ITRA Thanksgiving Clean Up at Brown County State Park November 2012 by Yvette Rollins

The weather gave us a great week to work on trails at Brown County. Greg Hersberger headed up the chain saw crews and cleared all the trails of downed trees and also cleared leaning and dead trees that looked like they could potentially come down in a high wind.
The Jr. ITRA crew, Gracie, Taylor and Emily, cleaned the campground on Saturday. I know it was hard for members to not pick up any existing trash throughout the week but they did and the kids did their part and were very proud of their accomplishments.
The “Adopt A Road” crew worked their magic in record time on the highway clean up. They are so organized.

 

Susan Altum, Debbie Maschmeyer and Anna Zupanic in front of our new banner

Sections of trail 6 and 11 were rerouted making them safer.

Mike Shaw, Yvette Rollins, Dave Macsymczak and Sara Davis. Front row. L – R Erin Macsymczak, Monica Oliver and Nancy Brunnemer. Duane Davis Photographer.

 

Mike Shaw and Sara Davis

Trail 6 crosses the new trail that will take the place of the section of H trail that comes down the side of the hill and is eroding to the point of being extremely dangerous especially to inexperienced riders or young horses in training that haven’t figured out how to go downhill very well with a lot of weight on their backs. Please do not ride on the new trail that the Indiana Heritage Corp is putting in until it is done. It is marked with red ribbons. You will see a new bench, hitching rail and mounting block on trail H as a tribute to Chelsea Lovett, the Indiana Heritage Corp worker who died when a tree fell on her as she was working her weekend job leading trail rides from the Saddle Barn. The bench will be engraved in her memory.
The pitch-in at the Strahl Lake Shelter house was well attended and the food was great. Doug Baird, Brown County Property Manager, attended and thanked us for all our hard work and dedication to the trails in Brown County. Doug definitely looks different when he is not dressed in his DNR uniform. Thank you to Scotty Eskridge and Dave Maksymczak for getting the shelter house ready and for John who supplied all the firewood we needed for the week.
Before we all left for Brown County and the workweek and weekend I got a very nice invitation from Story Inn that I wanted to share with everyone so a part of it is included below. I tested this on Friday and Saturday. I had my two underage granddaughters with me on Friday and they could not enter the bar so we went upstairs and I asked if we could still order from the bar menu with the discount and they were very happy to accommodate us and were very gracious. While I was there I asked if long time member Chris Eickleberry still worked there and they said no. She had knee surgery a couple of years ago and was not able to come back but they paid her the nicest compliment and said she was one heck of a great worker so Chris I hope you are reading this.

Hello All,
We’ve been informed that your organization will be conducting your Annual Park Clean-up In Brown County State Park this coming weekend after Thanksgiving Day.
We’d like to remind you and all of your members that the Story Inn will be open all weekend for our regular hours and the Story Inn Tavern will be open at noon Friday, Saturday and Sunday for your enjoyment.
In thanks for your groups hard work, come in for a visit and we’ll give you 10% off your bar food for your help in making Brown County a great place to relax and enjoy the outdoors.

Thanks and have a Happy Thanksgiving.

The Story Inn

I thought this was very nice of them to send us this invitation, which I sent out on the EDGe, and there are plenty of hitching rails now to accommodate the horses along with picnic tables and a nice mounting block.

It is so sad when everyone packs up and goes their separate ways knowing it is the end of the days of long riding with fair weather and we may not see each other again for another year.

Presidents Report December 2012 by Yvette Rollins

By the time you get this another year will have ended and we will be moving quickly ahead into 2013. The board will meet in February and the Quiet Sports Expo will be held at the State Fairgrounds Feb. 14-25^th. We will have information available at a booth given to us to use free of charge from Renfro Productions. Our annual meeting will be held March 16^th at the Hamilton County Fairgrounds and then the 50-mile ride is March 22-24^th at O’Bannon Woods leading us into the Hoosier Horse Fair, April 5-7^th.

Thank you to all the members, board members and directors for allowing me to serve as your president for the past two years. It is without saying a very rewarding position in my book because I love the people, the horses and the trails. We all have a common bond and a different language when it comes to speaking about horses and trails. Someone overhearing a conversation I was having with a fellow horseman told me I should write a book on horse language because they didn’t have a clue about what I was saying. Sometimes I feel that way when I hear all the foreign languages being spoken on the elevator where I work. I keep telling myself one of these days I am going to take one of those courses so I did a Google search and there are over 261,000 different ways to learn a foreign language. The latest is let your cell phone translate for you. How can you trust what your cell phone is translating (?). You might land in jail and the first thing they will take away from you is your cell phone. Scary isn’t it?

We have a new political field coming into office and a new opportunity to educate our new officials on the needs of the horse people in our state. Invite your local officials out for a trail ride so they can get a firsthand view of what we need.

