Please help preserve the Potomac Horse Center

The historic Potomac Horse Center (PHC, opened in the 1950s by Frederick G. Harding) is part of the public/private partnerships of open space and facilities owned by the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC). The leasee is the current owner of the business known as the Potomac Horse Center, which first executed its lease in 1993 on already 30-year-old infrastructure.  With help from the community, the leasee has already privately raised and invested $300,000…

PLEASE HELP US WELCOME OUR NEW BOARD MEMBERS 

Firstly, thank you to everyone who took the time to vote. We really appreciate it and you chose some fabulous new board members. Please help me welcome:  Meaghan McDermott from Howard County. She has a beautiful Morgan mare named P.K. and rides a lot at Patapsco. She has legal experience and would like to support equestrian trails and more regular group rides.  Suzannah Kolbeck from Baltimore City. She has a lovely quarter horse gelding named…

TROT Installed 2 New Mounting Blocks and 2 New Hitching Posts in Patapsco Valley State Park, McKeldin and Avalon Area

Thanks to a Maryland Horse Industry Board Grant and Trail Riders of Today additional financing, we were able to complete installing a 2 new mounting block and 2 new hitching post in Patapsco State Park. Thanks enormously to Kahler Fence and to Four Dogs Construction for their contributions in this endeavor. You can find these in the McKeldin (close proximity to horse trailer parking) and Avalon (newar shelter 104) areas near the bathrooms. Convenient right?…

Freeze-Thaw Cycles: Protect our Trails By Ranger Sam Voso of Patapsco Valley State Park

Water is a major factor – if not THE most significant factor – that causes trail erosion. This damage can be compounded by temperatures fluctuating above and below freezing in what is known as a “freeze-thaw cycle.” This happens as moisture in the dirt freezes and expands, creating a porous texture, rather than the firmly-compacted, solid surface riders and hikers expect of Patapsco’s well-maintained trails. Freeze-thaw cycles on their own can cause compacted trails to…

Sugarloaf Mountain Reopened with Changes

Sugarloaf Mountain’s Caretakers – Stronghold Inc. – reopened the Mountain to the public on 10/10/23, but there are changes. Visitors will no longer be allowed to park in the crossroads or “square”. This change will keep the intersection clear of inappropriately parked vehicles, eliminate late night loitering, and stop after hours entry onto the Stronghold property. This change will also provide a needed staging area for all EMS vehicles during emergencies. They will be towing.…

Voting now open for board members until December 25th

Deadline DECEMBER 25th PLEASE PLEASE Take a few minutes to vote for your new board for 2024 Our organization is only as strong as it’s volunteers and these self-less members have stepped up. ALL MEMBERS can ATTEND and VOLUNTEER for events and tasks at our Monthly Meeting. You are invited to vote for the 2023 TROT Board Members.Here is the link: https://forms.gle/F1HmUcvbtAmqq6g36 2023 Ballot For Board Members for the 2024-2025 TermMembership voting will close on…

TROT is accepting nominations for the board until OCT 13TH

https://forms.gle/UyDnAYYGxysFVf53A TROT is accepting nominations for the Executive Committee and Board of Directors for the years 2024-25. You may nominate yourself or another TROT member. Each nominee must be a member in good standing (current member) and 18 years of age or older.  The call for nominees starts September 15th and ends October 13th. You may nominate yourself or another member for more than one position.  An application MUST be completed for each position. TROT…

We won a MHIB Grant to help equestrians in Patapsco Valley State Park.

We just wanted to announce that we recently were awarded a Maryland Horse Industry Board (MHIB) grant to build mounting blocks in Patapsco Valley State Park (Baltimore and Howard Counties- Ellicott City, MD). Patapsco is a favorite park for many user groups, and encompasses 16, 043 acres. We will also be adding hitching posts. We were planning on targeting the main bathroom area, but if you have a pressing need elsewhere in the park, please…

Carrol County E-bike Alert

E-MTBS IN CARROLL COUNTY, MD How do you feel about e-bikes? We are encouraging equestrians to weigh in on opening Carroll County trails to e-bikes. This will include Union Mills and the Hashawha Environmental Center trails. Speak up by emailing the County Commissioner at commissioners@carrollcountymd.gov. Be sure to put Proposed Amendment to Chapter 94.036, Departmet of Recreation and Parksas the subject in your emails. You can also call the County Commisioner’s office to leave a voicemail at 410-386-2043.

Attend our Gaited Horse Clinic October 28 or 29

Gaited Horse Clinic with renowned gaited trainer Joe London offered by Trail Riders of Today (TROT) October 28—29, 2022 * 8:30am—6:00pm Schooley Mill Park * 12975 Hall Shop Road; Highland, MD location may change due to weather & ground conditions — please check for updates closer to time https://trot-md.org/ and https://www.facebook.com/Trail.Riders.of.Today Whether you are a beginner or an experienced rider, trail ride or show, or just want to learn more about the softly gaited breeds…

Equestrian Trails Safer in Little Bennett due to the work of TROT and  MHIB Grant

Equestrian Trails Safer in Little Bennett due to the work of TROT and MHIB Grant

Equestrian trails in Little Bennett Park are now safer thanks to a Maryland Horse Industry Board grant provided to Trail Riders of Today (TROT).  21 equestrians volunteered their time on two sunny mornings during a beautiful June weekend to partner with Montgomery County Parks to participate in a pilot program to make bridges less slippery in parks for equestrians, mountain bikers, and hikers alike.  Two bridges were painted with a marine quality paint called Deck…