Equestrians Win Big in Santa Barbara Court Fight over Trail Access by Hikers and Bikers

Independent.com - Full Article

By Nick Welsh
Tue Dec 13, 2022 | 9:18am

Efforts by the Santa Barbara County supervisors to allow hikers, joggers, dogs, and cyclists to co-exist with horseback riders for the first time on the Live Oak Trail — located on the north side of Lake Cachuma — took a major fall last week in Judge Thomas Anderle’s courtroom, when Judge Anderle ruled the county violated the state laws governing environmental review and awarded the equestrians who sued $300,000 in legal fees for their pain.

Anderle, by far the most experienced Santa Barbara judge when it comes to environmental law, shredded the county’s argument that the project was exempt from environmental analysis because it fell within the purview of a major planning document on Lake Cachuma and its environs authored 12 years ago...

Read more here:
https://www.independent.com/2022/12/13/equestrians-win-big-in-santa-barbara-court-fight-over-trail-access-by-hikers-and-bikers/

Take A Fall Foliage Trail Ride On Horseback At Warden Station Horse Camp In Alabama

OnlyInYourState.com - Full Article

October 12, 2022
by Jennifer Young

When it comes to the outdoors, there are many beautiful places located throughout Alabama awaiting your visit, especially this time of year. One of these places is Warden Station Horse Camp. In addition to Warden Station Horse Camp being such a beautiful place that belongs on everyone’s outdoor bucket list, it’s also one of the best places to go on a horseback ride in Alabama. For more information about Warden Station Horse Camp, take a look below.

Warden Station Horse Camp is located within the beautiful Talladega National Forest in Fruithurst, Alabama. The drive getting there is just as beautiful as the area itself, especially during the fall season...

Read more here:
https://www.onlyinyourstate.com/alabama/fall-foliage-horseback-ride-in-al/

Who has the right of way on trails? What happens when bikes, hikers and horses meet

Corey Ohlenkamp/Star Press

MSN.com - Full Article

Kelley V. Phillips - Jul 6

There’s nothing like a quiet trail. Just you and your thoughts traveling down a sun-dappled path as the wind ripples the leaves in a soft applause.

For many people who enjoy the outdoors, that solitude is a treasure. At some point though, you’ll end up sharing the trail with fellow enthusiasts also taking a deliciously satisfying hiatus.

Whomever you end up meeting — hikers, cyclists, or even horses — there are general guidelines so everyone has the peaceful experience they are looking for.

Trails, especially those in more natural areas, tend to be narrow. Trail etiquette takes into consideration momentum, maneuverability and inertia. How fast are you going? Can you turn? Are you able to stop?...

Read more here:
https://www.msn.com/en-us/travel/tripideas/who-has-the-right-of-way-on-trails-what-happens-when-bikes-hikers-and-horses-meet/ar-AAZg5yA

Nevada: Horse owners protest design of fences at Tule Springs Fossil Beds National Monument

8NewsNow.com - Full Article

by: Greg Haas
Posted: Aug 5, 2022

National monument angers longtime residents over trail access

LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — They say that good fences make good neighbors, but apparently the kind of fence is just as important to horse owners who live along the border of the new Tule Springs Fossil Beds National Monument.

An informational meeting Thursday night about how to make suggestions for the budding park bogged down in a debate about the National Park Service’s fence design. The meeting played out at the Clark County Shooting Complex at the north end of Decatur Boulevard, with a handful of vocal residents sitting alongside volunteers from a group called Protectors of Tule Springs...

Read more here:
https://www.8newsnow.com/news/local-news/horse-owners-protest-design-of-fences-at-tule-springs-fossil-beds-national-monument/

California: Park district working to retain access to horse trails

TheCamarilloAcorn.com - Full Article

July 30, 2022
By Makena Huey
makena@theacorn.com

The Pleasant Valley Recreation and Park District is planning negotiations with nearby homeowners to protect access to the Las Posas equestrian trails.

District staff said they hope to move forward in a way that benefits the district, the homeowners and the broader community.

