Bright future for equestrian trails in Larimer County

By Joe Andrews
Larimer County Horseman's Association

The subject of equestrian use on public trails is often quite discouraging. We hear of trails being closed. We hear of adversarial relationships between public land managers and horse owners. We wonder if we will end up with no place to ride our horses. As horse owners, we often feel unable to do anything about it.

There is good news. The Larimer County Parks and Open Lands Department has been aggressively procuring property and building trails on which horses are allowed. Why? There are three reasons:

• The wording of the ballot initiative that created funding for Larimer County open lands.
• The concept of a multi-use, connected, regional trail system being adopted on the original open lands master plan.
• And the Larimer County Horseman's Association making itself a resource for the open lands department.

The ballot initiative that created funding for county open lands included a provision for creating trails. When the initiative passed, creating trails became an integral part of the opens lands mission - they are charged with the task of providing new trails.

As the newly funded open lands department was being organized, a foresighted citizen named Jean Bolton realized the importance of having a multi-use, connected, regional trail system included in the master plan. Jean organized an ad hoc committee which took a census of horses in Larimer County, mapped specific trails to be included in the regional system and held a public meeting to present this to the open lands staff. Jean's efforts were successful and the concept of a multi-use connected, regional trail system is still on the open lands master plan today.

Several years ago, LCHA's leadership looked for ways to become a resource for the open lands department. They felt LCHA could represent the horse community's interests more effectively at the planning level rather than trying to overcome the inertia of a project in its final stages, which often leads to antagonistic relationships between horse groups and public land managers. LCHA's leadership also had a vision for the impact maintaining trails would have on keeping them open for equestrian use. As a result:

• LCHA provides the open lands staff with letters of support for grant applications to fund new open space.
• LCHA has representatives on open lands' technical advisory committees.
• LCHA works with the county trail crew on routing issues.
• LCHA adopted and maintains two Larimer County open lands' trails.

What does this mean in terms of new equestrian trails? The Ramsay-Shockey Open Space with 4 miles of trail, the Devil's Backbone Extension with 7 miles of trail and Rimrock with access through the Coyote Ridge Natural Area, providing a 7-mile round trip, have already been opened. Current projects under construction include Eagles Nest with 5 miles of trail and the Soderberg Homestead trailhead with connections to Horsetooth Mountain Park and Rimrock.

A management plan is currently being developed for the Indian Creek property. This is the final connection in the regional trail between the Devil's Backbone and Horsetooth Mountain Park. When complete, this project will provide about 18 miles of trail with four different access points. With the existing trails in Horsetooth Mountain Park and Lory State Park, the regional trail system will consist of over 50 miles of connected trails.

Plans for the future include the Mountain to Plains Conservation Project. This includes 70,000 acres of the Laramie Foothills, stretching from the national forest to Interstate 25. This project is a combination of conservation easements and land purchases. Included in the vision is about 20 miles of multi-use trails in the Red Mountain Ranch and Soapstone Ranch areas.

How can you have a part in ensuring the future of equestrian trails remains bright in Larimer County?

• Become an LCHA member. Your membership adds your voice to LCHA. The more members LCHA has, the louder its voice when it represents the interests of horse owners.
• Participate in trail maintenance. Horse clubs doing trail maintenance is the most effective way to get public land managers to see horses as an asset to their trail system.
• Be a courteous trail user. Act like the kind of person you would want using the trail if you were the land manager.
• Pick up after yourself and your horse.

Your effort in these areas will help maintain the current determination the open lands department has for keeping horses on trails in Larimer County.

For more information about the Larimer County Horseman's Association visit www.larimerhorseman.org.

Joe Andrews is an author, horse breeder and trainer living in Larimer County. His book, "Experiences Along the Way," is a collection of short stories about his experiences working with horses. He is past president of the Larimer County Horseman's Association and the group's current public lands liaison.