Nebraska Horse Trails Committee
Ride with a smile, a light hand and gently on the land.....
Trail Time Info Log Trail Time Hours View Trail Time Hours
Trail Alert!
Horse trail riders need to take action today!......
The Nebraska Horse Trails Committee, a committee of the Nebraska Horse Council, was formed in August of 2000. We are a committee created to unite, educate and represent the equestrian community for the promotion, improvement and development of Nebraska trails for all horse users.
Be a part of the trails committee!
New Officers for the NHTC
The NHTC annual meeting was held Sunday, December 12. The election was held for new officers for 2007. They are:
Tammy Vasa of Weston - Chairman Sandy Ries - Vice Chairman
Pattianne Belitz of Omaha - Secretary Vickie Sich of Grand Island - Treasurer
A special thanks to exiting Chairman, Mike Anderson, for his guidance, support and vision provided to the NHTC.
Trail Time ...Making Every Moment Count
Trail
Time is The Nebraska Horse Trails
Committee riding & driving program. Join Trail Time, set your riding goal and start riding today! Any horse, any
time! It is our hopes that
enrolling in Trail Time will give you that extra incentive needed to spend
quality time with your horse. Whether in your pastures, down the road or on
the trails, enjoy all our state has to offer. Arena time is also eligible!
Trail Time will provide the NHTC with important data on recreational horse use in our state. These statistics will be used to preserve our current riding resources and for the promotion of new trails! Yes, there are awards! Upon completion of the enrollment form & appropriate membership fee, you will receive a Trail Time jacket patch. As you reach particular riding milestones, you will be eligible for chevron awards. Awards will be sent out at the end of the year and recognition to those riding in the program will be shown in the Nebraska Horse Expo program booklet. Log your hours ON-LINE! or you may also print log sheets & submit via mail.
Costs for this riding program is $10 for NHC members & $5 for each family member. Non-NHC members are welcome to join for $15/$5. Dues are collected annually and the funds from this program will be used for the improvement and promotion of horse trails in our state and the continued support of this program.
Click here to obtain a printable brochure containing complete guidelines to the program and an enrollment form. (If unable to open enrollment form, click here for HTML format.) For information on this new program, contact trailtime@nebraskahorsecouncil.org .
Already a member? Check your hours online!
Local Riders Rally for More Trail Miles!
Vicki Fraser, chairman of the Equestrian Advisory Committee to the Papio-MO NRD and Randy Lee, Park Superintendent, worked together to open additional equestrian trails at Walnut Creek Lake in Omaha. This park which previous had about 4 miles of trail officially opened an additional 3 miles of trail on July 15, 2006. This group has also been working with the NRD to include a separate equestrian trail next to the walking trail on the MoPac. This new section located between Springfield and Louisville, costing an estimated $72.000, is scheduled to open the fall of 2007. Its great to see riders and park officials working together -- its a win/win situation!
Trail Blazing the MoPac!
Join Nebraska Horse Trails Committee as we work with the Lower Platte South NRD in Blazing a New Horse Trail on the MoPac Trail from Elmwood to Wabash . For Information, contact Kathy at 402.782.8735 or newbe44@hotmail.com . See online flier for more information....
New Trails & Horse Camp at Two Rivers!
The Nebraska Horse Trails Committee would like to recognize and give a round of applause to the management of Two Rivers State Park south of Venice. Not only has Two Rivers been a horse friendly park, management has recently moved from providing just a "horse staging" area to a full blown campsite! Primitive camping is now available for you and your horses at Two Rivers. Be sure and tell the rangers and staff "thank you" from the equine community!
In addition to the new horse camp, the Colts & Fillies saddle club have been working on clearing additional trail along the river at Two Rivers. Its exciting to see horse clubs getting involved and helping build more miles of trail. We salute the Colts & Fillies!
Check Out New Trails at Rock Creek Station
Wayne Brandt, superintendent of Rock Creek Station in Jefferson County has been busy this past winter. A few miles of new horse trails have been cut in the park. The scenic trails takes you along a deep creek. You may recall Wayne Brandt was a recipient of our Friends & Ambassadors award at this past year's Expo.
Thunderstruck Trail Riders Clear Trails & Branched Oak Gives Back!
This past spring, the Thunderstruck Trail Riders organized a horse trail clearing day at Branched Oak Lake near Raymond. Many members and friends, along with participants from the NHTC, worked in clearing litter and overgrown branches from the horse trail. Good deeds don't go unrewarded. Branched Oak has once again started mowing the trails which go north from the trail head, adding more miles of horse trail to be enjoyed at this picturesque lake! Thanks to the Thunderstruck Riders and to the staff of Branched Oak Lake!
Friends &
Ambassador Award
This past year, the Nebraska Horse Trails Committee introduced the Friend & Ambassador Award to those persons advocating for equine trails in our state. The recipients for this years awards were Tom Morrison, Park Superintendent of Indian Cave State Park, Wayne Brandt, Park Superintendent of Rock Creek Station State Historical Park, Dan Schultz, Resource Coordinator for the Lower Platte South NRD and Tammy Vasa, webmaster for Horsetrailriders.com.
for more information on the contributions made by these "friends and ambassadors".
Our Scrapbook
The Nebraska Horse Trails Committee is a family organization. We welcome families to attend our meetings and trail clearings. We are pleased that many "junior" members have taken an interest in our committee, attend meetings and help to clear the trails. Jud and Jake Buescher have been named "Historians" of the NHTC. In this role, they will record meetings and activities, in their words, from their point of view. Visit the Scrapbook to meet the historians and see their reports.
Horse Trails Online
Tammy Vasa provides an on-line source for horse trails in Nebraska and related trail riding events. Visit www.horsetrailriders.com
Where We've Been
Updates & accomplishments through the years are recorded in our NHTC Archives
Trail Sharing Keeps You on the Trails!
A message from the Nebraska Horse Trails Committee
As trail use is becoming more popular, we all need to be respectful of all trail users. If we follow the rules and guidelines, your trip will be safer and more enjoyable. Here is what we at the Nebraska Horse Trails Committee deem as the Equestrian's Responsibility.