“If all goes well, we will have them sign and extend the 30-year agreement,” Administrative Analyst Dylan Gunning said during the July 14 long-range planning committee meeting.

The trails surround Las Posas Equestrian Park, 2084 Via Veneto, which the district has owned since 1972...

Read more here:
https://www.thecamarilloacorn.com/articles/park-district-working-to-retain-access-to-horse-trails/

Prince Edward Island: Extended equestrian access on Confederation Trail includes West Prince routes

PEICanada.com - Full Article

Jillian Trainor jillian@peicanada.com
Jul 28, 2022

Usually, when Connie Gaudette takes her horse Maggie for a ride, it’s through dirt roads, fields where she had permission from farmers, through wooded land, or the beach.

“Prince Edward Island has the largest equestrian community of any province in Canada, between the harvest races, the saddle horses, the show horses, and the draft horses,” she said. “And we have limited areas where we can ride roads are not safe, too many accidents happen on roads.”

A pilot project from the provincial government is hoping to change that by granting equestrians access to certain rural sections of the Confederation Trail in an effort to see how the integration of horses on the trail will impact it...

Read more here:
https://www.peicanada.com/west_prince_graphic/extended-equestrian-access-on-confederation-trail-includes-west-prince-routes/article_0658b4e2-0ce6-11ed-a00e-c39db26b7b53.html

New York: One Of The State’s Most Popular Horse Trails Is Here In CNY

WIBX950.com - Full Article

If you're looking to go horseback riding this year, you don't have to look too far to find one of the best spots in New York State.

There's no better trail to bring your horse on than the Brookfield Trail system in Madison County. With over 100-miles of multi-use trails, you and your horse could spend hours exploring the beauty of rural Central New York. The trails are actually maintained every year primarily for horseback and carriage riding...

Read More: One Of The State's Most Popular Horse Trails Is Here In CNY | https://wibx950.com/one-of-the-states-most-popular-horse-trails-is-here-in-cny/?utm_source=tsmclip&utm_medium=referral

Summer Horseback Trail Riding at Margaret McKinney Campground in the Capitol State Forest

ThurstonTalk.com - Full ArticleTo get to the Equine Loop Trail, you will need to ride through the multi-use trails, over this bridge and up a fairly steep hill. Photo credit: Brent Lotz

By Kristina Lotz

There is nothing like horseback riding through the Capitol State Forest with lush ferns, moss-covered trees and foxgloves as tall as your horse. Summer trail riding with your horse at Margaret McKinney Campground affords all this and more with access to the equine trail loop. So, what are you waiting for? It’s time to hit the saddle!

Margaret McKinney Campground, located in the Capital State Forest, requires a Discover Pass for parking. Once you have one, you are good to go, whether for a day or a weekend of trail riding fun.

Camping With Your Horse at Capitol State Forest’s Margaret McKinney Campground

If you decide to camp with your horse and trail ride, you will find the amenities nice at Margaret McKinney. The campgrounds are open for summer trail riding, from May 1 to October 31. You can make reservations by emailing mckennyreserve@gmail.com. Make sure you give you them all the information they need including:...

Read more here:
https://www.thurstontalk.com/2022/07/23/summer-horseback-trail-riding-at-margaret-mckinney-campground-in-the-capitol-state-forest/

Nebraska: Lincoln equestrian community will soon have expanded bridle path at Pioneers Park

JournalStar.com - Full Article

Evelyn Mejia
Jul 12, 2022

After nearly 35 years of fighting to preserve the horse trail at Pioneers Park, riders are beginning to reap the fruits of their labor.

For the past three decades, horse owners had seen the trail they'd been riding their entire lives shrink from four miles to about a mile and a quarter. Pioneers Park Horse Trails, 7.11

According to Walt Broer of JB Equestrian Academy, the city had never really given them a good reason as to why the trail shrunk.

"The reason they gave us 30 years ago was that it was too much to maintain the trail, but mowing and cleaning doesn't cost much," Broer said.

Over time, riders began to notice the trail depreciating from lack of maintenance.

