GHC: Trails Committee

Trails Committee

Mission Statement Sub-Committee Structure
Calendar of Trail Events
New Trails & Workdays SETC 2001

GHC TRAILS COMMITTEE MISSION STATEMENT

The Georgia Horse Council Trails Committee was established to unify equestrian trail users throughout the state. In so doing, GHC hopes to demonstrate the public desire and need for ongoing trail and trailhead facility development in the state as well as serving as a central agency with which public land managers and other trail user groups can communicate. By bringing the numerous trail groups and saddle clubs in the state under one central umbrella, GHC hopes to develop a pool of manpower resources to help create and maintain a system of trails and trailhead facilities throughout the state, demonstrating our commitment to equestrian trails and facilities. GHC and the state's equine trail users will develop a program to educate trails users concerning trail etiquette, sharing and preserving our trail resources, trail safety and proper trail development and maintenance.

The following are the specific Goals and Objectives of the Georgia Horse Council Trails Committee:

Identify and unite all equestrian trail user groups and saddle clubs throughout the state.

Solicit Association membership in GHC from these groups and encourage each group to select a delegate to sit on the Trails Committee.
Identify and catalog all existing equine trails in the state. Publish a listing of all such trails with pertinent information.
Work in partnership with public land managers to identify new equestrian trail opportunities.
Provide a resource to public land managers for maintenance of existing and proposed trails and facilities by identifying local user groups that can provide manpower resources to such projects.
Assist trail groups in working with public land managers and in applying for grant funding.
Develop guidelines for shared use of trails, through effective lines of communication with other trial user groups in the state.
Develop educational materials regarding trail use, including trail etiquette, sharing our trail resources with other user groups, trail safety, trail riding techniques to preserve our trail resources, working effectively with public land managers, and proper trail development and maintenance.

SUB-COMMITTEE STRUCTURE

TRAILS COMMITTEE CHAIR - Joan Grant

NEW TRAILS AND WORKDAYS

Why should you volunteer to participate in a trail workday? Workdays are:

A great forum for meeting other trail riding enthusiasts willing to share first hand knowledge of a variety of trail systems (some Trails Committee meetings are held at workdays)
The most convincing way to demonstrate your concern for preserving the environment and horse trails in Georgia
Instrumental in promoting good public relations with public land owners/managers, which will assist us in keeping our riding privileges on public lands
A wonderful excuse to get out in the woods to trail ride, picnic or camp with friends and family when the work is finished!

No special skills or physical ability is necessary. Dates will be published as they become available and may appear in our "Calendar of Events". If you wish to participate in workdays at any of the following locations, or would like to be added to our workday email list, please contact Joan Grant at (706) 654-3752 or contact the organizer listed below:

Tribble Mill Park and Yellow River Park; Gwinnett county. Contact Donna Pieper (770) 466-1181 or horsesdp@aol.com

Cochran Mill Park; south Fulton county. Contact Bobby Mitchell days (770) 946-3897 or evenings at (770) 412-1177 email fatdiamond@aol.com

Ga. International Horse Park; Conyers, GA. Contact Mike Medlock (770) 760-0537 or email mijo@mindspring.com

Hard Labor Creek State Park; Rutledge, GA. Contact Bobby Mitchell days (770) 946-3897 or evenings at (770) 412-1177 email fatdiamond@aol.com

Franklin D. Roosevelt State Park; Pine Mountain, GA Contact Cindy Farmer (770) 967-2007 email cjfarmer@bellsouth.net

A. H. Stephens State Park; Crawfordville, GA. Contact Linda Antopolsky (706) 863-4578 or antopl3@aol.com

Charlie Elliott Wildlife Management Area; Jasper county. Contact Mike Medlock (770) 760-0537 or mijo@mindspring.com

Lake Russell Wildlife Management Area; Banks and Stephens counties. Contact Joan Grant (706) 654-3752 or jgrant@fhlbatl.com

Blue Ridge Wildlife Management Area; Lumpkin county (Bull Mountain/Jake Mountain/Turner Creek trail system) Contact Janice Halderson (706) 864-4654 or halderson@whitelion.net

Tuckahoe Wildlife Management Area; Screven County Contact Tonia Marynell at home (478) 552-6145, work (478) 553-9605 or tmarynell@yahoo.com

Pinhoti Trail/Dry Creek Horse Camp; near Dalton, GA. Contact Dottie Chembars email shadowstalker@wavegate.com

Ocmulgee Camp, Oconee National Forest; Monticello, GA. Contact Tom Dixe (770) 483-3007 or tomdixe@netscape.net

Concord Church Trails #107 & 108, Oconee National Forest; Jackson, GA. Contact Patrick Harmon (770) 775-1210. or email shoe4u@altavista.com