My wife and I rode the Wadham-Avoca trail and found the following for you to add to your knowledge and preparation for use of this trail. First, the trail is a total of 12.5 miles long. From Avoca, the first 7.5 miles consists of packed ballast and crushed stone. The remaining five miles to the south is asphalt. Mile-markers start two miles south of Avoca at the old trestle. Going north from the trestle, the markers are "N-0.5", "N-1.0", "N-1.5" and "N-2.0". Going south from the trestle, the mile-markers start at "S-0.5" with the last one posted as "S-10.5". From the "S-10.5" mile-marker, the trail continues for another one-half mile and ends at Griswold Road. There are NO PARKING signs posted along the road at the Griswold Road trailhead, but if you go to MTD Collision Repair Service located 100 yards east of the trailhead, they will let you park your car in their lot.

Again, this is simply a report of what we noted on the trail, so the information following is an accurate and objective description of those findings as it applies to horses. The trail from the north trailhead to the "S-2.5" mile-marker is well maintained by the various individuals, groups and corporations who have adopted and care for those sections of the trail. Those people do a very good job keeping the trail manicured and clear of horse droppings. The south five miles of the trail which is paved is also mostly cleared of horse dropping with the exception of four horse dropping found on the asphalt during our ride on 6/23/2010. From the "S-2.5" mile-marker to the S-5.0 mile-marker, we counted 24 horse droppings which covered various areas of the eight-foot wide packed ballast trail, or about one every 1/10 of a mile (500 ft.). This same stretch of the trail has what appears to be horse barns and corrals adjacent to the trail.

Our personal observation is that this trail offers users a beautiful view of various flora and farms. Even so, the horse users of the trail might want to keep their horses to one side rather than ride down the center of the trail and allow the dropping to cover areas based on Newton's Second Law of Motion. Other than that, maybe the various caretakers of the trail can work something out with those horse owners who use the trail and ask that they provide increased consideration and respect for all trail users; walkers, joggers, and bikers. Certainly, having to ride with a constant eye on the ground ahead, prevents users from enjoying the surrounding views. In our experience, we have found that municipalities have resolved this problem by paving 3/4 of the trail width and leaving the remaining 1/4 of the width with packed dirt for the horses. We hope this helps everyone to make the trail enjoyable for ALL users.

A friend and I rode the W.T.A. last Monday, October 5, 2009 and found it to be a very pleasant experience – at least from Avoca to the Wadhams end of the trail. That way was downhill and with the prevailing westerly wind to our backs. The return leg was a bit more arduous – up hill and into the wind. We probably should have been more astute in studying the map to determine the general topography since we know the Black River flows into the St. Clair. Oh well, if we do it again, we’ll know better! Although the fall colors had not yet peaked, the scenery was enjoyable even though the day was overcast. The trestle bridge was really a treat. Kudos to those who built and maintain it!

Previous posters have commented on the relationship between cyclists and horses on this trail and I feel compelled to do the same. In particular, I would direct these comments to “The Eighth Day” who posted on July 6, 2009. By opting for a cathartic rant, you missed an opportunity to provide all cyclists with really valuable information. How, exactly, should a cyclist approach your “…thinking, independent animals that make decisions for themselves. (and) weigh half a ton with some of them a great deal more”?

Trail etiquette calls for a cyclist to signal with a bell or horn or calling out, “On your left,” when approaching a walker or a slower cyclist from the rear. How would your behemoth react to this? Is there any need to approach from the front in a particular way? I know I’m not alone when I say that I don’t want to tangle with an out-of-control horse, so educate me/us instead of excoriating all of us because of the behavior of one of us!

As a horseman, I'd like to remind bike riders that, unlike bikes, horses are thinking, independent animals that make decisions for themselves. Moreover, an average horse will weigh half a ton with some of them a great deal more. While you are riding, consider that the person riding the 1000 pound animal is easily spooked by discourteous, self-absorbed, fools on bikes. Fools that by racing by horses in childish fits of self-importance can spook a 1000 pound horse into throwing a young child off into the trees or onto the road surface. This type of event can result in death or serious injury to the horse rider.

Consider your behavior carefully around horses. Ask yourself if you want to spend the rest of your life thinking about how you cut your bike in front of a horse because you were irritated at some horse droppings and caused the horse to throw a child resulting in a broken neck. Ask yourself if you were REALLY that horribly inconvenienced and so put-upon by a horse turd that it justified your irresponsible...and now tragic...behavior.

Horses are serious business. What looks easy on television is actually quite difficult and requires training and seasoning. The horses you ride at the local stable that pony down the trail in a quiet line are not the same as the horses you see on the Avoca trail. Horsemanship builds confidence and courage in kids and adults too because it is a challenge and it requires moxie. Bike riding, in comparison, is effortless and of little real consequence. Save your irritation for something important and be careful of your behavior and actions around horses.