Trails Stewardship
Committee
The Maryland Horse Council’s Trails Stewardship Committee liaises with Maryland’s many trail riding groups, supports recreational land uses including public trails and trail access, and provides educational opportunities for horsemen working on local land use issues. The committee also hosts a monthly Trails Stewardship Town Hall to discuss questions and concerns about our extensive system of equestrian trails. Our Town Halls are open to the public.
Most riders in Maryland are trail riders
Recreational riding alone supports ~5,000 jobs and adds $268 million in value to the State’s economy. The total economic impact of recreational riding in Maryland is $438 million in 2022 dollars.
Most trail riders in Maryland ride on public land, and those lands are under pressure from all user groups. We feel strongly that it is our responsibility to be good stewards of our trails – to share the trails, to be safe on the trails, and to help maintain the trails. We also feel strongly that we need to have a seat at the table for any state, county, or local conversations about the recreational use of Maryland’s public lands.
As a result, we created the Trails Stewardship Committee to connect our community and to be the be voice of our community.
Trails Columns from The Equiery
September 2023: Spotlight on Calvert County
August 2023: Spotlight on Caroline County
July 2023: Spotlight on Carroll County
June 2023: Spotlight on Cecil County
May 2023: Spotlight on Charles County: Maxwell Hall Park Equestrian Area
April 2023: Spotlight on Dorchester County: Marshyhope Complex
March 2023: Spotlight on Frederick County: Sugarloaf Mountain
February 2023: Spotlight on Garrett County: Herrington Manor State Park
January 2023: Spotlight on Harford County: Gunpowder Falls State Park – Sweet Air Area
December 2022: Spotlight on Howard County: Patuxent River State Park, Annapolis Rock Area
November 2022: Spotlight on Kent County: Sassafras NRMA & Turner’s Creek Park
October 2022: Spotlight on Montgomery County: Little Bennett Regional Park
September 2022: Spotlight on Prince George’s County: Rosaryville State Park
August 2022: Spotlight on Queen Anne’s County Trails
July 2022: Spotlight on Somerset County Trails
May 2022: Spotlight on St. Mary’s County – Greenwell State Park
April 2022: Spotlight on Talbot County – Wye Island National Resouce Managment Area
March 2022: Spotlight on Washington County – Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historic Park
February 2022: Carriage Driving Through Wicomico’s Forests
January 2022: Discovering Adventures on Maryland’s Eastern Shore
Maryland’s Equestrian Trails & Parks
Accomplishments
- MHC successfully pursued passage of a bill guaranteeing access to trail heads on state land for users and first responders. (2022)
- MHC testified in favor of the Great Maryland Outdoors Act for increased funding for public land. (2022)
- MHC began monthly trails stewardship Town Halls. (2021)
- MHC adopted policy against snare trapping. (2021)
- MHC worked successfully to keep parks open for trail riding during the COVID-19 State of Emergency. (2020)
- MHC defeated seven Sunday hunting bills, which were among 42 bills and resolutions monitored by the Legislative Committee. (2015)
- MHC and DNR partnered to host a Trail Maintenance Seminar. (1998)
- MHC partnered with the Plantation Walking Horses of Maryland to release the “Multi-Use Trail Etiquette and Safety Guidelines” brochure for multi-use trails. (1995)