In some instances, they had been kept off the trail, either by logs blocking access or by park staff.

When the city began receiving substantial funds from Lincoln Public Schools to maintain trails for cross country events, horse owners feared they would soon not have a bridle path at all...

Read more here:
https://journalstar.com/news/local/lincoln-equestrian-community-will-soon-have-expanded-bridle-path-at-pioneers-park/article_f5ece73e-0c49-56d8-8b3f-6d759d3a2d9d.html#tracking-source=home-top-story

Georgia: New Powder Springs Park to Feature Equestrian and Hiking Trails, Education Programs

Original.newsbreak.com - Full Article

by DeanLand
May 6 2022

A new equestrian-friendly park is planned for Powder Springs, and the Cobb County Parks Department are accepting construction bids for phase one work this month.

Located at 5315 Brownsville Road, Powder Springs, but currently not open to the public except for planned events, the park is a little over 300 acres with Sweetwater Creek running through a portion of the property.

According to Cobb County Parks, planned elements of Phase I include road work, enhanced access features, more parking, restrooms and more. For better access from Brownsville Road, a deceleration lane and turn lane will be added, and the park entrance will be widened to accommodate horse trailers. A bridge over Sweetwater Creek is also planned to allow travel on horseback to other portions of the property that are currently not accessible from the parking area.

A statement from Cobb County Parks indicates that the agency is hopeful that construction may begin in Fall 2022, and require approximately one year for completion of phase one...

Read more here:
https://original.newsbreak.com/@deanland-1591829/2593194002179-new-powder-springs-park-to-feature-equestrian-and-hiking-trails-education-programs

Indiana: Allen County partnership announces new horse trail in southeast

WBOI.org - Full Article

89.1 WBOI | By Ella Abbott
Published May 5, 2022 at 4:46 PM EDT

A joint partnership and grant funds are bringing horse riding trails to southeast Allen County.

The public/private partnership is between the Allen County Commissioners, Three Rivers Horse Trails and the Indiana Department of Natural Resources.

Using the grant funds, a 3-acre trailhead with parking for trucks and horse trailers and convenience facilities will be constructed at the 5400 block of Paulding Road.

Three Rivers Horse Trails President Lynn Sroufe said if people want to ride their horses currently, in Allen County, there aren’t many options for safe trails. She said she does endurance riding herself...

Read more here:
https://www.wboi.org/news/2022-05-05/allen-county-partnership-announces-new-horse-trail-in-southeast

City of Boise planning to build 5.7-mile trail in Hawkins Range Reserve

KTVB.com - Full Article and videoThe Hawkins Loop Trail in the Boise Foothills will be a single-track trail designed for runners, hikers, horse riders and mountain bikers.

Author: KTVB Staff
Published: 12:30 PM MDT May 3, 2022
Updated: 6:16 PM MDT May 3, 2022

BOISE, Idaho — The City of Boise announced Tuesday it is planning construction of a 5.7-mile trail in Hawkins Range Reserve through the Ridge to Rivers partnership.

The Hawkins Loop Trail in the Boise Foothills will be in an area previously inaccessible for the public, according to city officials. The single-track trail is designed for runners, hikers, horse riders and mountain bikers.

Hawkins Range Reserve is a 393-acre area off North Bogus Basin Road, purchased by the City of Boise from the Hawkins family. The property was protected in 2015.

According to the City of Boise, a 0.6-mile Harrow Trail also will be built by Ridge to Rivers to combine both ends of the Hawkins Loop. The smaller trail creates a 1.5-mile trail opportunity for increased access and a shorter hike...

More at:
https://www.ktvb.com/article/news/local/city-of-boise-trail-hawkins-range-reserve/277-a9f2dff9-bfc1-46f5-ace2-551844c27b1c

Wisconsin Dept. of Natural Resources: Unveils new equestrian campground at Governor Dodge State Park

WisPolitics.com - Full Article

MADISON, Wis. – The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) today announced that a new equestrian campground is set to open at Governor Dodge State Park on April 29.

