Horses are back on designated sections of the Confederation Trail, and riders are hoping they’ll eventually have access to even more of the Prince Edward Island-wide system.
Dr. Sylvia Hall Andrews is a veterinarian and an avid trail rider who spends summers in the province, and is also the secretary of P.E.I. Trail Riders.
She said trail riding with horses is an accepted activity in other parts of Canada, so it makes sense to expand the options for it here on the Island.
“We would like to see an expansion of trail access over time…. The government is well aware our goal is to slowly increase the accessibility,” said Hall Andrews.
“We feel that horses are safe on the trail, belong on the trail.”
She said the group has hundreds of members who would like to be able to travel longer distances via the trail system, which is built where railway tracks once criss-crossed the province.
A pilot program allowing horses on parts of the Confederation Trail began in 2021. Now, a total of 66 kilometres are open to horses as well as the walkers, wheelchair users, runners and bicyclists who have always been allowed to use the system.
There are sections of trail allowing equestrians in all three of P.E.I.’s counties.
