MHC Trails Stewardship, continued...


activity… and (2) when the landowner charges for entry. Paragraph (1) es- sentially adopts the common law standard for bare licensees and trespassers. Te statute is a trade-off that limits the liability of landowners in exchange


for allowing access to their property for recreational and educational uses. Te statute clearly applies to horseback riding, which is a recreational use. Although “open to the public” is not defined, it is commonly understood that as long as it is open to all horseback riders, the statute applies. Under case law interpreting this statute, the owner has the lowest duty in the law, i.e. the duty owed to trespassers and bare licensees. Maryland is generally considered a conservative jurisdiction in pro- tecting landowners from liability. Although there are periodic attempts to change the law, Maryland is not a comparative negligence state. Tis means that if a plaintiff is in anyway contributorily negligent (even one percent) he or she is barred from recovery. Tis doctrine also gives land- owners a strong defense.


It may be arguable that the Recreational Use Statute was not necessary


given the status of the common law as adopted in Maryland. It should be pointed out that many other states who adopted the recreational use legis- lation do not subscribe to the same common law standards and therefore, this recreational statute was crucial in protecting landowners from liability in those states. What the statute does in Maryland is to effectively codify the common law standard such that the Courts cannot change it. I hope this article will convince more landowners to open their prop-


erty to horseback riding. Granted, I have a vested interest in this issue because I am a trail rider, but I fervently believe that there are no legal downsides to opening one’s land to allow horseback riding.


Happy trails, Allan Noble


EPIC is a volunteer-led 501(c)(3) charitable organization dedicated to preserving the equestrian heritage and rural character of upper Montgom- ery County and working with public and private landowners to create and maintain equestrian trails. For more information on EPIC’s mission see their website at epicmontgomery.org.


Potomac Heritage Trail Roundtable Virtural Meetings from Jennifer Wampler, Coordinator of the Potomac Heritage Trail Partnership


Te Potomac Heritage Trail team is planning a series of meetings this year as part of its annual Roundtable. Please save these updated dates if you


are able to participate: September 5: Virtual State of the Trail • October 9-10: In-person meetings and field trips In response to needs expressed by land managers at our last Roundtable, the Northern Virginia Regional Commission is hosting a Trail Care Acad-


emy. Te program is made possible with funding from the National Park Foundation. Tis free educational series, coordinated by Fina Trails LLC, consists of webinar events as well as in-person trainings that center around key maintenance topics. More information is available at: https://www. potomacheritagenova.com/trailcareacademy


NOMINATIONS EARLY


Nominated horse [owner/trainer) BLACKHALL (IRE) [Kinross Farm / Joseph G. Davies] GOODOLDTIMES (IRE) [Armata Stables / Mark Beecher] GREAT ROAD [Kinross Farm / Joseph G. Davies] MR. FINE THREADS [Armata Stables / Joseph G. Davies]


Save the last Saturday in April for


The Greatest Timber Race in the World: $100,000 MARYLAND HUNT CUP


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NOTJUDGINJUSTSAYIN [Fisher, Sheila and Northwoods Stable / Jack Fisher] OUR FRIEND (IRE) [Armata Stables / Joseph G. Davies] POCKET TALK (IRE) [Kinross Farm / Joseph G. Davies] QUEENS EMPIRE (IRE) [Riverdee Stable / Jack Fisher] ROAD TO OZ [Daniel R. Baker / Mark Beecher] ROCKET STAR RED [Lucy A. Goelet / Mark Beecher] SHOOTIST [Upland Partners / Todd McKenna]


VINTAGE VINNIE (IRE) [Armata Stables / Joseph G. Davies]


WAGNER (IRE) [Merriebelle Stable LLC / Todd J. Wyatt]


WITHOUTMOREADO (IRE) [Irvin S. Naylor / Katherine S. Neilson]


SATURDAY, APRIL 26, 2025 • MarylandHuntCup.com • Follow us on Facebook & Instagram • TICKETS MUST BE PURCHASED IN ADVANCE THE EQUIERY YOUR MARYLAND HORSE COUNCIL PUBLICATION | APRIL 2025 | 41


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DOUGLAS LEES


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