OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2010 THE RIDER /13 2010 Ontario Trail Riders Association Board of Directors
President Janice Clegg
Everett, ON L0M 1J0 Home: 705-434-0816 Cell: 519-940-1445, Work: 800-360-5821, Email:
pineriverranch@gmail.com
1st Vice President / Booth/ Marvin Halladay Orton, ON L0N 1N0 Home: 519-787-2307 Cell: 519-938-0695
Email:
marguerita_halladay@hotmail.com
Membership/ Web Site/ Education Wendy Downer Elmvale, ON L0L 1P0 Home: 705-322-0287 Email:
wnewdawn@xplornet.com
Newsletter/ PR/ Promotions Karin Zawadowsky Toronto, ON M9P 3T2 (647) 239-6509
Email:
kzawadowsky0228@rogers.com OTRA: Box 3038, Elmvale, ON L0L 1P0 •
www.otra.ca
The Ontario Trail Riders Association Inc, established in 1970, is an equestrian organization which promotes recreational trail riding and the creation, development, preservation and safe use of trails.
HOCKIN HILLS, OHIO – Trip in July 2010
In July of this year, Alek and I took the horses to Palmerosa Ranch in Hocking Hills, Ohio, with fellow OTRA members Judy and Len Jones, and Sandra Aucion and John Brooks. The terrain was really beauti- ful with lots of steep hills, covered in forests – just the kind of challenging riding we enjoy !
The weather, although hot, was very much less so in the shade of the forest. Our campsites had manure pick-up close-by, were shady and provided water/elec- tric hook-ups. We also had individual picket lines beside our trailer as well as stalls in the barn. Really, pretty well as perfect a set-up as you can get. We got maps of the trails from the ranch, which were quite easy to read, and rode on almost all of them when we were there. All our rides provided some spec- tacular views, including incredible rock formations, not only on the trails themselves, but also at look-out points along the way. There were caves, waterfalls and some quite daunting hikes up and down some very deep gorges – and all within the forest. We also took advan-
News from the Board
The most frequently asked question of the Board of Directors is “Why don’t we have more rides in South- ern Ontario”. Well the reason is that most of the land in Southern Ontario is privately owned including shore- lines.
Komoka Provincial Park is one of the few parks to allow equestrian use. The Park protects a key natural core along the Thames River. The Thames River is one of Southern Ontario’s major rivers, and was designated as a Canadian Heritage River in 2000. It is located on the western edge of the City of London. The park is one of the major remaining stretches of riparian forest and adjoining upland forest in southwestern Ontario, and plays a crucial role as a corridor for plant dispersal and wildlife migration - yet it is only 189 hectares. Ontario Parks has just approved and released the “Komoka Park Management Plan” (http://www.ontari-
oparks.com/english/invit/html) and anyone riding in the Park must be aware of the following: • Riders must stay on designated trails
• Riders must yield to Pedestrian trail users (ie: stop on trail to allow pedestrians to pass)
• Riders must comply with seasonal trail restrictions (March & April)
• Horseback riders must outfit horses with manure bags • Horseback riders must appropriately dispose of manure outside of the park
• Group rides must obtain the permission of the Park Superintendent.
1/ Airplane Rock 2/ Canyon Floor 3/ Old Man Falls
OTRA 2010 All-Member Survey Results
In April-May, 2010, some 190 surveys were distributed to our membership at the Annual General Meeting held on April 18 in Barrie, or mailed to those members who did not attend the AGM. We received an excellent rate of response with 99 surveys being returned. The survey respondents reside throughout Ontario with 69 different commu- nities being represented. The male-female ratio is 34% versus 66%. The age range of respon-
The Board’s next meeting is October 21, 2010. The main focus of the meeting will be planning for 2011, so if you have any thoughts or ideas for next year, please forward them to me by email at
pineriverranch@gmail.com
Janice Clegg President
Welcome To New Members
Barry Ellis - Havelock Carol Beaudoin - Chesterville Erna Steen - Staffa
Dawn Milwain - Sunderland Yvonne Teeter - Loretto Mary Ann Parker - Dundalk Brenda Douglas - Forest
Debbie Carson & Chris Firth Eagland - Dundas Jerry & Carol Scott - Wyevale Leslie Ball - Tillsonburg Sandra Barclay - Woodstock Mickey Stevens - Embro Joanne Fernall - Norwood Brenda Edington - Sudbury
Sarah Chiasserini & Chris Walker - Locust Hill
dents is 17% under 45 years with the balance older than 45 years. The largest age category at 50% is the 46-60 year category.
When asked, “Why did you join OTRA?”, about half of the survey respondents answer that they wished to meet and ride with others of similar interest. The next most popu- lar response is to learn where new trails are. The most popular responses to the question, “What do you consider is the most important
benefit of being an OTRA member?” are: organized rides and maintaining existing horse friendly trails (tied at 28% each), and develop- ing new horse trails and socializing with fellow members.
To the question, “What is the most important factor that brings you out to OTRA rides?”, the largest number of respondents
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tage of being trailered to one of the farthest points from camp, and rode the trails back. On that occasion, we somehow missed the point of that trip, which was to find 21-man cave ! Maybe we’ll make that next time ...
We also did the touristy thing by visiting 2 points of interest –
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Certainly somewhere to keep in mind on your travels !
Ann & Alek
the Rock House, and the Old Man’s Cave. Both part of the huge Hocking Hills State Park sys- tem.
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OTRA and its members represent the equestrian trail user with the Ontario Trails Council, Ontario Equestrian Federation and Equine Canada. We welcome your membership to help sup- port the voice of OTRA on your behalf. For more information please visit our website at
www.otra.ca
Administration Shirley Bodnarchuk Elmvale, ON L0L 1P0 Email:
shirley@auracom.com
Fundraising/ Special Projects Morris Radomskey Everett, ON L0M 1J0 Email:
morris@sprayhts.com
2nd Vice/ Trail Book/ Grants Marjory Morden Proton Station, ON email:
ochrerider@live.ca
Secretary/ Ride Schedule Kari Kelly
Elmvale, ON L0L 1P0 (705) 322-6338,
Email:
kkrkelly@xplorenet.com
Treasurer Jan Belanger
Elmvale, ON L0L 1P0 Home: 705-322-2027 Email:
janbel@csolve.net
Trail Development Ruth Pugh
Woodstock, ON 519-424-3661 Email:
rpugh@equinechiro.ca
Ontario Trails Council / Ontario Equestrian Federation Regional Representative Coordinator Bonnie Simpson
Kirkfield ON K0M 2B0 Home: 705-438-5752 Email:
equestriantrails@hotmail.com
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