Equestrian Trail Manuals Released

Lexington, Kentucky – The Equestrian Design Guidebook for Trails, Trailheads, and Campgrounds, written by Jan Hancock in conjunction with U.S. Forest Service, has been released by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). This manual provides trail design and construction details, while explaining the particular physical and psychological needs of equines and their riders that necessitate them. The information in this guidebook is applicable to trails at all levels of development and locations. 

Recreational Horse Trails in Rural and Wildland Areas: Design, Construction, and Maintenance was written by Gene W. Wood, in conjunction with 16 contributing authors. This guidebook concentrates specifically on horse trail development in rural and wild land areas. An emphasis is placed on trial design, construction and placement that will make long term use by equestrians possible. The American Horse Council was involved in facilitating the funding of this book.

Equestrian accessible trails are of the utmost importance to the horse community. Both of these books are needed and will be of great help to recreational riders throughout the country.

Equestrian Design Guidebook is offered free of charge online at the FHWA Web site http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/environment/fspubs/07232816/index.htm. A hard copy can be ordered through the FHWA Report Center: Recreational Trails Program Reports Order Form.

Recreational Horse Trails is available for a fee from Clemson University's Forestry and Natural Resources website at www.clemson.edu/forestres/.

If you have any questions please visit www.horsecouncil.org  or call 202-296-4031.

Source: www.asha.net