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 has a total economic impact of recreational riding in Maryland is $461 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
- April 2024: Conserving Our Trails
- January 2024: Pocomoke River State Park
- December 2023: Spotlight on Allegany County
- November 2023: Spotlight on Anne Arundel County
- October 2023: Spotlight on Baltimore County
- 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
- Promoting & Protecting Maryland’s Trails
- Equiery Readers’ Top Park Picks to Trail Ride
Accomplishments
- MHC conducted a survey of trail riders at the request of the Department of Natural Resources. (2023)
- 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)
