Trail Development in Rural Ag Communities

[Jerry & Susan Milam <milamj@agtelco.com>]

Ridecampers,

The area of rural Illinois I live in is made up of asphalt roads and
land that is divided in 2mile by 2 mile squares with thousands of acres
of crop farms. Dotted here and there are farms that have horses.....but
there is nowhere to ride except by the side of the asphalt road and the
occasional grass lane next to crops. Scattered all over the area are
creeks that meander through the various farms. They don't farm the land
near the creeks. Training here is the pits due to the danger of riding
on the roads.

I had an idea of contacting all the horse owners in the area and trying
to form a trails development group to approach the farmers for ways we
can improve recreational resources for our horses. If the farmers would
allow us to groom a 5 ft wide trail next to the creeks and allow us
access through their land next to the creeks, we could have a nice
little circuit of safe riding space away from traffic that would enhance
the general rural community and maybe even help everyone get to know one
another.

Has anyone ever had similar problems or know of a better way to develop
safe riding areas in agricultural communities?

Thanks,

Susan and Fly Bye (mom, I sure like riding by the alfalfa and corn and
winter wheat and grabbing a bite or two, but my feet are killing me on
these asphalt roads:()