I just received an
e mail from one of my local trail riding groups about ELCR. I was
surprised to find that one of the trail groups being sponsored is one that I
work on, Allaire Trail Useres Group (ATUG), bikers, hikers &
equestrians. Also, AERC is a partner along with a number of others.
Although they say membership is free, they do ask for a donation. What the
heck, I miss some of my groups work sessions because I'm away at rides so I
don't mind "putting my money where my mouth is". Anyhow, the email &
link are below for those interested.
Wendy Mancini in NJ
Think of how it would be to saddle or trailer your horse
in the expectation of taking a leisurely trek through a scenic trail only to
find out that the trail is no longer there.Or even if the trail does exist, for
some reason, you find that horses are no longer allowed on it.
These conditions, although saddening, are all too
common.Open space is lost to
development.New land owners are
not aware of the relationship that horseriders have with the land through which
they love to ride.Any number of
reasons and circumstances all come to the same end - no place to
ride.I am writing to encourage
you to pave a new path, literally, for you and your
horse.
ELCR launched Trail Trotters to promote access to land
for horseback riding.Trail
Trotters will show our communities how strong the bond is between a horse and
rider by becoming stewards of the very land we
enjoy.
Trail Trotters is a free
program with no fees or membership requirement.
Trail Trotters is being funded with the help of ELCR?s
major sponsors including the National Forest Foundation and Anhueser-Busch
Company.Land and stewardship
materials are being provided by Tread Lightly!®, one of ELCR?s Alliance
partners.
All Trail Trotters projects will be completed on June 4,
2005, National Trails Day.Since
this is a one-day annual event, your time commitment will be brief.Although participants may volunteer for
projects on any type of land, due to a backlog of maintenance, ELCR
hoping you will consider projects on or near national forest land.
It is quick and easy to become a Trail Trotter by
registering for an existing project or to register a new project on ELCR?s
website, www.elcr.org, or
by calling the national office at (815) 858-3501.
Happy Trails,
Brad Field, Program Assistant Equestrian Land
Conservation Resource 126B North Main Street - PO Box 423 Elizabeth, IL
61028-0423 tel: 815-858-3501 fax: 815-858-3508 www.elcr.org
