Beyond the Beaten Path, continued...
showing off their spots in dres- sage shows, winning ribbons at judged pleasure rides, manning
a booth with a colorfully spotted Appaloosa at the Maryland Horse World Expo, holding joint trail rides with other local clubs, keeping an active Facebook page to communicate with Appaloosa afi cionados, and other fun club ac- tivities. T e competition also helped us identify some other eff orts and venues where we can grow our club’s activities and better promote the Appaloosa here in Maryland, so keep an eye out for that as well in the coming months! For example, this year we sponsored an award for the High Scoring Appaloosa at the PVDA Ride for Life Breast Cancer Benefi t dressage show held at Prince George’s Equestrian Center in late June. And while we won the Exemplary Club
Award for our Territory, we did not win the overall award for the worldwide competition, so now we have something to strive for the next time. Keep an eye out for our colorful horses at events throughout Maryland this year! New members are always welcome—you do not have to own an Appaloosa, just have an appreciation for them, as we have a “spot” for you.
Riding the WSSC for 35 Years
By Terry Ledley, longtime TROT member Terry Ledley has ridden and helped maintain
trails in the WSSC system for the past 35 years. Many consider her a true trailblazer for her commitment to maintaining sustainable trails throughout the WSSC. With all the policy changes concerning equestrian use in the WSSC, Terry wanted to share her story and memories of her personal journey on the watershed. To read more about the WSSC and its equestrian access, please see the News archives on
equiery.com
I have boarded my horse adjacent to the
Rocky Gorge Reservoir for 35 years and I have been passionate about the watershed and the equestrian trails ever since. For the fi rst 17 years I boarded at Water’s Gift on the west side of Route 29 and became very active (possibly ob- sessive) in riding and maintaining the trails. I moved heavy logs, tossed branches and pruned continuously. T ere was no offi cial WSSC maintenance. Once a year before my annual TROT ride, I’d ask one of the Watershed Pa- trol offi cers to go out with me and help with my list of downed trees needing a chain saw. It was viewed as a per- sonal favor to me. When I found out about previ- ous and by then totally overgrown trails on the east side of Route 29, I contacted some previous users and we resurrected those trails. We
then
sought very successfully for the Highway De- partment to construct an underpass along the shore below Route 29 to connect the two sets of trails. We then had a beautiful uninterrupted equestrian trail from Tucker Lane to Ednor Road to Supplee Lane. In 1994 when Water’s Gift closed, I moved my horse to the east side of Route 29 close to Supplee Lane, and a few years later my hus- band and I bought the house and land next to my horse. Since then, with the help of other riders and friends we have kept the eastern trails in excellent condition. In 1998 at a Com- missioner’s meeting, I was totally surprised and thrilled when the WSSC named the trail the “Terry Ledley Equestrian Trail,” in honor of 20
years of my volunteer service. On the west side of Route 29 some riders and
boarding stables kept sections of trail open, but large swaths of trail fell into total disrepair and were almost completely obliterated. In early April, Barbara Sollner-Webb, Denis Webb and I rode in from Brogden Road toward Ednor Road, trying to relocate the trail and mark it with surveyor tape. We searched for my old or- ange blazes and metal horse signs. It was very depressing to see the loss of trails. We rode in again a few weeks later. T is time Barbara, Pat Oliva and I rode in from Ednor Road. T e trail from Ednor to near Oak Hill Road was partially lost, partial- ly recognizable but with many, many downed trees; and then, suddenly, almost miraculously, the trail ahead was cleared. T ere were chain-sawed trees one after another and they were almost continuous as the result of years of no maintenance. We were so excited we kept
Terry Ledley of Silver Spring
riding, past Brogden Road, past Batson Road and onto Kruhm Road where Debby Poole and her daughter Jenn, lifetime riders, had told us that they
just found a cleared trail from Kruhm Road to Route 29, a section that had become totally overgrown and impassable for many years. We are all totally elated about this. I, of course, wish it had happened years ago and spared me the bodily results of hard work trail clearing, but I am completed thrilled about the change in policy. I want to thank the Maintenance Crew and Jasper Sirk for their fi ne job, and also who- ever authorized it. T e riders have always worked in cooperation
continued...
at Rushing Winds Farm
Come for a guided trail ride on our 114 acre farm conveniently located in the Baltimore, Washington, Annapolis triangle. We require a minimum 48 hours advanced reservation for all rides. Rides may be canceled or rescheduled due to inclement weather.
We also offer private or semi-private English or Western riding lessons and boarding.
For more information, call us at 410-320-3330 or fi nd us on the web at
www.beechgrovefarm.biz
18 | THE EQUIERY | JULY 2013
9912 Masser Rd. Frederick, Maryland 21702 301-606-4077
Guided Trail Rides on site or at nearby parks: Little Bennett, Gettysburg, Woodstock
Small Groups and Corporate Outings Lessons · Boarding · Leasing
Summer Camp · Indoor Riding Arena
www.spiritstablesmd.com
freespiritstablesmd@yahoo.com 800-244-9580 |
www.equiery.com
874997-130713
Linda Davis
851039-120712
875131-130713
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