Monday, May 18, 2020

Alabama: Local Back Country Horsemen clean up Wind Creek

GadsdenMessenger.com - Full Article

May 15, 2020

By Katie Bohannon, Staff Writer/Photographer and Chris McCarthy, Publisher/Editor

Following the April 19 tornado that hit Wind Creek State Park in Alexander City, fallen trees clogged the facility’s horse trails prohibiting people or animals from crossing. Inspired by his organization’s mission, Duck Springs resident and Back Country Horsemen of America member Chad Jones committed himself to ensuring the trails were cleared and open for all.

Jones contacted BCHA McClellan chapter president Jerry Roach to organize a voluntary work session at Wind Creek State Park. Together, the two sent out emails to each BCHA chapter explaining the situation and asking for help. Jones and Roach were not disappointed with the response they received.

From April 30 through May 3, 25 members from four BCHA chapters met at the park to help clear debris from the horse trails. Over the course of four days, the group cleared approximately 20 miles of equestrian trails. Beginning at the equestrian campground and working outward, the group used chainsaws, ATVs and pack horses to remove all debris. Although the blue trail, one of the longest and most scenic of the rising trails, was too heavily damaged for the chapter members to clear, their combined efforts opened three trails in one weekend alone...

Read more here:
https://gadsdenmessenger.com/2020/05/15/local-back-country-horsemen-clean-up-wind-creek/

Friday, April 3, 2020

Free Webinar: Equestrian Trail Design and Best Practices From Backcountry to Urban Edge Settings

AmericanTrails.org

FREE WEBINAR!

Thanks to a generous sponsorship from Rhino Marking & Protection Systems, this webinar is free to the public!

Title: Equestrian Trail Design and Best Practices from Backcountry to Urban Edge Settings
Date: Thursday, April 16, 2020
Time: 10:00am-11:30am Pacific (1:00pm-2:30pm Eastern) 


Webinar Details 

This webinar is a continuation of the webinar from August 2019 titled Equestrian Trail Design for Urban Shared Use Trails.

The presenters will review best practices for trail design planning, construction, and management in undeveloped natural areas and connecting to urban edge settings. The webinar will include trailhead development, urban to wildland transition design, and equestrian trail features to provide best sustainability and lowest impact.
 
Learn more about the webinar, learning objectives, and presenters here. 
 
Webinar Presenters
• Matthew Woodson, President and Founder, Okanogan Trail Construction
• Justin Azevedo, Director of Landscape Architecture & Planning, Coffman Studio
• Holley Groshek, Executive Director, Equine Land Conservation Resource
• Randy Rasmussen, Director of Public Lands and Recreation, Back Country Horsemen of America
 

Webinar Questions

Feel free to send your questions to the presenters prior to the webinar as we have saved time for questions and answers (Q&A) at the end.  

Wednesday, March 25, 2020

Riding Arizona’s Superstition Wilderness

Traimeister.com - Watch the video

by Robert Eversole
December 18, 2018

Riding Arizona’s Superstition Wilderness with the Back Country Horsemen

Arizona is a fabulous place in general and the horse friendly trails on the Superstition wilderness are especially wonderful. I rode here with the Back Country Horsemen not too long ago. It was a great time. They took me to ancient Indian ruins, showed me how the desert blooms in winter and summer, took me over some incredible country on solid mounts, told a few tall tales, and explained how they help keep these trails open to horse use.

For more information on the First Water Trailhead visit https://www.trailmeister.com/trails/first-water-trailhead/

Watch the video here:
https://youtu.be/OPcnCnLNbY4

Monday, March 16, 2020

Oregon: Salmonberry Trail receives funding toward 86-mile plan


Tillamookheadlightherald.com - Full Article

SalmonberryTrail.org Mar 2, 2020 Updated Mar 10, 2020

The Washington County Visitors Association (WCVA) and Tillamook County recently announced they have granted additional financial support needed to complete the remaining master planning for segments of the Salmonberry Trail, described as Oregon’s most ambitious rail-to-trail project.

The WCVA and Tillamook County each awarded $175,000, the combined total of which - $350,000 - will help finance the master planning of the 18.6-mile canyon segment and the 15.3-mile river segment of the Salmonberry Trail, which are the remaining two of the four total segments of the 86-mile trail. Master planning on the coastal section was completed in 2017, and the valley section (from Banks to the top of the Coast Range) in 2018...

Read more here:
https://www.tillamookheadlightherald.com/news/salmonberry-trail-receives-funding-toward--mile-plan/article_fe7aa45e-58f8-11ea-9a46-6f4d92c9d5a8.html

Tuesday, February 25, 2020

New Zealand: Petition to get horses on Hauraki Rail Trail receives wide reaching support

Stuff.co.nz - Full Article

Sharnae Hope
15:39, Feb 24 2020

A petition to have horses on the Hauraki Rail Trail has now amassed more than 700 signatures.

Its creator, Te Aroha West local Leanne Richardson said receiving an "overwhelming" amount of supporters speaks volumes.

"We are well and truly over 700 and it just keeps on climbing. They [the signatures] are from everywhere and everyone's supporting it," Richardson said.

Launched in December 2019, the petition is for horse riders to have access to the Hauraki Rail Trail as well as cyclists and walkers...

Read more here:
https://www.stuff.co.nz/waikato-times/news/119130273/petition-to-get-horses-on-hauraki-rail-trail-receives-wide-reaching-support

Sunday, February 23, 2020

Free Webinar: Equestrian Trail Design and Best Practices

AmericanTrails.org

From Backcountry to Urban Edge Settings

Best practices for trail design planning, construction, and management in undeveloped natural areas and connecting to urban edge settings.

Presented by:

Matthew Woodson, President and Founder, Okanogan Trail Construction
Justin Azevedo, Director of Landscape Architecture & Planning, Coffman Studio
Holley Groshek, Executive Director, Equine Land Conservation Resource
Randy Rasmussen, Director of Public Lands and Recreation, Back Country Horsemen of America

Event Details
April 16, 2020

10:00 AM to 11:30 AM (Pacific Time) {more time zones}

Cost:

FREE for members
FREE for nonmembers

(learning credits are a $15 fee)

To register for this live event, see
https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/6629382618476136972

Friday, February 21, 2020

Florida: Experience Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge by horseback

Sun-Sentinel.com - full article

By CINDY KENT
SOUTH FLORIDA SUN SENTINEL |
FEB 19, 2020

For the first time, you can experience the landscape of the Florida Everglades at the Arthur R. Marshall Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge on horseback.

Since Feb 12, approximately 36 miles of trails have opened to riders who will share multi-use trails with hikers, bicyclists, pet walkers, and vehicles.

No horses will be available to rent.

Authorities suggest a visit to the Boynton Beach refuge before you bring your horse...

Read more here:
https://www.sun-sentinel.com/local/palm-beach/boynton-beach/fl-ne-loxahatchee-refuge-trails-horseback-riders-20200220-csmk4llws5fd3dfvhkjhgcenqi-story.html