HORSE ASSOCIATION & TRAIL RIDERS NEWS
BRIGHTON TRAIL RIDERS ASSOCIATION Here we are in mid-late summer and weather wise, it's been a mixed bag. We've had pleasant days, hot days, rainy days – you name it. Just a few weeks ago, Michigan was hit with several tornados and a DNR riding area just one county away was hit hard. Thankfully, Brighton Recreation Area was spared that kind of devastation. Nevertheless, Ma Nature did throw us a curve ball in June. We were scheduled to have our first major outdoor event since Covid and were really looking forward to it. Then, the weather reports of heavy rain and storms on the day of the event started coming in. The day prior to the event, we reluctantly decided that it had to be cancelled. Then, on the day in question, it didn't rain! On a later message to our membership, we quipped that weather forecasters could be wrong half the time and still keep their jobs. Right now, we have three events still on the schedule for 2021: an open ride and picnic in September, our annual Poker Ride in October, and a big banquet set for November, cohosted with the Pinckney Trail Riders. The banquet, which has evolved from a Christmas party to a “Spring Fling” due to epidemic-caused post-ponements, is our latest effort to hold a big party with our friends from Pinckney. Given the uncertainties associated with the Covid epidemic and Mother Nature's mood, all of them are subject to change. Of course, we're keeping our fingers crossed. In the meantime, the equestrian facilities at Brighton are in full operation, so all trail riders are welcome to visit us. Mark Delaney, BTRA President
hope you'll join us for this event! This year we will have the usual festivities with prizes for the horseshoes brought in with the winning colors. We will also have our 50/50 raffle, a hot dog lunch, and a great potluck dinner following the ride on Saturday, (bring your favorite dish to pass!). We’ve added something more this year and will be holding our first Chinese auction. We have some great items to choose from so come and have a chance to win one, or two! The HTRA Horseshoe event is always a great time and is filled with fun, friendship, great food and lots of laughs! To register or for more information, email Sally Oberg at highlandtrailriders@gmail.com. Mail registration form and checks to treasurer James Jurkowski, 2641 Pebble Lane, Milford, MI 48381. Make checks payable to HTRA. Forms will be available on Highland Trail Riders Association Facebook page and at: http://highlandtrailriders.com/web/ We always welcome new members and would love having you join our Association. Wherever you ride ... please enjoy the trails, ride safe, and support your local trail rider associations!!
IONIA HORSE TRAILS ASSOCIATION We have had a lot of wind issues this summer, and lots of work done cleaning up downed trees and debris. If you encounter this situation on the trails, please let us know, and let the park staff know before you leave the park. We all work together as best as we can to keep the trails clear. There are lots of campsites left for our October Chili Cook Off, October 2, 2021. We are hoping for a great IHTA turn out as this will effectively be our only event for 2021! Please get your reservation made soon! When reserving online, remember your first click is on the "Equestrian" tab on the right side of the page, then you can select our horse camp. Be sure to use a good email address when making your reservation. At HIGHLAND TRAIL RIDERS ASSOC. the end of the 2021 season, there will be an ATTENTION TRAIL RIDERS!!! HTRA is hold- electronic survey sent to horse campers. ing our annual Horseshoe Ride September The state is looking for your feedback and 10-12, 2021. Yes...it's happening and we concerns about camping with horses, and SEPTEMBER 2021 • C & C PUBLISHING, INC. ©2021 (42)
potential interactions with non-horse campers. This is critical to our work to try to keep our horse campgrounds "horse only". If you register directly at the park, please ask the person working at registration to take down your email address and give it to the park supervisor so you can be included in the survey. We hope to make additions to the Ionia Confidence Course next year. We have plotted out our proposed route for Phase 2, but this hinges on DNR approval on the trail. As soon as we have DNR approval for the route, it will be brushed out and riders are welcome to start using the path to go from day staging to the Phase 1 course. The path will pick up from the trail just across the road from day staging, then take the first right (presently it is marked by pink ribbons in sets of two – stay between the ribbons.) Our approximately 100 x 100 arena built with a joint effort of park staff and IHTA volunteers in September 2019 is next to day staging. If you have an anxious horse you want to expose to trail riding, you'll have a safe place to "work out the kinks" before hitting the trails. We'll also be encouraging 4-H groups to hold their practices there, as well as potentially inviting clinicians and outside events in the future. THREE DAY PARKING AREAS: 1 – Normal Day Staging; 2 – Go past the day staging parking lot to the "Barn Lot" on the same side of the road; 3 – There is also a new option to access the west end of the park more easily! It is still signed as the X Country Ski Trail, just before the beach entrance (on the opposite side of the road) when entering the park. Park staff enlarged the parking area to hold four or five horse size rigs, but this is not a parking area suitable for BIG rigs. The drive entry is not wide, and the turnaround area is not huge. If your rig is more than 30 feet or you lack backing skills, this may not be a good option. Please park like you expect the lot to be full when you come back. Leave room for others and plan for all rigs to be able to exit safely. Remember, you can ask questions or report trail issues on our Facebook page Ionia Horse Trails – IHTA, or by calling the park at 616-527-3750. Horse Association and Trail Riders News Are FREE! Word limit 600, deadline 16th for next issue. Email: saddleupmag@gmail.com WWW.SADDLEUPMAG.COM
