The Equestrian Land Conservation Resource (ELCR) has received a grant from the National Park Service to help fund the development of a national equestrian trails organization.

The project goals, the ELCR wrote in a press release, “are to increase the number of trails open to horses, promote good stewardship of the trails, enhance communication with land managers, develop positive relationships with other trail users groups, and serve in an advocacy role on the above issues and other issues identified during the grant process.”

The National Parks Service Rivers, Trails and Conservation Assistance Program (NPSRTCA) will assign a staff person to facilitate the process. A series of meetings with trail organizations and other constituents will be held over the next year.

The plans also call for an on-line bulletin board to post the meeting agendas and notes. The on-line forum will provide an opportunity for trail users and trail organization representatives to share their comments.

If your organization would like to join our national efforts to save land and trails for horses, visit www.elcr.org.