What GPS device should I use to record my trails?

For the purpose of recording your trails for Top Trail, you ​are free to use any GPS device designed for outdoor/​recreational use or a GPS app installed on your smartphone. There are many devices and apps to choose from at different price points and with a variety of features. Likewise, some apps free, others are not but they are relatively inexpensive.

When choosing a GPS, the critical feature/requirement it needs to work with Top Trail is the option to export your recorded trail (track) from the app or device in .GPX file format. Top Trail requires .GPX file to render your trail map and calculate your mileage.  

For those of you who like the convenience of the Smartphone App, we do recommend EasyTrails. It’s available for both iPhone and Android and you can upload your ride directly to your Top Trail account saving you time.

Can you give some examples since it can be overwhelming when you aren’t familiar?

For those of you who like the convenience of the Smartphone App, we do recommend EasyTrails. It’s available for both iPhone and Android and you can upload your ride directly to your Top Trail account saving you time. EasyTrails GPS is recommended for beginners. We can also recommend Endomondo, which is a free app, and you can’t go wrong with the Garmin GPS devices for outdoor/recreational use although there is more of a learning curve when using the Garmin’s.

How are Top Trail Challenge Divisions Determined?

Upon enrollment in the new and improved Top Trail, new members are responsible for determining their division (see below). If you are transferring your Top Trail membership from the Open Trail website you will select the appropriate division based on your last year’s Top Trail mileage. If you are brand new to Top Trail, estimate based on what you know about your riding history to determine the appropriate division. Adjustments will be made manually by Top Trail personnel if any riders have exceeded the mileage parameters for the current division—they will be moved up. A member may be moved up a Division at the beginning of a quarter based on your year to date mileage only. You may be moved down or up in Divisions at one year intervals.

Division classifications are based on # of annual miles:

• Legends Division  Over 1001 miles
• Competitor Division 501 to 1000 miles
• Explorer Division  301 to 500 miles
• Blazer Division 151 to 300 miles
• Pleasure Division   1 to 150 miles

Are there divisions for both Top Trail Rider or Top Trail Horse, or both?

Yes. Your horses will be in the same division you are in regardless of their annual mileage.

How do I delete a trail?

From your Ride Log, there is a “trash” icon that will delete the trail and deduct the mileage of that trail from your account.

I get an error message when I try to upload my .GPX file and it will not go through.

For now you can email the .GPX file to us and we will troubleshoot for you. Sometimes this will happen if the GPS was turned off or paused at some point during the ride and then started again, resulting in a straight line from the point where it was turn off to the point where the track was picked up again. Email to toptrailhorse@gmail.com

I am riding with a group. Can we all use the same track to upload to our own profiles for mileage?

A trail can only be uploaded one time. Everyone must use their own GPS app or device and upload their own trail.

What does “not valid for the Top Trail Challenge” mean?

If you get this message this means that Top Trail was unable to verify one of the following:

• Trail location: Our Geo Service was unable to find where the trail was ridden.
• Ride Date: Your GPS device/app does not add date time to the GPX record or the trail was uploaded after the 72 hour limit for Challenges.

I rode my friend’s horse today. How do I make sure that the trail mileage is attributed to both me and the horse?

• You must be friends with the user on the new site.
• You need your friend’s horse’s TTH ID in order to add them. It is best that you send the owner a message to ask for
• You can find your horse’s TTH ID on the “My Horses” page.
• When you use this feature, your miles will contribute to the owner’s horse’s Lifetime and challenge miles.
• Deleting a trail-ride with a friends horse will also deduct miles from the owner’s horses’s lifetime and challenge miles.