Maryland Horse Council

Trails & Greenways Committee

ADOPT –A- TRAIL!

Become an Equestrian Trail Steward! It’s easy, it’s free, it’s fun, and it’s absolutely the best way to protect your favorite trail. The Maryland Horse Council’s Trails and Greenways (MHC T&G) committee is encouraging you to play an active role in preserving equestrian access to trails. Our trails are vanishing, and here are just a few examples of how we lose our trails:

1. New developments absorb trails.
2. Ball fields are built in open spaces.
3. Road improvements, bridges and guardrails segment trails.
4. Equestrians trespass on private property or ride through sensitive areas.
5. Trails are paved or become multi-user trails that are not “horse safe”

This sounds like an insurmountable set of obstacles. How can equestrians influence so many activities and organizations? The answer is “ONE TRAIL AT A TIME.” Pick the trail that you already know the most about, and become the equestrian trail steward for that trail.

Here’s all you have to do to become a trail steward:

1. E-mail the Trails & Greenway's Commitee and get your trail or network of trails listed in our trail database.
2. You will be listed as a contact for communications about that trail.
3. Identify any problems or issues that jeopardize your trail.

This will enable other interested equestrians to contact you so you can work as a team. We can’t protect your trails for you, but we can provide you information and resources to help you protect your trails. Don’t assume someone else will do it – history shows that no one is protecting your trails for you.

Want to do more? Become an active member of the Trails and Greenways committee. As a new organization we’ve got plenty of fun projects to work on. You’re sure to find something you’d enjoy doing, and “making a difference” is very rewarding.

E-mail Trails and Greenways at green@riva.net