Trails and our dedication to preservation of multi-use trail systems

Since the early 1960’s, we have been heavily involved in working with multiple horse groups to develop multi-use trail systems throughout the state. Many of our chapters were started by horse groups banding together to develop and preserve trails in their counties.

We have been fortunate to have premier members of the board that are knowledgeable in development, building and maintaining horse trails. Our current Trails Chair, Daryel Jensen and wife Betsy Jensen, now retired, worked for the N.Y.S.D.E.C. In this capacity, these were the folks who dedicated their lives to the continuing preservation and expansion of the Brookfield Trail System. Daryel developed an extensive pictorial guide which is listed below on how to develop trail beds, tie stalls and other important data. These guidelines have been presented at national trail seminars and are used extensively in our state and throughout the country. Please contact the Jensen’s at djensen3@twcny.rr.com regarding questions.

Brookfield Horse Trail system: Please visit the following link.
http://www.dec.ny.gov/lands/8243.html

The system is split into three maps. Each with information about the rules.

“Charles Baker State Forest” with a link to a printable map.

“Brookfield Railroad State Forest” with a link to a printable map.

“Beaver Creek State Forest” with a link to a printable map.

Another important element of our involvement in trails is our commitment to sending three delegates to the New York State Trails Council meetings in Albany, New York. This group was started by the New York State Office of Parks and Historic Preservation and is joined by New York State Development of Environmental Conservation. The purpose is to bring together all of the major trail users groups in the state together to share ideas and work in partnership to preserve and build multi-use trail systems. Our representatives are: Sara Chevako, central part of NYS - stchevako@frontiernet.net , Carol Schmelz , western part of NYS cschmelz@wzrd.com and Mark Wehnau, eastern part of NYS – markwehnau@aol.com Kindly contact them regarding questions.

This year, 2009, we partnered with the new national organization Equestrian Land Conservation Resource dedicated to advancing the conservation of land for national horse-related activity. This group educates horse people about the crisis of losing 6,000 acres per day in the USA and brings them together with conservationists. They maintain an extensive library of land conservations tools.

Due to our outstanding reputation, we received a $75,000 grant from former State Senator Nancy Larraine Hoffmann in 1999 to develop connecting trail systems in the state. To date we have worked with groups across the State and finalized the following projects:

• NYSHC Multiple-Use Trail Policy
• Document: When will the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation lands near me be reviewed?
• Trail riding website links
• Adopt-A-Natural-Resource Stewardship Program
• House Passes Recreation Trail Program Funding
• Pictorial notebook of development of Trails at Brookfield/Otter Creek as well as construction of tie stalls/buildings/bridges.
• NYSHC Trail Grant with Photos

The Purpose of the New York State Horse Council Trail Committee:

1. To represent equestrian trail user interests to New York State governing bodies.

2. To represent equestrian trail interests in new and existing trail projects throughout New York State.

3. To promote equestrian trail use in New York State by disseminating horse trail information and NYSHC trail activity information to horsemen.

4. To investigate and help solve trail problems as they arise (user group conflict, trail clearing, maintaining, rebuilding and marking).