AMERICAN FORK, Utah — What began as a polite nod and a cheerful “hello” between a mountain biker and a passing equestrian on a multi-use trail ended minutes later with the biker riding directly through a steaming pile of horse shit and ingesting part of it, a sequence mountain bikers described as “extremely predictable” and “basically inevitable.”
Mountain bikers and equestrians generally report cordial relationships on shared trails, often slowing down, exchanging smiles, and outwardly respecting one another’s space. That goodwill, however, tends to evaporate the moment riders encounter fresh horse manure deposited squarely in the middle of the trail, where it is absolutely never moved, cleaned, or acknowledged by anyone associated with the horse responsible.
“We’re not responsible for what happens after the horse blows 10 pounds of shit out of its ass,” said local equestrian Horace Shidden, standing beside a visibly relieved animal. “It’s nature. Horses poop. Trails are outside. If someone rides through it, that’s kind of on them. I don’t really give a shit—except, you know, the shit my horse just gave.”
Other mountain bikers confirmed that horse manure is typically left in place, citing a long-standing agreement that equestrians are exempt from dealing with the consequences of their animals’ digestive systems. “At least dog owners usually kick the turds off the trail or bag them before leaving them on the side of the trail forever,” said one rider, who asked not to be named after suffering PTSD from riding through several piles of horse shit in a single day.
The incident reached its low point when mountain biker Gary Gapemouth, 38, hit the pile at speed with his mouth open while ripping a downhill section. “I waved. I smiled. I said ‘have a good ride,’” Gapemouth said. “Thirty seconds later I had literal horse shit in my mouth. That’s when I realized I don’t actually like horses. Or equestrians. Or this world anymore.”
Gapemouth added that the experience forced an emotional reckoning common among mountain bikers but rarely spoken aloud. “We all pretend it’s fine. We say ‘shared trails’ and ‘mutual respect,’” he said. “But deep down, we know shit is always just around the corner.”
Equestrians, for their part, expressed little concern. “It’s biodegradable,”Shidden said. “Eventually.”
