Trail Mix · experience, said Trail Guide 2016 has been published ___ Membership renewal due b...
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Trail Mix The Official Publication of the Indiana Trail Riders Association, Inc. November, 2016 ITRA GOLD NUGGET CORP INDIANA TRAIL RIDERS ASSOCIATION, INC. Post Office Box 185 Farmland, IN 47340 Return Address Requested PRSRT STD US POSTAGE PAID NOBLESVILLE, IN PERMIT NO. 21 ITRA BRONZE NUGGET CORPORATE SPONSOR ITRA TRAIL LEAD CORPORATE SPONSOR MARK YOUR CALENDERS Nov. 5, 2016 Deam Lake Fundraiser Fall Trail Clean-Ups Nov. 21-27, 2016 O’Bannon Brown County St. Park The EDGe (Email discussion Group) is a wonderful FREE communication tool for ITRA members with an internet connection. Send a blank e-mail to [email protected] Subscription is free and you can unsubscribe at any time. Advertise in the Trail Mix---Full Page $100.00, Half Page $50.00, Quarter Page $25.00, Bus Card Size Ad. $15.00. November, 2016 Mail completed form with check payable to ITRA at: Indiana Trail Riders Association, Inc. Post office Box 185 Farmland, IN 47340 Or use Paypal to renew on our website Name: ______________________________________ Spouse: _____________________________________ Address: ____________________________________ City: _______________________St:____Zip:_______ Home Phone: ________________________________ Cell Phone: __________________________________ County: _____________________________________ Email: ______________________________________ Referring Member: ____________________________ Join or Renew ITRA USE THIS FORM – (Please Print) Membership renewal Due by Hoosier Horse Fair We’re on the Web at: www.intrailriders.org. ___Family Membership $ 30.00 ___Association (Club) Membership $100.00 ___Trail Guide (postage-1 per member) $ 3.00 Trail Guide 2016 has been published—good for 3 years until 2019. ___Trail Fund Donation Amount $_______ ___Newsletter by US Postal Service ___Do not send hard copy—will access Trail Mix on website Membership renewal due by Hoosier Horse Fair Indiana Trail Riders Mission Statement The purpose of the Indiana Trail Riders Association is to promote trail riding and equine activities in Indiana and the surrounding area. The Indiana Trail Riders are involved on the local, state, and national levels striving to promote and improve trails and campgrounds. We work actively on the legislative and administrative levels as well as sponsoring and organizing workdays on several recreational properties in the hope that the natural beauty we have enjoyed on horseback will be available for future generations as well. New ITRA Membership Dues Effective Immediately!! Family Membership $30.00 Association (Club) Membership $100.00 Versailles State Park Horsemen’s Campground Grand Opening by Nancy Brunnemer After many hours of sweat and effort, on October 8, 2016, Indiana Trail Riders Association hosted an open house at the new horsemen’s campground in Versailles State Park. “Five years ago we saw the opportunity to develop this campground so horseback riders could have the overnight camping experience,” said Ron McCoy, an ITRA past president. This project, which includes nine camping sites with electric hookups, was made possible because of the efforts of many volunteers and Indiana DNR. Grants were received from the Rising Sun Foundation and The City of Lawrenceburg Indiana Regional Grant Foundation. Indiana Representative Randy Frye was instrumental in finalizing phase 1. “The plan is that phase 2 of the project will be done in a year to two years. It would include thirty plus more sites and a comfort station.” says Larry Sidell, an ITRA Director. The open house took place at 11:00 a.m. with a lunch at noon. A short program started at 1:00 p.m. In attendance were many Indiana trail riders, some Indiana DNR employees and local representatives. From left to right: Terry Coleman, DNR official Jeff French, Rising Sun Foundation Greg Hersberger Ron McCoy Larry Sidell Paul Sipples, park manager Congressman Randy Frye Brad Walker, assistant park manager
Transcript of Trail Mix · experience, said Trail Guide 2016 has been published ___ Membership renewal due b...