Located in Wisconsin’s scenic driftless area, Governor Dodge State Park is one of the state’s largest parks, with over 5,000 acres of steep hills, bluffs and deep valleys, plus two lakes and a waterfall. With over 25 miles of equestrian trails, Governor Dodge also offers some of Wisconsin’s best horseback riding.

The new equestrian campground boasts 20 campsites, 18 with electric hook-ups. Each campsite includes a high-line hitching post with cable, a picnic table and fire ring. Improvements include easier access to maneuver horse trailers and campers. The campground and equestrian trails will be open from May 1 to Nov. 15...

Read more here:
https://www.wispolitics.com/2022/dept-of-natural-resources-unveils-new-equestrian-campground-at-governor-dodge-state-park/

Nebraska: Centennial Trail is complete and ready for trail users

NorfolkDailyNews.com - Full Article

By RON PETERSEN
rpetersen@norfolkdailynews.com Apr 19, 2022

TEKAMAH — A revamped horse trail for those in Northeast Nebraska is ready for use at the Summit Lake State Recreation Area.

The newly developed Centennial Trail took a little less than a year and a half to complete, but the 10½-mile horse trail is ready for action.

“There was a void in Northeast Nebraska for horse trails. There was nothing north of Omaha that had any equestrian access,” said Mike Anderson, chairman of the Nebraska Horse Trails Committee. “We were able to identify the Summit Lake in Tekamah as a property big enough to accommodate horses, and it also has a long enough trail around the lake.”

In 2020, 2021 and early 2022, more than 50 volunteers invested a combined 600 hours of labor in building the trail. The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission helped along the way, assisting with some of the work done on the trail...

Read more here:
https://norfolkdailynews.com/news/centennial-trail-is-complete-and-ready-for-trail-users/article_c3738962-bfed-11ec-aacb-0fe1438df05b.html

Prince Edward Island: East Coast Confederate Trail Horse-and-Rider Trial Extended

Horse-canada.com - Full Article

Sylvia Hall Andrews, who is on the PEI Trail Riders board of directors and authored the 2021 pilot proposal, on the trail in 2021 riding her Standardbred racehorse accompanied by her hubby and dog, proving that horses and bicycles can get along! (Sylvia Hall Andrews photo)

The test run last year was not popular with some cyclists and hikers; the 2022 version will include an educational component for them.

By: Kim Izzo | April 12, 2022

For equestrians in Prince Edward Island there is excitement over the news that horseback riding on the Confederation Trail has been renewed for a second season. The province’s Minister of Transportation, James Aylward, made the announcement to the PEI legislature. This will no doubt please the many riders who rode the three designated segments of the trail in 2021 and look forward to doing so again.

However, despite joy throughout the equestrian community, not everyone on the island was a fan. Cyclists and walkers who were accustomed to being the sole users were concerned about safety if they came upon a horse and it spooked and well, you get the idea. According to an August 2021 article on the CBC, Ed McKenna, who runs Confederation Trail Biking Adventures and therefore is concerned about his business, was dead set against horses on the trail (although to our mind, we think that historically horses were probably using the trails long before bikes!)...

https://horse-canada.com/horse-news/east-coast-confederate-trail-horse-and-rider-trial-extended/

Missouri Horsemen take to the trail

Monett-Times.com - Full Article

Saturday, April 9, 2022
By Jodi Hess-Schlup/Special to The Monett Times

Organization takes part in cleanup efforts at Flag Springs

Flag Springs Conservation Area near Washburn, a favorite spot of horseback riders, hikers, bikes and hunters, was the site of a major cleanup the weekend of March 19.

Tornado Ridge Chapter of Back Country Horsemen in southwest Missouri organized the event, offering local high school students the opportunity to earn some volunteer service hours, along with the chapter and friends in the community, while taking care of the area’s beautiful trails...

Read more here:
https://www.monett-times.com/story/2943490.html

Colorado: Roaring Fork Horse Council wants to see Sweetwater-area trail use limited to foot, horses

PostIndependent.com - Full Article

by John Stroud
February 23, 2022

A horseback riding advocacy group based in the Roaring Fork Valley wants to see access to trails in the Sweetwater Lake area limited to horseback and hiking only.

