Current and Future Trends in Equestrian Trails

This equestrian forum offers an excellent format and opportunity to interact with panel experts and learn more about trending equestrian trails topics today and looking forward to the future.

Sharing current educational information with recreational trail planners, land managers, and trail users can be vitally important to the future success of sharing multi-use trails with equestrians. Learning about new trail technologies and responsible approaches to trail sustainability, stewardship, and inclusive community engagement can help guide us.

This will be a moderated panel with experts from the equestrian community and beyond discussing the following topics:

• Conserving Equestrians' Trails Resources (Holley Groshek)
• Community Engagement & Inclusion in Trail Planning (Cole Gehler)
• Equestrian Trails Sustainability & New Technologies (Clay Nelson)
• Land Managers' Challenges & Opportunities (Deb Caffin)

Holley Groshek:

Holley will focus on providing key educational resources available to support equine access to trails. She will highlight what is available from ELCR and BCHA and Jan Hancock’s Equestrian Guidebook etc. that people can access after the webinar.

Cole Gehler:

Most people like the idea of creating more trails and connections in their community, but not all understand the needs of other user groups. Cole will discuss various approaches to community engagement on a variety of trail planning projects.

Clay Nelson:

Clay will discuss best practices to protect land and water on equestrian trails while also providing a safe, enjoyable riding experience, with a focus on new eco-friendly solutions ideal for use on equestrian trails and trailheads.

Deb Caffin:

Deb will discuss why “Sustainable, Stewardship, and Community” are not just the buzz words of the day but represent the future of trails on public lands. Hear about how the USDA Forest Service’s 10 Year Trail Shared Stewardship Challenge Launch and Learn is setting the foundation for a more sustainable system of trails and how you can help.

Following the presentations, the panelists will respond to questions from webinar participants.

Learning Objectives:

• Describe eco-friendly materials that support the sustainability of equestrian-use trails
• Recognize trail user practices that can create safety hazards for equestrians
• Evaluate best practices and trends in planning and designing equestrian trails
• Identify community outreach techniques for planning inclusive trail user opportunities

Webinar Resources

Equestrian Design Guidebook for Trails, Trailheads, and Campgrounds book:

• In paperback form for free (only pay shipping) in the American Trails Online Store
• Online on the FHWA website or Forest Service website

More Resources

• Hancock Resources LLC
• Equine Land Conservation Resource
• MIG, Inc.
• Sustainable Stables
• Back Country Horsemen of America
• Texas Mud Grids

USDA Forest Service:

• National Strategy for a Sustainable Trail System: https://www.fs.usda.gov/managing-land/trails/national-strategy
• 10 Year Trail Shared Stewardship Challenge: https://www.fs.usda.gov/managing-land/trails/10YTC
• Trails: https://www.fs.usda.gov/managing-land/trails

Manure:

• Protecting Horse Trails in New Hampshire : ELCR
• Horses and Packstock Unlikely to spread Invasive Plants Along Trails
• Are Horses Responsible for Introducing Non-Native Plants Along Forest Trails in the Eastern United States? (pdf)
• Horse Manure on the Trails: Should we do something? : ELCR
• The Scoop on Poop : ELCR
• DOES HORSE MANURE POSE A (bayequest.com)
• Sustainable Trails for Equestrian Use : ELCR
• From Lemons to Lemonade: Creating Sustainable Trails — An ELCR Webinar : ELCR

Trail Competencies

• Project Planning and Design
• • Trail Sustainability Principles

• Program Administration
• • Education and Public Outreach
• • Visitor Use Management

Relevant Trail Types

• Equestrian Trails