Trails
TRAIL ISSUES IN THE
GREEN
MOUNTAIN
NATIONAL FOREST AND
SURROUNDING AREAS
Trail Maintenance Fund
The Vermont Horse Council
is pleased to offer grant opportunities to Vermont organizations that
use, promote, and maintain equine trails within the state. The program
will assist equine trail organizations the opportunity to maintain and
repair trails with matching grants from the Vermont Horse Council. All
Vermont organizations involved in equine trail. This is a matching grant
program with a maximum award amount of $500.00. To learn more and fill
out an application: Click on
trail grant and
trail grant report files.
Groton State Forest Trails
One of
Vermont’s hidden jewels for the equestrian; Groton State Forest is a
25,000 acre forest which permits horseback riding on several multi use
trails. Most of the trail systems consist of the Wells River railroad
bed, but with the help of several volunteers and the Vermont Department
of Forests, Parks and Recreation work has been underway to complete some
trail loops for non motorized vehicles, hikers and horseback riders.
THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU for the tremendous
response to the request for the May Trail Blitz. We have close to 50
people working on the trail blitz on May 3rd.
Another local Quarter Horse Club has expressed
interest in completing trail work at Groton on May 15th.
A VHC group will be expanding the size of the
corrals at New Discovery to 14’X 14’ with center isles included as soon
as the park opens in mid May.
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Groton Forest objectives for the 2010 season
include:
- Improve trail markings on the New Discovery to
Seyon Ranch out and back trail. Currently the trail is marked
with yellow blazes that are confusing at times. Especially the turns
from the Rail Trail Connector trail, right onto Marshfield Brook Rd to
Lanesboro and then left onto the trail that connects to the Railroad
Bed. Work will continue on these areas in 2010.
- Expand corrals to 14’ by 14’ with center isles
at New Discovery. Permission has been received work is planned
for mid May.
- Investigate fund raising opportunities for
Groton multi use trail system.
- Organize at least two trail work days.
- Organize a “Get to know Groton Forest Multi Use
Trails” event.
There is still much work to be completed – stay
tuned to this page for further volunteer activities. Contact
jcole@trans-video.net or 802-485-3087 if you are interested in
Groton Forest.
Ride & Drive Program
The Vermont Horse Council riding and driving program began in April of
1992 with Pat Johnson. The program was developed to recognize personal
achievement and not competitive achievement. Actual riding and driving
times are logged for each participating unit, which consists of one person
and one particular horse. You may join with several horses but each one
must be registered separately. You will receive a patch when you join and
as you reach 50,100,150, 200,350,500,750,1000 and 2000 hours you will
receive a matching hour bar. Special awards are given at 500,1000, 1500
and 2000 hours.
Large Animal Technical
Rescue
LATR
Provides New Resources for Fire Departments in Large Animal Emergencies
by Cindy Cross-Greenia, President, The Vermont Horse Council
LATR stands for Large Animal Technical Rescue. There are many incidences
in which large animals may need rescue such as a horse that has become
mired or stuck in mud, a down or injured animal in hazardous terrain, an
animal who has fallen through ice and is stuck in freezing cold water or
one who has fallen into a well. These are all situations that have
occurred in Vermont and fire departments have received the call.
Cindy Cross-Greenia and The Vermont Horse Council developed the Large
Animal Technical Rescue Project to provide equipment and training to first
responders around Vermont. This equipment and training allows for large
animal emergencies to be handled in a manner that eliminates further
injury to the animal and responder by ensuring that proper tools and
techniques are utilized.
A local LATR team is formed after department members have completed
training and expressed interest in becoming a team for their area. Each
team is provided specialized equipment by the Vermont Horse Council
including a rescue glide, rescue straps, rescue hook, hobbles, blinding
mask, halters, lead ropes, padding, ratchet straps and anything else
needed to secure an animal to the rescue glide. In addition Colchester
Technical Rescue is equipped with all above mentioned equipment as well as
a Becker Sling, the sling is to be used to perform vertical lifts using a
tripod system or appropriate heavy machinery. Colchester Tech will respond
statewide with the sling when needed.
At this time the teams are as follows:
- Grafton Fire Department – Covering Windham County and Southern
Windsor County including the towns of Springfield, Chester and Andover
- South Woodstock Fire Department – Covering
Orange County and Northern Windsor County North of the towns of
Springfield, Chester and Andover
- Orwell Fire Department – covering Addison
County and Northern Rutland County
- Colchester Technical Rescue – covering all
remaining areas of the state at this time.
Trainings and equipment placement will continue with available funding and
grants with a goal of having
a team covering every area of the state with responsibility for two to
three counties.
LATR trainings were held in August of 2007 and September of 2008 the next
training is planned for May
of 2009 in the Rutland area and once again all department chiefs will be
notified or check the events
calendar at www.vthorsecouncil.org for training information.
For more information on training, equipment, or LATR teams please contact:
Cindy Cross-Greenia,
President Vermont Horse Council PO Box 392, Underhill, VT 05489
802/899-323928 or
crossgreenia@gmail.com