In answer to our members’ request we are planning on hosting several rides across the state so that new riders can learn the ways of the old experienced riders keeping our traditions and trails open. We are not going to be around forever and now is the time to insure our future by introducing younger generations to places to ride. The younger generation can saddle our horses and make sure we take them to those special places only we know about and will share with them so they can do the same with their children and grandchildren.

Years ago I rode at Jackson-Washington State Forest but had not ridden there in years. It hasn’t changed much but they did reroute several fall line trails that were deeply eroding. It is a day ride area but beautiful nonetheless. I took two new people with me who had never ridden there before and we had a wonderful day of riding and discovery together and they will each go back and take other riders. That is what it is all about.

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas and the New Year will hold many new riding adventures for you, your family and your friends.

Happy Trails, Yvette

 

Future generation of trail riders

Gracie, Hunter, Yvette, Taylor and Ty Rollins

Beware of Mountain Bikers at Deam Lake. Yellow Trail around Lake is multi-use 6-mile loop

I was told this story and as best as we can figure out this is how it unfolded. I wish we knew the names of the Louisville men.
On December 1^st, two men from Kentucky were day riding at Deam Lake and after riding out the yellow trail and then turning right on orange they headed towards the red trail at the intersection of Tree Lane and the Donkey “jack” on the corner. After encountering the jack that shook up their horses they proceeded – right on to the red trail heading back to the day parking with ½ of their ride still to go. Out of no-where from behind 3 men on mountain bikes came upon the horse riders and scared their horses into a bucking fit, both were thrown, one with a broken arm or wrist and a head injury. The other man escaped with no visible injuries. The bikers stopped and helped the men. Along came Jerry and Juanita Hobbs, horse riders from New Washington, Indiana also parked in the day area. Jerry knew the area well and rode back to the day parking with the uninjured man to get their trucks and trailers and drive some distance around thru the country to where his buddy was. Juanita stayed with the injured man. When the trailers arrived the horses were loaded and they headed to the hospital in Louisville. The bikers were not on the designated bike trail when this happened. The only bike trail in Clark State Forest/Deam System is the Yellow Lake Loop – 6 miles.

New camping rates for 2013

The annual entrance fee and camping rates have changed for 2013. The annual entrance fee went up to $40 from $36 and the senior annual entrance fee went from $18 to $20. The daily and annual horse passes stayed the same. Daily entrance rates will not increase in 2013. The old and new horse camping rates (including taxes) are:

 

Electric

Sun. – Wed. Old 20.40 New 23.54

Thu – Sat Old 28.56 New 31.03

Holiday Weekends Old 31.62 New 34.24

 

Non -Electric

Sun. – Wed. Old 13.26 New 16.05

Thu – Sat Old 16.32 New 19.26

Holiday Weekends Old 19.38 New 22.47

 

Primitive

Sun. – Wed. Old 9.18 New 13.91

Thu – Sat Old 11.22 New 13.91

Holiday Weekends Old 13.26 New 13.91

Equestrian non-electric means that there is a modern restroom with showers in the campground, where as primitive indicates that there are only pit toilets of some kind.

Ride with the Governor by Jody Weldy

I’m not sure a lot of you know that our soon to be Governor, Mike Pence, is an avid trail rider!  Upon introducing myself as a member of the Indiana Trail Riders when I first met him this past winter, I suggested that if he were to become Governor, that we could have a “Trail Ride with the Governor“ and he said that was a great idea and so the planning has begun.  Our first ride will be in May with the exact date to be determined after the inauguration and will be held at the Deam Lake Horse Camp.  I am also hoping we could have another ride later in the year at Tippecanoe River State Park so riders in the northern part of the state would have a chance to ride with the Governor and not have to haul so far.
We haven‘t discussed this yet but maybe this could turn into an annual event!

Clark/Deam new manager meeting with ITRA Board of Directors report by Barb Ferguson

I am glad to report that a meeting was set up recently for some of the ITRA BOD to meet with the new property manager Pat Cleary. It was held on December 8^th at Deam Lake. Pat Cleary and Deam assistant property manager Jana Gold met Yvette Rollins – ITRA President, Bob McPheeters– Vice President, Greg Hershberger – Director, Barb Ferguson –Director, Walt Zak and David Rollins – ITRA members.

Pat reported that he submitted the 2 re-routes for the archeology study clearance. We hope that will get the ball rolling on these projects that were laid out 2 years ago. One is by the gun range at Bowen Lake and the other is by Pekin Saddle Club – severely washed out trail going towards Jackson Road.

We discussed
bike riders
on the Deam Lake 6 mile Yellow Loop. It was determined that the loop needed to be updated with bike stickers on the multi-use part of the trail. The
NO BIKE
stickers will be placed at intersections that will help the bikers and horse riders know that the yellow lake loop is shared with the bikers. Dennis and Barb Ferguson will get this done in the next few weeks, weather permitting.

