Whether going out on a training ride or heading to an endurance ride, I always look forward to an enjoyable day on the trail. I know the joy of being out on my horse on a beautiful trail and the anticipation of a great day grows as I approach the equestrian parking lot.
Have you ever thought of the amount of work that has been done to enable you to ride and enjoy the trails? It has taken a lot of effort to provide a place to park your horse trailer while you enjoy a day out on the trails.
Some trailheads have ample parking on gravel lots with water, hitching posts or corrals, grass, showers, etc. Some are in a pasture that is hopefully mowed, hopefully dry and with a porta-potty. Many AERC trail grant dollars are spent on improving trailheads so they are a safe place, off any busy roads, with the basic necessities for riders.
Recent AERC grant money was awarded:
-- To improve the Lakeview Trailhead in Carson City, Nevada. Partnering with the Nevada All-State Trail Riders, AERC will be providing funds to help relocate the access gate for this popular trail where several endurance rides are held.
-- To Clark State Forest to assist with improving the horse camping facility. With AERC assistance, a working relationship has been built with the Forest Service at this location. The 2008 AERC National Championship was held on trail in the Clark State Forest in Indiana.
-- To Caja del Rio in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Several groups are working together to run water lines to a number of water tanks throughout the trail network where endurance rides are held each year.
-- To Jacks River Fields Trailhead in Blue Ridge, Georgia, in the Chattahoochee National Forest. This project built two 12' x 12' corrals for a more secure confinement system to protect the area from runoff.
A common denominator of these trails grants is volunteer connections. These connections enable work to be done that will benefit equestrians and specifically endurance riders for years to come. Working together with either the site supervisor, Forest Service, DNR, etc., AERC volunteers who applied for the grants know it takes a joint effort to get projects accomplished.
Having the support of land managers is priceless and the benefits of working together will be apparent for many years.
Other organizations that you can build a relationship with include hiking clubs, mountain biking clubs, and other horse clubs. These groups often have the similar goal of establishing, building, and maintaining trails for the long term. Good communication and collaboration of dedicated volunteers and land managers who are willing to listen can help make your trail project a reality.
Applying for an AERC grant is easy. On the AERC home page, look under Trails, then Trails Grants, and click on Application.
To make your grant request a reality, here are some pointers: Be organized before you make the application for the grant. Know project specifics including what work is to be done, what material is needed, who will be doing the work, what matching funds are available, total costs, what AERC rides are held on the trail, and when the work is expected to be done.
The AERC has grant funds available for projects and we look forward to getting your application. It is more important now than ever before to get involved with trail improvement. Whether you organize a project or volunteer on a project every effort counts and will go a long ways to making sure we have miles of trails to ride with our wonderful equestrian friends.
