Trying to plan for a fall riding trip with friends, we thought we'd like to return to Cherokee Trail Ride in Alabama.  We went there a couple years ago and just had a wonderful time.

I went to the website  http://www.cherokeetrailrides.com/  and there is a notice at the top of the home page that the camp is closed because the wildlife management is no longer allowing horses!!!!

I AM SOOOO MAD!!!

I also feel bad for the family who ran the camp.  They had relocated there and had worked so hard to spruce things up.

GGRRRRRR 

Stinkin tree huggers

There are folks who would prefer that we never take horses on public lands. This is  why it's so important to be involved in some sort of organization that supports our horse interest. You choose the organization that supports those interest in your area.

It is also important that when you use a trail ( especially on Forest Service or BLM lands) that you sign the log book at the trail head. The government agencies justify funding and land use based on WHO uses and HOW MANY people use those trails. It's often an inconviences to get off the horse and sign a log book. But please do.

This is happening at an alarming rate. Current River area in MO is being threatened right now. What I can't get some hikers and tree huggers to understand is that true trail riders help clear and maintain the trails and do not throw beer cans/bottles/trash on to the ground. I will stop and get off my horse to pick up trash along the trail to ensure the continued use of it not to mention preserving the beauty of the forest. It's not just trail riders that I seen abuse the land - hiker, mountain biker, ATVers too. It's too bad that a few rotten apples spoil the large majority of conscientious folks privileges.

Look at Shawnee Nat'l forest. Miles of trails have been closed to trail riders and are now so over grown that not even hikers can use them. I frequently write my congressman and senator on the issue of leaving public lands for public use.

that's why we need to attend and support trail conferences like http://www.southeasternequestriantrails.com/  This year it is in Charleston, SC..next week!!!!

If you can't make it this year, we are hosting it in Gainesville FL next July 2009....click here for a preview http://www.geocities.com/goetheforest/volunteer.html

I also hate to see litter on the trails.  I don't even throw down cigarette butts, just stick them in my back pocket until I get back to camp.  I return from nearly every ride with several pieces of other people's trash in my saddle bag.

All trailriders are "tree-huggers" of a sort.  We go to the forests because we love to be surrounded by nature.  Riding the roads or through pastures just doesn't cut it.  We want to see the trees and wildflowers, big rock formations, caves, rocky creeks and waterfalls, birds, deer, turkey...  I could go on and on.

And why is it assumed that trailriders are the only trail users leaving trash???? 

It's not just trail riders. It's everybody who uses the area.

Last week I rode 9 miles into the Uinta High Wilderness.  It was a tough 9 miles in. The only way to get there was by horse or hiking.

I found a camp, probably from last fall/summer.  I could see where they had tied their horses to the trees. They left the ropes hanging off the trees. Part of a blue tarp was laying there. two old lawn chairs, and bunch of aluminum tent poles. Along with some empty cans and other small garbage. First off I know this was a horsecamper.  No hiker hauls that kind of stuff in on his back, Plus I could see the evidence of horses where they had been tied to the trees. So why leave that kind of garbage in the mountains?  The only thing I could think of was that they shot a big elk and had to use one of their pack horses to haul the meat out and didn't have enough room left to haul the other stuff. And it appears they didn't want to make the return trip to pick up what they considered expendable. Maybe a bad storm pushed them out in a hurry and some of the stuff got covered in the snow and just forgotten. But it left a mess.

In another wilderness area, a plane had crashed years ago. A fellow came in with a pack train of mules and loaded up all the debris from the plane crash that had layed on the mountain for years and hauled it out. I appreciate his efforts.  I don't know his motivation. whether he just wanted to see it cleaned up, was paid by the Forest Service to do it, or just wanted to sell the metal for scrap.  But it's all gone now and we just tell the story to new comers about a wrecked plane laid there for years.

The point is some folks go the extra mile, some don't, but we all live with the results

Sorry, but I don't consider trail riders tree huggers.  A tree hugger isn't someone that loves the outdoors, we all have that in common, I'm talking about those extreme people that don't want ANYTHING using the forest. 