Trail Mix The Official Publication of the Indiana Trail Riders Association, Inc.
November, 2016
ITRA GOLD NUGGET CORP
ORATE SPONSOR
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INDIANA TRAIL RIDERS ASSOCIATION, INC. Post Office Box 185 Farmland, IN 47340
Return Address Requested
PRSRT STD US POSTAGE PAID NOBLESVILLE, IN PERMIT NO. 21
ITRA BRONZE NUGGET CORPORATE SPONSOR
ITRA TRAIL LEAD CORPORATE SPONSOR
MARK YOUR CALENDERS Nov. 5, 2016 Deam Lake
Fundraiser Fall Trail Clean-Ups
Nov. 21-27, 2016 O’Bannon Brown County St. Park
The EDGe (Email discussion Group) is a wonderful FREE communication tool for ITRA members with an internet connection. Send a blank e-mail to [email protected] Subscription is free and you can unsubscribe at any time. Advertise in the Trail Mix---Full Page $100.00, Half Page $50.00, Quarter Page $25.00, Bus Card Size Ad. $15.00. November, 2016
Mail completed form with check payable to ITRA at: Indiana Trail Riders Association, Inc.
Post office Box 185 Farmland, IN 47340
Or use Paypal to renew on our website
Name: ______________________________________ Spouse: _____________________________________ Address: ____________________________________ City: _______________________St:____Zip:_______ Home Phone: ________________________________ Cell Phone: __________________________________ County: _____________________________________ Email: ______________________________________ Referring Member: ____________________________
Join or Renew ITRA USE THIS FORM – (Please Print)
Membership renewal Due by Hoosier Horse Fair
We’re on the Web at: www.intrailriders.org.
___Family Membership $ 30.00 ___Association (Club) Membership $100.00 ___Trail Guide (postage-1 per member) $ 3.00 Trail Guide 2016 has been published—good for 3 years until 2019. ___Trail Fund Donation Amount $_______ ___Newsletter by US Postal Service ___Do not send hard copy—will access Trail Mix on website
Membership renewal due by Hoosier Horse Fair
Indiana Trail Riders Mission Statement The purpose of the Indiana Trail Riders Association is to promote trail riding and equine activities in Indiana and the surrounding area. The Indiana Trail Riders are involved on the local, state, and national levels striving to promote and improve trails and campgrounds. We work actively on the legislative and administrative levels as well as sponsoring and organizing workdays on several recreational properties in the hope that the natural beauty we have enjoyed on horseback will be available for future generations as well.
New ITRA Membership Dues
Effective Immediately!!
Family Membership $30.00
Association (Club) Membership $100.00
Versailles State Park Horsemen’s Campground Grand Opening by Nancy Brunnemer
After many hours of sweat and effort, on October 8, 2016, Indiana Trail Riders Association hosted an open house at the new horsemen’s campground in Versailles State Park. “Five years ago we saw the opportunity to develop this campground so horseback riders could have the overnight camping experience,” said Ron McCoy, an ITRA past president.
This project, which includes nine camping sites with electric hookups, was made possible because of the efforts of many volunteers and Indiana DNR. Grants were received from the Rising Sun Foundation and The City of Lawrenceburg Indiana Regional Grant Foundation. Indiana Representative Randy Frye was instrumental in finalizing phase 1. “The plan is that phase 2 of the project will be done in a year to two years. It would include thirty plus more sites and a comfort station.” says Larry Sidell, an ITRA Director.
