ARTICLE UPDATE:
The headline of the article originally read: Equestrian campgrounds are an RVer’s best-kept secret.
We published the article with good intentions, to inform RVers that horse campgrounds could be a good place to stay when there were no other options. Our writers’ experience was pleasant: the campground where she and her husband stayed was vacant — no campers with or without horses — and they were welcomed.
After we published her article, comments from campers with horses poured in. Some were angry. They told us to leave these campgrounds for horse campers only. Like all RVers, they have problems these days finding places to stay due to crowding. But unlike other RVers, they have a large animal to think about, and holing up in a Walmart parking lot, a rest area or in a regular RV park are not an option.
We realize we were wrong to suggest to our readers that they consider equestrian campgrounds as a place to stay. We have deleted the article, and our advice to RVers who do not have a horse in tow is to never stay in these places.
As you may have noticed we have changed the headline. It now reads: Equestrian campgrounds: for campers with horses only.
YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE…
- Fairgrounds camping: Don’t overlook these affordable, sometimes free, ‘campgrounds’
- The ABCs of free and low-cost camping on state land
- The ABCs of free and low-cost camping on federal land
- Visiting the wild horses of Assateague Island National Seashore
- SaddleHawk Ranch, an unexpected Harvest Hosts gem for horse lovers in Deming, NM
- Campground neighbor exposes the world of horse trailer RVs, and they’re neat!
RVT1234
When we camped with our horses, sometimes where we went would be full of non horse folks with kids. The forest ranger would then start moving campers out of the horse sites if they had no horses or livestock as the campground clearly stated you needed horses or other livestock to camp there. Just be prepared to move if you take a spot for horses and later a horse camper comes in and needs that spot.
Also, many State and local Equestrian campgrounds and trails are maintained by local volunteers of Equestrian members and groups for Equestrian use. Safe places for Equestrians to ride and/or camp are becoming less and less. Non-Equestrians often have no concept of how to behave safely in an environment full of equines and riders. This can and does contribute to dangerous situations for everyone involved. Especially when vehicles, bicycles, kids, dogs, toys etc. are involved. This is from personal experience.
A few years ago we decided, only a couple weeks prior, to go to the Custer State Park bison roundup, which is a super popular event in the fall. We found a wonderful horse camp within just a couple of miles of Custer State Park and had a wonderful stay. That camp had the nicest, cleanest, completely private set of bathrooms we’ve ever seen! Large pull through site and very reasonable FHU price.
I know exactly what CG you’re talking about, Mikal!
Thanks Gail – very interesting. We only recently learned about equestrian CGs. We were in Stony Fork National campground near Wytheville VA this Sept (nice CG) and drove to Grayson Highlands state park where we checked out the equestrian CG. The sites didn’t seem very big but they had separate parking and stables right next to it. Nothing much out there (including cell) but very lovely place.
We have stayed in fairground campgrounds that were frequently used by horse trailer RVs. Some have been very nice, but several were poorly maintained. In warm weather, the flies and smell were so bad that we left those cgs. early.
Now that you’ve printed this, equestrians will have nowhere to go.
When we hear of someone using a local Horse Campground inappropriately, we have several volunteers who drive up to the camp, get pictures, and send them to our local recreation ranger. They are authorized to give them a ticket with a fee of $5000.
We are more than willing to share the trail and work with other trail users to build/clean/maintain trails. Please don’t follow this suggestions, you could be putting yourself into a bad situation.
Craig Ferdig
National Chairman
BCHA.org
Read my reply above. When I contacted our Rangers, he said he didn’t have to enforce signs put up by BCH. And when I talked with one of the RV’ers in the campsite with the horse corral, she said the ranger had been out the day before chatting with her and never mentioned it. Bummer….
Just West of Pensacola, there is a county owned horse park. We had a small RV rally there and it was great. About $26 a night, W/E, dump available.