“The inclusion of horse facilities in future planning is of utmost importance and makes total sense, as the surrounding (U.S. Forest Service) Flattops Wilderness is accessible only by foot or horseback,” Roaring Fork Valley Horse Council Secretary and Trails Chairperson Susan Cuseo wrote in a drafte letter to U.S. Forest Service, State Parks and Eagle Valley Land Trust officials.

Early planning is underway for potentially creating a new state park on lands surrounding the recently acquired Sweetwater Lake area. The lake is situated just outside the Flat Tops Wilderness Area in northeastern Garfield County, but is accessed via the Colorado River Road in Eagle County from Interstate 70 east of Glenwood Canyon...

Read more here:
https://www.postindependent.com/news/roaring-fork-horse-council-wants-to-see-sweetwater-area-trail-use-limited-to-foot-horses/

B.C.: Rustic equine campground underway by local Back Country Horsemen

TheRockyMountainGoat.com - Full Article

January 24 2022
By Andrea Arnold

The Robson Valley Chapter of the Back Country Horsemen of BC had a busy 2021, building and rehabilitating trails, structure installation at the Dore River trailhead and clearing land for a new rustic equine campground on Belle Mountain.

The largest and newest project the local chapter has taken on is the Belle Rustic Equine campground. Located 3km up the McIntosh logging road about 8km west of McBride. In June just under 2Ha of land were cleared for 12 campsites, access roads to the sites as well as the kitchen site. In November, they started work on the access roads.

“First and foremost, this is a rustic equine camp with few amenities, but will have corrals, horse water, level sites, and access to trails,” said Chapter president Eileen MacDonald.

The campground will connect to the 47.2km trail network on Belle Mountain that the local chapter has been developing since 2018...

Read more here:
https://www.therockymountaingoat.com/2022/01/rustic-equine-campground-underway-by-local-back-country-horsemen/

Equine Land Conservation Resource to sponsor webinar: Trail Ambassador Programs: Tips, Tricks, and Best Practices

In partnership with American Trails

January 9 2022

Trail ambassador programs can be a boon to any trail or trail system. They build local engagement, help identify and solve deferred maintenance issues, and turn casual users into lifelong advocates.

We've gathered together leaders of some of the best ambassador programs across the nation, representing a variety of trail user types, to share best practices and offer sage advice for starting programs for your trail.

We have made this a two-part webinar series to showcase great examples and resources that will focus on providing ample time for answering your most burning questions.

The webinar will be a panel presentation with six presenters sharing their ambassador program experiences reflecting different trail user groups

One of the panelists, Steve McClintock, will be sharing his experience from the equestrian perspective.

Steve is one of the two National Directors for Arizona on the Back Country Horsemen of America (BCHA) national Board of Directors.

He was President of the East Valley BCH Chapter in Apache Junction (East Mesa), Arizona from 2015-2021.

He is also Chairman of the BCHA Legacy Fund — an endowment like fund.

Steve has enjoyed many hours in the saddle with his Tennessee Walking Horse named Ranger which he describes as "a darn good trail horse."

All webinar presenters:
• Natalie Ferraro, Engagement Manager, Trailkeepers of Oregon
• Adam Harden, Deputy Administrator, Ambassador Program, NOHVIS
• Randy Harden, Program Administrator, Ambassador Program, NOHVIS
• Steve McClintock, National Director for Arizona, Back Country Horsemen of America
• Ursula Sandstrom, Trail Ranger and Outreach Director, Washington Area Bicyclist Association (WABA)
• Taylor Goodrich, Communication and Media Specialist, American Trails

Please join us for the Trail Ambassador Programs: Tips, Tricks, and Best Practices Thursday, January 27, 2022, from 10:00 am to 11:30 am Pacific/1:00 pm to 2:30 pm Eastern to learn best practices from some of the outstanding trail ambassador programs across the nation, representing a variety of trail user types, to offer sage advice for starting ambassador programs for your trail.

Click HERE to register and for more information