It's sad in Shawnee, so many trails have been cutoff.  And YES, it was due to extreme types of people.  I agree with keeping the trails clean, and no litter.  My 9 year old and I play a game called "trail or trash", we see who can clean up the most.  We feel lucky if neither wins

Good idea about signing in for the trails, not all the places I ride have that. 

If wanting clean air, clean water, and pristine wilderness to restore my soul means that I am a tree-hugger, then I proudly accept the honor.  But like everyone else here, I would like to stomp the hide off those who do not respect our public lands.  I too believe in leaving a camp site cleaner than I found it, and would much rather see a pile of horse apples than a coors can on the trail.

Marla

The old commercials stated it best:

Take nothing but pictures.

Leave nothing but footprints.

And for the Texas trail riders:

Don't mess with Texas!!

Thank you Cowpony!!!  That's what I have said also...bears, deer, bobcats...they all s**t in the woods.  I accidentally found some hiker's blog one time and he was going on and on about what a horrendous mess the horses made on "his" trails.  I really wanted to ask him where he thought all the woodland critters did their business.

Incidentally, I have also seen that book.  I came across an ad for it while doing a search for some sort of potty for my trailer.  I laughed so hard I spit sweet tea all over the computer screen!

CRG -  On the rare occasions when I have had to "do" my business in the woods, I scoop out a hole in the ground with the heel of my boot and deposit all evidence in it.  TP and poo can also be burned, but this is obviously not a good idea during the dry season.

I am sad to see the Cherokee camp closed. I was planning a visit this fall when it would be cooler and the trees turning.

However........I can see the State's position as well.

I grew up in that area and used to hunt the WMA long before any horse camp was around. It is steep hills, streams and valleys, which with alot of horse traffic on the trail will lead to major errosion of the soil, and eventually no passable trail. Alabama Game an Fish Dept does not allow any ATV traffic on this WMA except on paved roads. Plus there is hunting season to consider......samll game opens in August with Deer bow season in October I believe, gun in November on thru Feb. 

I dont know what arrangment the owner had with the state as to maintance of the trails, but it takes alot of work to prevent the errosion. We have a local group here in Memphis who asked the state for permission to re-open equestrian trails in a state park that had been closed for several years. 

3 years later, after having an environmental study done, the state says OK ...IF....you build the trails like this, build this bridge like that, gravel here and there, parking lot, have plans and equipment for continous maintaince, you can build it. Only cost $100K for the first year............

I dont like it either, but alot of horse traffic will disrupt the landscape, unless there is a maintence plan.

We took a proactive stance on ensuring our equestrian trails are open for our use.  We joined our local Back Country Horseman organization, and adopted our local State Park as our home base, taking responsibilty for policing the trails, making improvements, and more importantly, riding in "official" vests and reporting on misuse of trails (i.e. specific horse-folk going "off trail" for their amusement).

We participate with the Park Ranger, the Conservation Department, partner with the hiker groups and other multi-use participants to ensure the trails are kept nice and our "footprint" is minimal.

This year, it's been kind of difficult with all the rain, muck, and mud, but repair work will keep things headed in the right direction.

I think it takes partnership and participation, building good relationships with the cognizant "owners" of the land.

Tuffyspop is right on.  Here is a park, smack dab in the middle of Memphis that allows private horseback riding.

Shelby Farms Equestrian Alliance has done the things Tuffyspop outlines and has a good relationship with the local gov. who run the park.  We spend alot of time and energy maintaining the trails, not only for horses but for hikers and bikers too.

Unfortunatedly our web page is down, so here is the gov webpage for the park.

http://www.shelbycountytn.gov/FirstPortal/dotShowDoc/Government/CountyServices/PublicWorks/ShelbyFarms_index.htm

Then again ....these things might have no bearing on the WMA in ALA....might be for safety for the upcoming hunting season.