The open house took place at 11:00 a.m. with a lunch at noon. A short program started at 1:00 p.m. In attendance were many Indiana trail riders, some Indiana DNR employees and local representatives. From left to right:
Terry Coleman, DNR
official
Jeff French,
Rising Sun Foundation
Greg Hersberger
Ron McCoy
Larry Sidell
Paul Sipples, park
manager
Congressman Randy
Frye
Brad Walker, assistant
park manager
President John Allen 9825 South 100 East Clayton., IN 46118 317-539-4326 [email protected]
Vice President Jim Dellinger 1007 Central Ave. Frankfort, IN 46041 765-659-2922
Treasurer Arlene Smoot 2532 West 200 South Danville, IN 46122 317-745-2976 [email protected]
Secretary Duane Davis 7180 N 900 W Huntington, IN 46750 765-238-0746 [email protected]
Greg Hersberger (Chairman) ‘17 4962 South 250 West Portland, IN 47374 260-729-1208 [email protected]
Karen Humphreys ‘18 3419 North 425 East Danville, IN 46122 317-892-3769 [email protected]
Reed Records ‘18 3980 St Rd 45 Nashville, IN 47448 812-345-2882 [email protected]
Jim Tremain ‘17 PO Box 502136 Indianapolis, IN 46250 317-833-6189 [email protected]
Nancy Brunnemer ‘17 7178 North 500 West McCordsville, IN 46055 317-443-8771 [email protected]
Rita Lockridge ‘19 7010 East 300 North Lafayette, In 47905 765-714-5019 [email protected]
Chris Riehl ‘19 3158 E. 200 S Dillsboro, IN 47018 812-320-7818 [email protected]
Lawrence Turnquist ‘18 12005 Parrish St. Cedar Lake, IN 46303 219 374-5370 [email protected]
Scotty Eskridge ‘19 P. O. Box 234 Knox, 46534 574-896-5159
Debbie Maschmeyer '19 507 Henryville-Bluelick Rd. Henryville, IN 47126 502-931-6221 [email protected]
Yvette Rollins ‘19 12784 E. Rollins Lane Springville, IN 47462 812-797-4540 [email protected]
Cindy Wyse ‘17 1993 West 750 South Trafalgar, IN 46181 317-503-1690 [email protected]
Barb Ferguson ‘18 2430 S. Glenn Lane Salem, IN 47167 812-967-3161 [email protected]
Bob McPheeters ‘19 27799 North 100 West Anderson, IN 46011 765-683-0665 [email protected]
Larry Sidell ‘17 273 East 1200 North Batesville, In 47006 812-934-4086 [email protected]
Membership Chairperson Bonnie Miller 8181 W. 100 S Farmland, IN 47340 765-468-6716 [email protected]
ITRA Web Site Administrator Donald Lockridge 7010 East 300 North Lafayette, IN 47905 765-714-5021 [email protected]
Trail Mix Editor Mary Williams 14978 East 191st Street Noblesville, IN 46060 765-534-5192 [email protected]
Trail Guide Editor John Allen 9825 South 100 East Clayton, IN 46118 317-539-4326 [email protected]
The Indiana Trail Riders *STATEMENT OF PURPOSE
The purpose of the Indiana Trail Riders Association…is to promote trail riding and equine activities in Indiana and the surrounding area.
The ITRA is involved on local, state and national levels striving to promote and improve trails and campgrounds.
We work actively on the legislative and administrative levels as well we sponsoring and organization workdays on several recreational
properties in the hope that the natural beauty we have enjoyed on horseback will be available for future generations as well.
The corporate address is Post Office Box 185, Farmland, Indiana 47340.
The corporate address is Post Office Box 185, Farmland, Indiana 47340.
ITRA BOARD OF DIRECTORS
ITRA APPOINTED POSITIONS
This Trail Mix Newsletter is the Official Publication of the Indiana Trail Riders Association. It is published six times a year in odd
numbered months. Editorial material, photos, and notices of upcoming events should be submitted to
[email protected] or mailed to Mary Williams 14978 East 191st Street Noblesville, IN 46060 by the 10th of even months.
ITRA Calendar
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ITRA OFFICERS - 2016
Discount
Copies
Teresa Peil & Sara Schmidt
100 Mensa Drive * Noblesville, IN 46062
(317)-773-8783 * Fax (317)773-9050
Hours: Mon-Fri 8:30 to 5:30 * Sat 10:00 to 3:00
Email: [email protected]
Round 2 It Ranch LLC 10734 N 800 E Ossian, IN 46777 (260) 639-6657 Email: [email protected] [email protected]
Call for Appointment! Book our Tack Trailer for Your Equine events!
