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The Connecticut Horse Council Trails
Committee
Purpose
The purpose of the CT Horse Council Trails Committee is
to unify equestrian trail users throughout the state in
order to build working relationships with individuals and
groups that has the same interests or who govern the land
that riders want access to, such as the Department of
Environmental Protection (DEP) and to promote multi-use
trails.
The Trails Committee represents horse people in:
- The Department of Environmental Protection (DEP)
- State Trails Advisory Board (DEP)
- The Connecticut Greenways Council
- Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan
(SCORP)
We serve as a liaison between state and local horse
trails organizations. We recognize that we can not
ourselves deal with each trail statewide; that is best done
by the local trail user groups. We can provide advice
to local trails groups, put them in contact with the right
trail manager, and when necessary, intervene with someone at
the state or local office.
By working with the CT Horse Council Legislative
Committee and the CT Farm Bureau, we can represent
equestrian trail users before the Connecticut Legislature on
matters such as trails for equestrian use, land owner
liability on trails, appropriations for parks and trails
funding, and protecting our rights to trails.
The Trail Committee Goals
- Protect and expand the network of open lands
available for trail riding.
- Educate equestrians on trail etiquette and sharing
the trail with other user groups.
- Educate individuals as well as organizations of the
importance of becoming involved in local planning
committees and boards, to help to maintain and preserve
local riding trails.
- Solicit association membership to the CT Horse
Council from individuals and groups. Encourage
individuals and delegates from each trail group to sit on
the Trails Committee.
- Encourage trail groups to actively assist land
managers in planning and maintaining trails and trails
systems.
- Identify and catalog all existing equine trails in
the state.
- Work in partnership with public land managers to
identify new equestrian trail opportunities.
- Provide a resource to public land managers for
maintenance of existing and proposed trails and
facilities by identifying local user groups that can
provide manpower resources to such projects.
- Assist trail groups in working with public land
managers and in applying for grant funding for the
National Recreational Trails Act and Greenways Fund.
- Develop guidelines for shared use of trails, through
effective lines of communication with other trail user
groups in the state.
Develop educational materials regarding trail use,
including trail etiquette, sharing our trail resources with
other user groups, trail safety, trail riding techniques to
preserve our trail resources, working effectively with
public land managers, and proper trail development and
maintenance.
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