The next time you go out to train or compete, take a moment to look at the trail you and your pony are traveling, and consider the hours someone spent on your behalf readying that trail for your use. I wonder how many of us have noticed the trails we are using.

When was the last time you walked or ran the trail your pony carries you down so willingly? I wonder how many of us have thanked a trail volunteer for his or her sacrifice of sweat and personal time.

I wonder how many of us have volunteered to spend one day a year maintaining our favorite trail.

Then I wonder how many of us really know how to properly lay out a horse trail, or how many of us know how to maintain a trail already in use. I wonder how many of us even know where to start when we are ready to venture into the wonderful and satisfying world of trails advocacy.

If you have also pondered these questions, or are doing so now for the first time, I have great news. AERC has programs in place, and even more being developed, to help us all with these conundrums.

I am your fellow endurance rider and trail boss volunteer, Sarah Hunt Engsberg (#14496). I have affectionately been given the nickname "Lady Rakes-a-lot" and am the proud owner of my very own personal fire rake. I have also recently agreed to chair the Trails and Land Management Committee for AERC and take over the reins being relinquished by Jerry Fruth. Jerry is "retiring" from public office and has graciously agreed to stay in an advisory capacity and mentor for the committee members.

I must take a moment to thank Jerry for everything he has done on our behalf. He has given countless hours and personal funds to the cause of trails and spearheaded the current development of a comprehensive training program encompassing trails design and maintenance, Trail Master training and Trail Master Instructor training.

In this column I and the other committee members will do our best to keep you on board with everything trails.

Last month you heard from Angie Fura who heads up the Trail Masters program. Look to Angie for questions and information about Trail Master classes.

Amanda Stewart is our new Federal Land Manager Liaison. She is our "wo-man" in Washington, keeping us in the forefront of legislative issues regarding trails.

Carol Crawford Myers is in charge of marketing and communication. She will keep our section of the AERC website up to date with news and information as well as getting articles out about our trails accomplishments. If you have a great story about trails, please let her know.

Kellie Moore is our State Trails Advocate and Trail Master liaison. If you are a State Trails Advocate or want to be one, or are a current Trail Master, please contact Kellie and let her know what you are up to.

Lucy Bagot is our Grants Program liaison. She is standardizing our grants application process and will help you get your grant from concept to reality.

Trails Committee members Terry Silver, Roger Taylor, Joe Schoech and Jerry Fruth round out the group. We are all here to do our level best to make AERC a national force in trails advocacy. We cannot, however, do it alone. We look forward to your help in preserving the primary thing that allows us to do our sport.

In the vein of "no foot, no horse" it is appropriate to say "no trails, no endurance." So please, let us know how we can help you help a trail.