Select the Best “Horse Health Solutions”
Nu-Image, Nu-Hoof, Select I&II, Nu-Weight ….and the rest of the line.
(Dealer Inquiries Welcome & Wanted)
Mayatex~ Triple E ~ Toklat
Parker Nylon ~ Congress Leather
Troxel Helmets ~ Showman Products
Wells 5 Star Pads ~ Bar F
Leanin T Ranch Halters & Leads
Cowboy Magic~ Mare Magic ~ Ultra
And oh! So much more!!
November 24-27, 2016 November 21-27, 2016
Fall Clean up
O’Bannon State Park Contact Greg Hershberger: 260-729-
1208, [email protected]
Fall Clean Up
Brown Co. State Park Contact John Allen: 317-539-4326 [email protected]
November 5, 2016
Deam Lake SRA Horse Campground
Clark Deam Lake Fundraiser All proceeds go to Clark/Deam Horse Trail Funds. Silent Auction, pitch-in dinner, meeting from 4-7 pm. Contact; Sue Keith 812-949-1629 [email protected] Barb Ferguson 812-620-6341 [email protected]
Please remember:
Keep our horse trails and campgrounds clean of trash
for all to enjoy.
A THANK YOU to all who clean the trails while riding
on your own. Let our president know as we keep track of
hours worked for the DNR.
Pass the word around!
Have a safe winter season.
March 18, 2017
Hamilton County Fairgrounds
ITRA Annual Meeting The pitch-in and silent auction at 1
pm with meeting to follow and election of officers.
March 31-April 2, 2017
Indiana State Fairgrounds
Hoosier Horse Fair
Visit ITRA’s booth.
April 28, 29, 30,, 2017
Brown County St. Park
Brown County Spring Clean-Up
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Midwest Equine Trail Foundation
Contact Chris Riehl For Contributions and Grants at
Midwest Equine Trail Foundation 3158 E. 200 S
Dillsboro, IN 47018
ITRA Trail Guides
Indiana Trail Rider Association’s “Trail Guide” books are now available. The books list almost 1,000 miles of Indiana horse trails, both private and public, with detailed trail and campground maps. There is also a section on horse vital signs along with large animal vet locations throughout Indiana as well as two horse rescue services.
The cost of the book is $15 plus $3 for postage. If you join ITRA for $20 and send $3 for postage you will automatically receive the book, plus a subscription to the Trail Mix newsletters. We pass out new books to members every three years because of increased printing and postage costs.
Current ITRA members who want a book will need to send $3 for postage. Membership and contact information is also available on our website: INTRAILRIDERS.ORG. All requests for books or membership should be sent to: ITRA Membership P. O. Box 185 Farmland, IN 47340
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ITRA Updates
ITRA Director and Officer Elections will be held at our 2017 March Annual Meeting. There will be director positions available. Anyone interested in becoming more involved in our organization needs to send a short biography and an optional picture to any Director, Officer, or Mary Williams by December 1, 2016. We need anyone who is interested and willing to help us keep our horse trails open. We are looking for a variety of people from different locations around the state to support local clubs and state parks.
Calling All ITRA 2017 Director Candidates
By Mary Williams
Many thanks to all who responded to my article about ITRA needing a mini excavator to work on our horse trails. We received several nice donations but we are still in the process of raising the money we need. We have applied for several grants and if any of you can give us more ideas on this please let me know. Donations may be made to: Midwest Equine Trail Foundation 3158 E. 200 S. Dillsboro, IN 47018
Your contribution is tax deductible Arlene
Mini Excavator (Ditch Witch) Donations Still Needed
By Arlene Smoot
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The World Is Changing Fast By Pastor Dean
Trail Tales By Calamity Jane
Dos Amigos By McCoy
Ron McCoy’s article is continued from Sept. 2016 Trail Mix and will be continued
in future newsletters.