Please don’t use horse campgrounds. This article is very inconsiderate of horse campers. Not all rangers move those without horses. Imagine what it’s like for a horse person traveling with horses to arrive late at a non-reservable campground only to find it filled with non-horse campers. What do you do? You can’t go to an RV park or a motel and another horse campground might be a day away. There are not that many campgrounds dedicated to horse campers
Yep, happened to me at Sheldon Mountain, expecting to put my horse in one of the 2 corrals that Cabinet BCH put it and BOTH were taken by RV’s so I had to hang a highline. The ranger told me it wasn’t his job to enforce signs that BCH hung (saying these 2 sites reserved for those with horses).
Please don’t use equestrian campgrounds if you aren’t camping with your horses. This is very inconsiderate of those of us who camp with our horses. We don’t have the option of just looking for another campground as equestrian campgrounds are built and setup for stock use. Please don’t do this and don’t recommend this to RVers.
Yep, happened to me at Sheldon Mountain, expecting to put my horse in one of the 2 corrals that Cabinet BCH put it and BOTH were taken by RV’s so I had to hang a highline. The ranger told me it wasn’t his job to enforce signs that BCH hung (saying these 2 sites reserved for those with horses).
Horse campers cannot use “people” campgrounds. DONT USE OURS. Walmart lets you park there!
Nice article, Gail. On our trip to Montana and the West last Summer, we noticed many horse trailer combos along I-94. You answered a question I had by pointing out in your piece that you don’t need to own a horse to camp in many equestrian campgrounds.
This is an irresponsible and dangerous suggestion.
First, the equine community spends thousands of hours each year to maintain these horse camps. They are almost always on land donated by a fellow equestrian and built by equestrians.
Second, the equine camper cannot reserve on normal campgrounds.
Third, horses are large, reactionary prey animals, with reflexes that are faster than a cat. It is common for a non-equestrian to approach an equine without any knowledge and end up putting themselves, the horse, and the the rider in danger.
Lastly, it could be costly. My local horse camp has a fine of $5000 if you do not have a horse.
Craig Ferdig
National Chairman
BCHA.org
Please don’t use equestrian campgrounds. We can’t use non-equestrian camps, and more often than not, we get to a horse camp, which is often maintained by a local horse group like Back Country Horsemen, and they’re full of non-equestrians. We are traveling with live animals and often need the extra space and amenities that horse camps provide, and to occupy space in equestrian camps is inconsiderate. Not to mention, there are far fewer horse camps than there are regular campgrounds, so our space is very limited.
No, don’t use equestrian horse camps.We already have given up so much our space because people don’t like “horse poop”. Sorry not sorry. No horse no entry…I disagree with this on so many levels….
Leave the horse spaces for horse people….sometimes you can’t play if you don’t “pay” ….I’m so tired of all my horse spaces be takin from people who don’t have horses and think they have a “right”
This is a terrible idea because many times people with horses show up and can’t get a site with pens because people without horses are in the sites with pens when they don’t need the pens. Go somewhere else please. I know this from experience more than once.
Yep, happened to me at Sheldon Mountain, expecting to put my horse in one of the 2 corrals that Cabinet BCH put it and BOTH were taken by RV’s so I had to hang a highline. The ranger told me it wasn’t his job to enforce signs that BCH hung (saying these 2 sites reserved for those with horses).
Whoa There Pardner….
The two Horse Camps in Az that I am a host of one, do not allow any non-horse campers. You must have a horse with you in order to camp.
PLEASE print a retraction, I already have to turn away folks too often, and that after a really rough ride down a 3 mile forest road. Some Horse Campgrounds may allow others in, but many do not.
Horses are, unpredictable, and most non-horse people do not understand how to behave around them.
Thank you…
Jason the horse camp host… 😀
I showed up to Sheldon Mountain campsite in Libby, Montana where the Cabinet BCH put up corrals in 2 spots AND BOTH were taken by non horse folk/RV’s (when they could have stayed at the other campsite with no corrals.) There were signs posted to do just that BUT, when I contacted the forest ranger, they said that their job was NOT to inforce signs put up by Back Country Horsemen. I was so bummed!