The trails we ride, mostly on public lands, are one of the most essential components of our sport, perhaps second only to our horses. But they are subject to the whims of every presidential administration, Congress, local federal land managers and the business interests of various industries, such as mining and timber.

Equestrian access to trails is threatened now more than ever. In Texas, where I live, the U.S. National Forest Service district rangers have threatened to restrict access to the Davy Crockett Forest and have closed down the Sam Houston National Forest where several rides are held each year.

The U.S. House of Representatives Sub­committee on National Parks, Forests and Public Lands has under consideration H.R. 4289, the Colorado Wilderness Act of 2009. This bill will block 850,000 acres of land in Colorado in 34 locations from access for recreation, public use and energy job development.

Congress also has plans to block access to another 13 million acres of western land through the Antiquities Act which only requires an executive order by the president.

The AERC Trails and Land Management Committee has received reports of rides that have been affected in Utah, California, Texas and several other states with additional requirements and threats of restrictions.

The American Horse Council, which is our main lobbying watchdog in Washington, was so alarmed at these and other developments that it developed a survey in July of 2009 to compile specific information on "access issues, closed trails or attempts to restrict equestrian access." This online form is available at https://www.horsecouncil.org/survey.php (you may still respond if you know of equestrian access restrictions).

Results through the end of 2009 are available on the AHC website. Those results reflect problems in 26 states with the NPS (13 noted), NFS (24), BLM (four), the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (two), and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (two). The majority involved restricted access for equestrian use due to trail closures.

These problems are referred to as restricted access problems. In most instances of restricted access, there was a clear history of equestrian use -- rarely was it imposed after any public process or public comment period.

AERC is a small organization. That's hard for most of us to believe because our activities cover the nation and we have participants in events worldwide. But the fact is that we are a (mostly) volunteer organization with a budget less than $1 million a year. So, what can we do to protect our trails access?

Small though we are, we can follow the examples of members who find ways to participate in the decision-making process. Members like Sandy Terp who will be presenting at a local conference on trails use in New Jersey, or Gail Williams who is planning to host a Trail Master class with her local riding club in Washington, or Deirdre Monroe who worked with multiple agencies to open equestrian trails in New Mexico, or the Fant and Parrish families in Texas who purposely sought out the USFS district ranger to meet with him and discuss ways to keep trails open.

These are only a few examples of our activist membership's involvement to keep our sport alive by preserving access to trails. We are endurance riders and we will persist.

Each of us can get a copy of the AHC report and call or write our federal congressmen, senators, state legislators and local government representatives, just to let them know you are interested and paying attention to these issues. For every letter a politician receives, he or she assumes that another 100 constituents feel the same way.

Each AERC member can report trail access restrictions to AHC or any member of the AERC Trails and Land Management Committee. Every state has a state trails coordinator whose name and contact information is listed under the Trails portion of the AERC website under Recreational Trails Programs. Find out who your state trails coordinator is and learn what you can about him or her and what his or her interests are in your state. Information is power.

We need not be in a panic. Reasonable people can find reasonable solutions. But we must be involved with those to whom we entrust our trails.

Trails access is not a partisan issue. Conservationists claim they wish to restrict access to protect the resource. Business interests may wish to restrict access for more efficient harvest of natural resources. This is the dilemma of the land manager.

Our solution is to establish and maintain relationships with land managers so that they learn we are not destructive or exploitative of the resource; that we are their best customers and advocates and that we actually help them in their jobs to monitor and maintain the trails we ride. We are part of the solution.

New members: join online by clicking here or phone the office toll-free, 866-271-2372.

Renewing? Click here, or give the office staff a call at 866-271-2372.

How far will you ride this year? Join AERC and we'll help you count the miles!