... Why not learn to deal? ...
Horse poop isn't 'icky'...
The reason it is responsible to pick up dog poo is because it is a hygiene problem.
I think we're going to have to agree to disagree on this one.
Someone once said "an individual's rights and freedoms end when they begin to infringe on the rights and freedoms of another individual."
The fact that folks who spend a lot of time with horses don't feel horse poop is objectionable doesn't alter the fact that a whole lot of other folks look at a "road apple" in the middle of a trail and see nothing more than... well, a pile of poop.
My guess is that if you were enjoying a can of your favorite beverage while traveling down a trail, there's absolutely no chance that you'd drop the empty can and leave it on the trail.
Based on the number of beverage cans I've seen on trails, I'd say there are an awful lot of folks who feel there's nothing wrong with leaving an empty can on a trail. And there's certainly no hygiene issue with that one little dropped can.
So why do folks carry their empty cans with them and dispose of them properly? Could it be because by dropping the can they infringe on the rights of other folks who will be using the trail?
I think most folks agree that if a rider is on a horse trail, there's no problem at all with letting the horse poop fall where it may, since just about everyone using that trail would have no problem dealing with road apples on the path.
My guess, though, is that a whole bunch of folks who do not ride horses would feel that a pile of horse poop in the middle of a trail also used by folks walking, jogging, or riding bicycles infringes on the rights of those other folks to enjoy the trail.
If I'm walking down a trail in a forest preserve and I see a pile of deer droppings, my reaction is "oh, look - a deer has been here," and I'm going to look around to see if it is still nearby.
If I'm walking down that same trail and I see a pile of dog poop, my reaction is slightly different - more along the lines of "geeezzz.... another inconsiderate dog owner didn't clean up after his pet. If stuff like this keeps up, they're going to ban dogs from the trail."
I am not suggesting that horses be banned from the path. I am suggesting that if the actions (or inaction) of the folks on horseback are infringing on the rights of all the other people on the multi-use trail, that the folks on horseback find a way to prevent or fix the infringement.
As with litter left along a 4 mile trail that has no trash cans, the fact that it is inconvenient or not real easy to keep the trail clean doesn't mean you shouldn't.
I've enjoyed this discussion, but I've got dozens of calendars and name badges that I've fallen waaay behind on because I've been posting here instead of working. So lets agree to disagree and I'll try and get some product made and shipped.
Have a GREAT day!
Rob