At this time of year Washington D.C. is magnificent. The cherry trees are in full bloom, the air is cool, other trees are beginning to budÑspring is here for sure. With all the beauty and sights here in D.C. it's hard not to contract "Potomac fever." But riding Irene on my favorite trails in Indiana would be more fun in the long run.

Our mission has changed over the years. Being involved with our federal land managers requires us to be involved at both the local and national levels.

Currently, the big rumor out of Washington goes like this: For the year 2007 funding for trails will be cut by 20%. That is a huge cut and I'm trying to find out what that means in dollars. That is the bad news.

Here is the good news: The only way for the U.S. Forest Service (FS), Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and National Park Service (NPS) to maintain trails will be for them to enter into working partnerships with equestrian groups for maintenance. A real opportunity exists for us to show our federal land managers that we are serious about maintaining our trails.

This commitment will require more training (i.e., AERC Trail Masters) and more time off your horse and on the ground. It will require more of your time planning the work to be done in concert with the land manager. It's up to each and every one of you to become involved.

Remember: no trail, no ride. Kind of simple, isn't it? But that is where we are. Over the years I've heard about every excuse there is for endurance riders not showing up on work days.

And I've also heard some outstanding success stories from endurance riders who did get involved and who are seeing success from their efforts.

How about becoming part of our success story? Being an endurance rider means you believe in trail preservation. At the same time you are preserving a part of our culture and our heritage.

In the near future I hope the AERC board will see fit to invest in five permanent training facilities across the U.S. for our Trail Master classes. We will be making an investment in tools and equipment. In early March I opened discussions with the BLM on sites in the Northwest and Southwest for permanent training sites. The BLM may be taking back part of Ft. Stanton, which would provide classrooms for training. Other opportunities may be available in Oregon.

We need Trail Masters who will volunteer to become certified instructors so classes can be held as the demand occurs. Other opportunities are being considered to partner with other national equine organizations to share in the cost of the classes. They would be sending riders for training in which the AERC will provideÑin partnership with the BLM, FS or othersÑthe equipment, facility, and instructors. Land managers would be encouraged to participate in the training.

By bringing endurance riders, trail riders and land managers together for training, the AERC will be without question the number one equine trail preservation organization in the world.

Just another way to demonstrate to the world that endurance riders who belong to AERC take their responsibilities seriously when it comes to trail preservation.

We are moving ahead at a rapid pace to accomplish these goals. In the next few years I hope you dedicate yourself to becoming part of the solution. The pay stinks, but the rewards are fantastic.

Remember, all you need is horse and a trail.