Trail Rides
Please come out to enjoy a TROT trail ride and consider leading a ride yourself! TROT trail rides are fun and a great opportunity to learn new trails, meet other TROT members, and find a new trail riding buddy. To lead a ride, contact our trail ride coordinator, Barbara Sollner-Webb.
To participate in a scheduled ride:
- Contact the ride leader to sign-up and learn the ride’s starting time and other details.
- If a ride is postponed or cancelled, the ride leader will notify you.
- Check the TROT website and TROT and Maryland Trail Riders listservs for the most current ride information.
- All ride participants:
- Must wear helmets
- Provide appropriate documentation of current negative Coggins test for the horse, in compliance with Maryland state law.
- Be a TROT member – One-day TROT memberships are available at the ride for $5
If you need a ride to the event or can offer one, please email Barbara Sollner-Webb, so that this information can be included in an upcoming newsletter, or contact the ride leader.
Trail Maintenance
Anytime you are on a trail ride and if safe to do so, you can perform trail maintenance by clipping branches that impede passageway along a trail. In addition, you can participate in scheduled trail maintenance days.
Amy Kimble is the TROT Adopt-A-Trail coordinator and she has challenged all TROT members to perform two hours of trail maintenance a year. Please contact Amy for additional information about participating in trail maintenance activities. She can be reached at 301-748-8310 or amyhkimble@aol.com.
Please report your trail work hours to Amy, who tracks this information for the state; these hours also help assess park usage.
Calendar
(Rain Date July 28) Gillis Falls, also known as Woodbrook CWMA in Woodbine may never become a reservoir, as the county has long intended (it exists only on maps), but the acres Carroll County acquired boasts 3+ miles of trails, an arena, and cross country jumps. It is crisscrossed by several potential feeder streams. Don’t let the lower miles of trails discourage you. TROT’s Carroll County Coordinator has something fun in store for you! Sign up to be included in what is sure to be an awesome day.
[Heat/Rain date: Saturday, September 25.] This will be a repeat of last year’s wonderful
ride at a delightful park with good footing; there will be an all-walk and a faster pace group. Please bring sandwiches and drinks for relaxing after the ride. More in the May newsletter.
[Rain date: Sunday, September 16.] This is a wonderful riding venue! There should be an all-walk and a faster group, and a wonderful lunch after the ride. More info to come in the May newsletter.
[Rain date: Saturday, September 22.] Bunker Hill is a very popular riding area in Gunpowder Falls State Park. The pace of this ride will be walk-only for 1 ½ – 2 hours. More information in the May newsletter
[Rain date Saturday, October 20.] A lovely park (see write-up for May 24 ride). We will
have an all-walk and a faster group, about a 2 hour ride, and then a pot-luck lunch.
TROT members are invited to join with the Chesapeake
Plantation Walking Horse Club (CPWHC), which has booked the barn at Fair Hill NRMA for a horse camping weekend! Great trail riding and camping, and a well-organized weekend, since CPWHC has been doing these Fair Hill camping weekends for many years. Fair Hill offers almost 6000 acres of beautiful rolling countryside and 80 miles of trails through the woods and along the Big Elk River. Their large stalls are matted and safe for the horse, and around the barns is very nice #eld camping for the people (a limited number of spots have electric hookup) – and there are real bathrooms with hot showers. Also, hotels are close by for those who do not camp. Sign up early!
[Rain date: Saturday, November 17.] Ride with the wild ponies! This ride has been on my bucket list, and I invite you to join me. Day use horseback riding is permitted in Maryland from October 9 through May 14. An entrance fee is required for all vehicles entering the park. Sign up now to ensure your space. I am contemplating camping there for those who might also be interested. It is highly suggested that you check with your vet before attending this ride as many of the Assateague horses are positive for Equine Infectious Anemia, so this ride’s goal is to go after a good frost, when infection is nil.
[Rain date: Saturday, November 17.] A favorite TROT ride. This fantastic ride has many special views, including the Lincoln Cemetery and Bladensburg Waterfront. We will travel along the Anacostia River on a very nice path, traversing over and under bridges and roads, passing playgrounds and outdoor workout equipment. A great ride to give green horses experience with
hikers, bikers, dogs, and strollers. All-walk, but several places are great for good long trot or canter runs, for those who want.