Trail riding club works to save trails

Paul T. Happel

One of the trails kept open for multiuse

Horse organization does more than just keeps records

by JO FANELLI

The American Endurance Ride Conference is becoming more than just a record-keeping club. They are reaching out to teach people about endurance riding while working to keep trails open for all to enjoy.

AERC was formed in 1972 by a group of endurance riders who wanted to protect the horses and preserve the trails. Their mission statement says their goals are to foster the sport by encouraging rider education and enforcing the safe use of endurance horses in a natural setting through the development, use and preservation of trails.

Today, the organization is working hard to face the challenges of rider education, trail preservation, and a growing membership by implementing programs like Trail Masters, and the mentoring network to keep the small non-profit organization vital.

The mentoring program is a network of AERC volunteers who use their knowledge of endurance riding to foster positive experiences for newcomers of the sport.

Michael Maul, president of AERC, said the mentoring program is way of reaching out to help new riders learn how to safely ride the trail, so that they can enjoy longevity with their horses.

AERC mentor Judy Collier has helped numerous riders come in to the sport. She said many times riders call her to just get the basic information about endurance, like what kind of horse or saddle will they need. She said other times they are looking for someone to ride training rides with and someone to help get them through their first couple of rides.

“I would like AERC to be an organization that a rider gets to ride and finish with a sound and happy horse,” Maul said. Thirty-five years ago, the founding fathers of this sport wanted to preserve trails and they wanted safety for the horses, but now with population growth and lack of money for our land managers, it is time for us to ensure that work gets done, he said.
The work is getting done. The Fort Stanton Trail Masters course is one of the trail preservation programs AERC has gotten involved in.

Paul Happel of the Bureau of Land Management said they have never been disappointed in anything AERC has worked on with them.

The course is designed to teach land managers and others how to properly build and maintain trails.

Access to trails is continuing to change and with the sport steadily adding new members and rides, it is important that AERC stay active in preserving trails and providing education to its membership, Maul said.

According to the Endurance News, AERC had 24 rides in 1972 and had 825 rides in 2006. Maul said he would like to see a 40 percent increase in membership over the next decade.

The new riders coming in to the sport are about 70 percent woman and many are crossing over from other disciplines, Maul said.

“It’s you and the trail and the horse,” Amanda Taylor said. “Trail riding has taken me to some of the most wonderful places.” She was involved in horse jumping as a Fox Hunter and Hunter/Jumper before making to move to endurance riding. Taylor has taken her love and knowledge of endurance riding and turned it into her livelihood. She makes and sells tack for the trail rider from her home in Pennsylvania.

AERC is growing and changing to overcome the demands of educating its members, preserving trails, and growing its membership. Maul said the programs it has set up like Trail Masters and the mentoring network keep the sport live.

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