Re: RC: Equestrian trails partnership opportunity

[sonya meeks <horselover32904@yahoo.com>]

sign me up!!!



sonya Meeks
3740 Milwaukee Avenue West Melbouren fl. 32904
321-724-9989
--- "guest@endurance.net" <guest@endurance.net> wrote:
> Candace Bourne jeffeca@vetmed.auburn.edu
> Dwayne Stutzman sent this announcement to me and I
> thought that
> some of you would  be interested. We met Dwayne at
> NTS. He is 
> Regional Trails Specialist , NC Division of Parks & 
> Recreation/Trails Program. PLease read and let me
> know of you 
> are interested. I will forward you an application
> 
> HELP PRESERVE HORSE USE OF THE APPALACHIAN TRAIL IN
> THE GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS
> NATIONAL PARK
> 
> Introducing a new Trail Maintenance Program for
> Equestrians who want to help the
> Appalachian Trail in the Great Smoky Mountains
> National Park remain open to
> equestrian use - A partnership between local
> equestrian groups, the NC Division
> of Parks & Recreation, the Great Smoky Mountains
> National Park, the Smoky
> Mountains Hiking Club and the Appalachian Trail
> Conference (ATC).
> 
> Horse use of the Appalachian National Scenic Trail
> (A.T.) is unique to the Great
> Smoky Mountains National Park.  About 35 of the 70
> miles of A.T. in the Smokies
> is open to horse use, the only equestrian section of
> the 2167 mile long
> Appalachian Trail.  Constructed as a hiking path,
> most of the A.T. is not built
> to equestrian standards.  Originally, more of the
> A.T. in the Smokies was open
> to horse use, but A.T. sections that sustained
> significant resource damage to
> the footpath, due to a combination of sharp hooves,
> steep slopes and heavy rain
> were closed to horse use by the National Park
> Service, most recently in about
> 1978.
> 
> Since then, hikers have worked intermittently to
> close the rest of the A.T. in
> the Smokies to equestrian use. That is until 1995,
> when hikers and riders
> decided to bury the hatchet and work together.  Now
> A.T. managers are working
> with riders to help assure that those sections of
> the A.T. open to horse use are
> put into good shape so that they may remain open to
> horse use.
> 
> In 1995 an historic agreement was signed between
> horseback riders and hikers
> regarding the A.T. in Smokies.  This agreement has
> resulted in close
> cooperation, equestrian maintenance of some sections
> of the A.T., and several
> significant relocations of the A.T. built to
> equestrian standards by volunteer
> hikers under the direction of the ATC.  These hiking
> volunteers were members of
> ATC's volunteer Rocky Top Trail Crew, with supplies
> packed in by local
> equestrian groups.
> 
> Volunteer trail maintainers in the Smokies, both
> hikers and riders, are in short
> supply, and the Park Service does not have the funds
> to hire enough people to
> care for all the trails in the Smokies, let alone
> the A.T. Owing to the success
> of the Rocky Top Trail Crew, equestrians suggested a
> similar volunteer crew be
> started for riders. The NC Division of Parks &
> Recreation has taken the lead
> with this new program which will be started in 2001.
>  There will be two summer
> trips, which will be open to equestrians only.  Each
> work trip will last for a
> five days.
> 
> The crew will stay in the beautiful and remote Pecks
> corner area, using a NPS
> maintenance cabin as camp.  Led by a professional
> trail crew leader, the
> equestrian trail crew will  rehabilitate the A.T.
> between Peck's Corner and
> Tricorner Knob, all open to horse use.  This project
> will be used to provide a
> model for future equestrian maintenance programs
> within the Smokies.
> 
> Come join us. Spend a week (or two) in one of the
> most beautiful places in the
> eastern US.  All you need is your horse (which must
> be in good condition) and
> yourself (also in good condition, as you will be
> doing fairly heavy labor.)  We
> will provide you with GREAT SCENERY, GOOD FOOD,
> LODGING (after you get to the
> trail), all the trail work tools and equipment
> needed, experienced leadership
> and the opportunity for lots of fun and good
> companionship.  No experience is
> necessary; only the willingness to work hard and get
> dirty.  And you will help
> ensure that this part of the A.T. in the Smokies
> remain open to horse use!
> 	
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
>
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=====
Greener Pastures Equine Therapy, Executive Director
"Extraordinary horses assissting Extraordinary people"


Kickin' It Screenprinting and Embroidery,owner
                  321-724-9989

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