Y’all Ready to PARRTA’Y?
Pittsburgh Area Run and Ride Trail Association
We’re Pittsburgh Area Run and Ride Trail Association (PARRTA), a new Pittsburgh-based organization focused on bringing trail runners and horseback riders together through trail races and trail maintenance projects.
2026 Races
Hillman Ride & Fly
Ride & Tie and Equathon
10k, 20k, 30k, 50k
Sat-Sun June 27-28
Hillman State Park, Burgettstown, PA
Steel City Human vs Horse
Trail Running Race and Equestrian Endurance Ride
20k, 50k and 50 miler
Saturday August 1
Hillman State Park, Burgettstown, PA
FAQs
What is a Ride & Tie?
A team of 2 people and 1 horse work together to complete a course
At the start one person is running and one is riding
After going ahead, the rider dismounts, ties the horse to a tree and starts running
The runner then catches up to the tied horse, mounts and chases down their partner
The cycle starts again, with teammates leapfrogging down the trail
Courses range from 5-30+ miles
There is no time limit, hikers welcome
What is an Equathon?
A relay race where the first lap is on horseback and the second lap is on foot
Can be done as a team, with one person riding and a second person running
Or the same person can both ride and run, for an Iron Equathon
Courses for both riding and running/hiking range from 5-20 miles
What is a Human vs Horse Race?
A simultaneous trail running race and horseback endurance race
Runners compete against riders on horseback to see who can conquer a mixed-terrain course the fastest.
While horses seem to have the upper hand, over longer distances and challenging trails it turns out to be a surprisingly fair competition.
The original Man versus Horse began in Wales in 1980 after a man in a bar bet that he could beat a horse over a long enough distance. While it took until 2004, people have indeed beaten the horse over the 21 mile race!
Man Against Horse has been running in Arizona since 1983.