The Orange Trail
(Dry Fork – cubby house area) was also talked about and Pat said he would go look at it and try to decide what can be done to help the loose rock and washed out bottom on this hill. There are now 2 signs that say
“Very Rugged – Experienced Riders only on this trail”

Dennis and Barb will be re-marking the trails and adding more carsonites where needed.

Mountain Grove update: The Horse Trail off of Jackson road will be moved ½ mile down to Round Knob area from the original “Knobstone Trail parking area” This way the horse riders will have their own trail and the hikers will keep the original. Mountain Grove Trail is still closed due to the tornado salvage. East side of Deam Lake also closed due to logging and these areas are posted.

Barb and Dennis Ferguson will continue looking into ways to fund “Rest Areas” that will have picnic tables, hitch rail and a mounting block. Barb will provide Pat and Jana with the detailed areas that have been talked about. We might do one area and use as a trial. Yvette is looking into a possible donation of a table.

 

 

Election of Officers and Directors

I know March seems like a long way off but it will be here before you know it. All officer positions are open for election and there are five director positions open. If you would like to have a say in your organization, now is the time.

We need your bios by December 1^st in order to have them printed in the January newsletter. We will include the ballots in the January newsletter so they can be returned in time for the March election.

Just give a little background information in your bio. It doesn’t need to tell your life history, mainly just your horse related history and why you want to be involved in the operation of ITRA.

You are probably saying, if I become an officer or director, what would be expected of me. Very briefly, ITRA is a working organization, working to keep our trails open. Therefore, we need all officers and directors to be active: attend all meetings, share the workload, and attend all special activities

This being a completely volunteer group, we cannot hope to be successful without the cooperation of the entire board.

Don’t be afraid to try it! As you become accustomed to being in the group, you will find the job you do best and it will just become natural to you. We all have different things we can do well. We aren’t all the same but everyone is needed.

 

Send your bios to: mlberry@bnin.net or Marsha Berry 70417 C. R. 13 New Paris, IN 46553

Versailles Grant by Ron McCoy

On Thursday, September 27th, I was notified by The Rising Sun Regional Foundation that they were awarding us a $45,000 grant.  Needless to say, we were ecstatic about this opportunity.  The plan is to use the funds to route the electrical service to the site and around the outer perimeter of the campground.

  We hope to get this work in progress as soon as the final layout is completed by the engineering department of the DNR.

  The site survey is about 80% complete.  We still need to clear one corner of the campground of small trees and brush so that the surveyor can finish his work.  I expect by the time that you are reading this, that the site will be cleared, survey work completed and turned over to the DNR, and the site planning to be on the drawing board.

  There are still some trees along the fire trail road that have to come down to make room for the electrical line to go in.  We may have to schedule another workday.  None of this is possible, however, without the grants we’ve received from the Rising Sun Regional Foundation, City of Lawrenceburg Foundation, and the volunteer work and efforts from the area equestrian community. 

Silent Auction Report

I would like to thank everyone who donated items and  those who bid on items at the silent auction for the Annual Ride. It generated $244.00 for ITRA. We had a variety of items donated from horse supplies to blankets, home decor and tickets to the Muncie Light Horse Club ride coming up in October that was a real value.  Silent Auctions really help members clean out their closets and tack rooms to get things that they no longer use into the hands of other members who can use these items. I am always amazed at the nice things we get donated. Again, thanks to everyone who donated items and all that bid. 

Barb Ferguson

Cowboy Challenge at 2012 Fall Ride

Several riders entertained the audience at the fall ride. Most of the riders breezed through the cowboy curtain, then they walked over the rocking bridge which is a bit challenging for most horses. At the cone, they cantered over to the next cone and stopped and yelled “ITRA is awesome”. The riders walked over the huge sand filled tractor tire. Then they carried a filled water bucket from one barrel to another. There were a couple of spills but none of the riders got wet. The little 4-foot box was the most challenging. Here they had to put their horse’s front feet into the box and move the hind feet around the box without touching the box or backing out of it. Then they pulled a bag with cans and bottles about 50 feet past the cones. The riders circled over landscape timbers laying on a tarp without stepping on the boards. Next was delivering mail from one mailbox to another. The hat pick up was a nice way of picking up a hat without getting off your horse. Brett Erwood made a fancy pick up stick with just the right angle for them to use. They had to carry that hat through two tarps positioned like a tunnel and hand it to Barb Ferguson. I want to thank all my helpers for their work. The riders were David Nelson, Christian Nelson, Rob Clemons, Yvette Rollins, Lori Seitzinger, Abby Seitzinger, Julie Binegar, Danny Coldiron, Brian Clark, John Stewart, Debby Maschmeyer and Erin Maksymczak. David Nelson won, only losing 6 points out of 100 in a time of 3:57:31 minutes. The bar has been raised but I know we have many members who can challenge this record. Work your horses on these and other obstacles and join the fun next year. We also need a big audience to cheer on their favorite rider and horse. So see you next year at the cowboy challenge fall ride. Sign up early when you register.

Karen Humphreys