P.E.I. says 'hold your horses'

The P.E.I. government is hoping to stop horseback riders from using the Confederation Trail until a 25-kilometre bridle path is completed.

The project is on hold while the government tries to find the cash to finish it.

The trail is made of clay or grass instead of the gravel now used on the cyclists' and hikers' trail. It will run alongside the existing trail from Fredericton to Kensington and Emerald to Kinkora.

Doug Murray of the tourism department says the trail should be ready by spring. "We really don't have any money to finish it this fall. We still have gates, signage, shelters and benches."

Until then, Murray is asking horse owners to stay off the gravel trail. He says part of the trail in central P.E.I. has been damaged. "Their hoofs dig in a little bit," says Murray. "That loosens up the gravel, makes holes and of course, when it rains, it washes out.

Murray says the department is putting up warning notices telling horse owners not to use the trail until the bridle path is ready.