Brad Harrelson has recently been hired as the new Executive Director of the Kansas Horse Council.  Brad replaces Pattie Stalder who will be retiring at the end of the year after serving KHC for the past nine years.  More information will be provided in our December newsletter.

Members of the Kansas Horse Council will soon be receiving their 2017 membership renewal invoices. Members with email addresses on file will receive invoices via email which makes it quick and easy to immediately pay your dues online.  Those invoices can also be printed and mailed in with payment.  Members with no email address on file will receive a hard copy via the US Postal Service.

In order to maintain continual coverage of your $1,000,000 personal liability insurance policy, dues must be received by midnight December 31st, 2016.   Dues received after that date will initiate coverage on the date payment is received in the KHC office.           Questions ~ 785-776-0662

When you're out enjoying a ride on one of our Kansas public trails, do you ever wonder who maintains these trails and keeps them cleared for riders?  In most cases in Kansas, that work is being done by volunteers! Most of our state and federal parks have neither the manpower nor the budget to keep equestrian and multi-use trails open; without volunteer efforts we could lose the privilege of being able to ride these public lands.

Several of our parks with equestrian campgrounds and trails have dedicated volunteer groups who are out there on a regular basis mowing, trimming and hauling chainsaws, often using personal equipment and personal funds for supplies.  Trail maintenance is never completely done; there's always a wind storm, heavy rains, high lake levels, erosion, and spring and summer growth.  These volunteer groups schedule work days throughout the year and welcome and appreciate any help they can get.  Through the new chapter of Back Country Horsemen of Kansas, a dedicated effort is being made to log these volunteer hours.  For 2016, BCHA-KS recorded over 2,000 hours of boots-on-the-ground trail work by dedicated equestrians!  Jim Thomas, Kansas Horse Council Trails Director, reports these figures to state and federal officials, who in turn are more willing to support equestrian activities when they see the commitment to preserving our trails.

Clinton Lake, Eisenhower State Park at Melvern Lake, Kanopolis State Park and Perry State Park all host annual benefit trail rides with funds raised going directly into campground and trail improvements.  This past year, equestrians raised a total of $17,351 through benefit trail rides at Kansas public parks.  This information also has a positive impact on our public land managers.  It really makes a difference when we can show state and federal park managers the equestrian dedication to keeping public trails open.  Details for these benefit rides can be found at www.kansashorsecouncil.com under the Calendar link.

When you're out enjoying a ride on one of our Kansas public trails, instead of thinking, "Someone needs to get out here and trim this trail", be part of the solution.  Contact one of the "trail friends" at your favorite park and ask how you can help with trail maintenance.  Jim Thomas can put you in touch with these people; call or email him at 785-633-4761 or [email protected].  Or come out and support one of the benefit trail rides.  Help preserve the riding opportunities we have in Kansas!