he went by he not only gave a yell but tried to swat the horse. Mow My mare is a foundation Quarter Horse and it's built like a tank, weights a tad over 1100 pounds and as all Quarters she is very quick. This person very quickly found out that a horse can go uphill much faster than a bike. Not being as nice as you, I did force the idiot over the side. I stayed there long enough to ensure that he was not hurt, I even pulled his bike and him out with my rope and then we had a discussion about trail manners and stupid acts. I don't think this gentleman will ever do that again, assuming he's still riding, he was pretty shook up. Sad part was that he was not a young kid, he was in his 30s, old enough to know better.
Ms Sust- I am so sorry for your loss. I have hiked Folsom trails, and even walking when coming upon equestrians I stop and move aside and let them know where I am. I know first hand how easy a horse can spook, even the most experienced riders can find a situation out of control. I was in a situation on a trail ride with a group at Ancil Hoffman Park years ago, when a car full of teenagers decided to honk their horn as we crossed the road. Needless to say, my horse 'bumped' into another and when that horse bucked I was the one who got kicked in the shin. Cut right through my jeans, boots to the bone. Still have the scar to this day. Common sense people! Respect the rules and others!
LoomisResident: I want to go riding with YOU! I've also had to turn my Quarter Horse into the path of bikes who were getting way too close too quickly to my daughter and her pony and myself. With the "Oh, my horse kicks" thrown in for good measure. It's amazing how fast they will realize their stupidity...
Most have been courteous especially when they see I have a small child with me - but some just think they own the trail and do nothing - I educate those that do not know what to do ... Stop and ask the horserider if you are safe to go by- and talk as you do - go slowly and then continue on your way. It's not that difficult for any of these bike riders to do - just takes some common sense and manners!
What a shame- the stupidity and inconsideration of some riders always amazes me.
On behalf of these cowards, I apologize.
I've been riding dirt bikes for 25 years and always conduct myself in a courteous, considerate manor, as do the others that I ride with.
My friends, and I, always go to great lengths to be considerate to other trail users- especially the horses, where we always shut off the bikes and let them pass.
It's unfortunate that a few irresponsible riders perpetuate the myth that all off-road riders behave in this manor- please know that there are far more responsible riders than irresponsible- the problem is that we often only hear about situations like this.
Please accept our condolences on the loss of your beautiful horse.
Jonathan
Milford, NH