It should be noted that at this time Larry and I were only considering a Phase I of perhaps 20 or so primitive sites. Little did we know… The revised site plan of October 26th gave us some GPS locations and on January 4th, 2012 Caryn Atkinson of the DNR and I flagged the outer perimeter of the campground. This put the overall size in to perspective and showed us what needed to be surveyed and cleared.
Before any real works could start, however, an archeological, environmental, historical and one other study had to be done. We were aware that these had been done previously, but needed to make sure they were all in place. This was still in process on April 30, 2012.
The winter of 2011 and 2012 caught up with us as far as actual work being done on sites. On January 4th, 2012 we met with the DNR on what’s going to happen next. At this time it became apparent that they wanted to do considerable more as far as the project was concerned. They wanted to put in restrooms, a shower house, water and electric, etc. for all sites.
On January 25th, 2012 Larry and I met with our grant writers at the Southeastern Regional Planning Office in Versailles only to discover we needed to come up with a mountain of paperwork. When we accomplished that, the ITRA applied for two grants. The City of Lawrenceburg did award us $17,200 on June 6th, 2012 and the Rising Sun Regional Foundation awarded us on September 26, 2012 a grant for $45,000. Both grants did have some restrictions on how the money could be spent.
On February 25, 2012 the ITRA chain saw gang knocked down some 100 trees on the site. Now a new problem came about. In the spring and early summer no trees could be cut down due to the Indiana Brown Bat’s (an endangered species) mating and nesting season.
In this time frame we had seven more work days with a turnout of from 9 to 38 volunteers.
In meeting with a couple of the surveyors in the summer of 2012 it became evident that the extensive undergrowth prohibited access by the surveyors. We borrowed a tree ax from the forestry division to be used on a bob cat, but it needed full tracks. The DNR would purchase the tracks but had to post the bid for 30 days and get three bids. By the time all this happened, the forestry division reclaimed the tree ax which eventually we had to re-borrow. Nonetheless, on August 11th, 2012 the tree ax was up and going and on August 28th, 2012 we met with the surveyor. On September 10th, 2012 the survey was started and completed on August October 17th, 2012. From this we learned the site overall was pretty flat with very poor drainage. Now the decision was made to remove all the trees and stumps and completely regrade the whole site. To be continued in Jan. 2017 Trail Mix
Well, although this summer was a
little too hot and wet for my likin' I'm sure
not lookin' forward to winter and all that gol
darn snow. I'm gettin' too long in the tooth
to do much winter ridin', but I still gots to
take care of them horses, carrying water to
them and fightin' snow drifts just to get my
horses fed. It just ain't no fun and I'm
thinkin' of moving somewhere where I don't
have to go to that much work in the winter
and not havin' any fun. It could be the high
desert in Arizona is callin' my name or at
least for the winter months! That ways I
could ride all winter long and not have to
shovel snow once.......
As I write this I think, where the time has gone this year! Looking out my windows here in Brown County the trees are starting to really show their color. It’s a beautiful day and a slight breeze. The smells are in the air of fall. Do you like the fall of the year? It’s a wonderful time to remember the past year and be thankful for all of God’s blessing.
Time comes and goes by so fast. We see new life, maybe a new horse or job or just found a new trail. We have had a very wet year here in this area which includes the park. But I like to look at the good side of things. It has kept our creek full enough to be able to continue to baptize all year where we meet each week. It is our prayer that as you travel to and from home and the park that you will take time and worship with us at the park. We are there every Sunday with a breakfast pitch in at 9:30 a.m. and 10:00 a.m. Worship (Brown County State Park) April thru November.
As we get ready to usher in a new year with the upcoming election I ask that you take time to remember to pray for our country that God will have his way in America again! It all begins with us. 2 Chronicles 7:14 says it this way, “If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” So simple yet so hard as a nation to do. Whatever the future holds just remember who holds the future! So as you head out on the trail of life keep the faith and be ready to share the Love of Jesus wherever.
