A method of managing faults in a ring network may include configuring a ring network to be in a “horseshoe” topology by disabling a communications link from distributing media between a selected pair of adjacent nodes while allowing other communications or non-related media to continue to be distributed via the adjacent nodes. In the event of a failure, the disabled communications path may be re-enabled, and first or second backup communications paths may be employed, where the first backup communications path may use primary connections between adjacent nodes used for primary communications paths normally used to carry the media, and the second backup communications paths may use secondary connections between non-adjacent nodes. The disabled communications path may be dynamically moved in a logical or physical manner in an event of a communications link or node failure to maintain a “horseshoe” topology in the ring network.