Pastor Dean Manuel Horseman’s Camp Christian Outreach 7595 Bob Allen Road Freetown, IN 47235 Facebook: hcco Horseman’s Camp [email protected]
Tony Riggins Recognition
Early this summer a plaque, picnic
table and mounting block were placed where Trail 10 intersects Trail 11 in Brown County State Park to commemorate the uncountable hours Tony Riggings contributed to Indiana Trail Riders.
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The 20th annual IQHA / AQHA Charity Trail Ride held in September 2016 at
Deam Lake SRA in Borden Indiana raised $8,100 for Equine Assisted
Therapy Programs in Indiana! This brings our total raised since 1997 to
over $198,000! Seven programs, providing equine assisted therapy, will receive grants from our ride, fulfilling requests made. We know that your generosity in donating to our event contributes in a significant way to the success of these therapeutic programs and to the quality of life of the clients they serve.
Over 100 participants enjoyed a beautiful new location, beautiful trails and a “horse vacation” with friends old and new in the outdoors of Indiana.
Indiana Quarter Horse Association would like to thank you again for your part in this success. Indiana Trail Riders Association was listed as a donor in our “auction catalogue” that all participants received, promoted on our Facebook page, and mass e-mails, and included in our supporter appreciation video that was shown throughout the weekend and now on You Tube.
The use of the ITRA tent was super! We definitely needed it for the room and the trailer ended up being a great spot to store items since we didn’t have a building to use. Yvette Rollins, her husband, and several ITRA people were great in getting the tent to the location and setting up…couldn’t have done it without them! I know that at least a few of our sign ups were because of the Trail Mix Newsletter and that was a help with the event being in a new location I was expecting participation to be down, which it was, but not terribly. Barb Ferguson was the campground host that weekend and also helped us out a lot! I hope that the Bob Evans fundraiser went well for you and the flyers distributed were a benefit. All in all so appreciative of the support!!
Thank you for being a supporter of our event. We so appreciate it! Sincerely, Suzanne Walters IQHA Trail Ride Coordinator Indiana Quarter Horse Association 812-825-9338 / 812.322-6549 [email protected]
When I e-mailed Jim Webb the property manager at Potato Creek what he'd like us to do on our work day he asked if we'd trim back the trails. Now in the past we have always done this on horseback, but Brian and Cindy Harnish had just camped there over Memorial Day Weekend and said we needed something a little bigger than just loppers and pruning shears to trim trails. So we put our heads together and came up with an idea to really trim the trails.
Cindy said Brian would bring his tractor and a small trailer and the park was going to let us use one of their Gators. Bruce and I brought out two ATV's so we could get more done faster. Bruce had just bought an electric pole saw so we stuck in a long extension cord and our Honda generator, and we were all set to go!
Brian on his tractor, the generator on his trailer hooked up to my ATV, Cindy on Bruce's quad and Sally Babcock, her niece Ariel, Marlene Shirley and Pam Bice all climbed in the gator and off we went. We also had a fellow trail rider Arlen Holderread bring his Kubota tractor over. We sent him off to push back brush on the trails, plus we had one member trimming on horseback and that was Cheryl Rager.
Well we cranked up that Honda and plugged in that pole saw and Bruce went to trimming back trails like you wouldn't believe. That pole saw worked better than any of us dreamed! Bruce cut the big stuff while all the other gals went on foot and trimmed back the smaller stuff. Brian followed Bruce on his tractor and pushed all the limbs and brush that Bruce had trimmed off the trail.
We took a lunch break and Bruce cooked us burger, brats and dogs over the campfire. It started to rain so we all gathered under the Shirley's awning and ate and visited for an hour or so. Then the rain stopped and off we went to do the trail that goes along State Road 4. That's the one that has all the Thorn Apple Trees and those darn thorns are 2 to 3 inches long! That's when that pole saw really came in handy.
Potato Creek State Park Spring Clean-up By Jody Weldy.
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A Word from
ITRA’s President
John Allen
The ITRA weekend at Midwest Trail Ride in Norman Indiana was a well-attended success. Hats off to the members who showed up even with the predicted rain. Kim and Jeff were great hosts as usual.
Friday night’s spaghetti dinner was delicious as well as a great venue to socialize and raise funds at the same time. Even the rain on Saturday still allowed some time for riding and socializing with friends. Several folks got out on the trails between showers. More than one member was on the trail during the rain, but we are a hardy bunch and a little rain never hurt anyone.
A big disappointment was that we could not host the Trail Ride Challenge. The rain left the competition area soft and muddy so it was decided not to risk injures to horses or riders due to slips or falls. This was the first time the event had to be cancelled due to weather. Because of the rain the country store was set-up in the dining hall and not a visible as in the past but sales were good.
The pitch in dinner was well attended, and for the first time in my memory we ran out of everything except the meat and some desserts. In other words the food was delicious. The silent auction was the largest ever.
Bargains were everywhere. A high point was an Indiana Trail Riders quilt donated by Jane Collom. This beautiful quilt (see photo) was finally snagged by Greg and Diane Hershberger. So in summary our annual MTR ride was a fund raising success allowing us the opportunity to continue serving Indiana horse trails and campgrounds. Many thanks to all who participated.
John Allen, President ITRA
ITRA wants
to thank the
generosity of
so many
donors to our
silent
auction.
Jane Collom made this quilt for our silent auction! Our many thanks.
ITRA at Work on the Trail
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German Ridge Horse Camp Hoosier National Forest
By Nancy Brunnemer
South of I-64 in southern Indiana you will find German Ridge Horse Camp which is a part of Hoosier National Forest. For only $4 a night, you can get one of 20 primitive sites with picket lines, hitching rails, graveled pads, vaulted toilets, picnic tables and fire pits. Water is available for horses only. There is a possible increase in camping fees for 2017.
There are about 24 miles of trails that wind through sandstone rock outcrops. The south end of the trail system is more of a gravel lane and heavily used by horses. The north end is more single track. Some fun things to do while are German Ridge might include: walk to German Ridge Beach to fish or swim; dinner at Leavenworth on the Ohio River (Beautiful); visit Marengo Cave; about 30 minutes north is a swimming at Tipsaw Lake; or haul to Mogan Ridge and Oriole Trail for additional day riding. On August 13, 2016 Hoosier Back Country Horsemen and Southern Indiana Horsemen's Club participated in a work day at the campground at German Ridge. Ride a bit, work a bit!!
The workday at LBW and SSF turned out great even with the rain that came in and stopped the work around 2 p.m. Saturday afternoon. We knew it was coming so everyone was up early and got started.
The work at LBW was directed by Rex Whiteleather. The main task was to get the muddy spots as you are leaving camp and getting to the open area firmed up. We had a crew from LBW and ITRA volunteers with loaders and a backhoe digging drainage trenches, putting down geotex, and spreading stone in quite a few areas all the way out to the 2 hills past Rush Creek. Another crew of ITRA and a couple LBW workers (property manager Ronnie Hileman) worked the area in the woods with our skid loaders and rakes to put down geotex and fill a couple pretty muddy areas and harden the trail in needed spots. Much work was completed and many trail improvements were made. The chainsaw crew and nippers were out until the rain came.
At SSF the ITRA crew was out with skid loaders and tractor loaders moving stone to all the parking pads in the camp and stone on some of the hitch rails. That work didn't get completed on Saturday so we went back on Sunday and completed all we could until we ran out of stone. The chainsaw crew did get a trail open that was completely blocked open before the rain came.
It did work out in the end as it quit raining and the sun came out, and we all enjoyed a nice pitch in supper where no one left hungry. Afterwards we retired to the campfire to spin tales the rest of the evening until late in the evening.
Total volunteer hours for the weekend was 136 hours.
Greg Hersberger Chairman of the Board Directors Indiana Trailriders Assn. 260-729-1208
Trail Clean-up at Salamonie State Forest and Lost Bridge West State
Recreation Area
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ITRA creating a
horsemen’s
campground at
Versailles State
Park for all
horsemen to enjoy
the park’s scenic
beauty.
