For Immediate Release
February 7, 2006

Kentucky Equine Trail Riders Join Forces

An umbrella organization representing equine trail riding enthusiasts across Kentucky has been formed to work with state and federal officials to insure future use of public and private lands.

Trail Rider Equestrians in Kentucky (TREK), representing trail riders of all breeds of horse, was organized on February 7 at a meeting at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington with the assistance of the Kentucky Equine Education Project (KEEP). The organization’s goal is to create a coalition of trial riders to preserve, expand and promote equestrian trails and campgrounds and inform the public of their economic value to Kentucky while protecting the equestrian riders’ right of access to these facilities.

Mardy Smith, of Taylorsville, who through the American Quarter Horse Association and the Kentucky Quarter Horse Association organizes one of the largest trail rides in America at Land Between The Lakes, was elected chair of the group.

“This is an exciting opportunity to bring trail riding interests of all breeds together to work for a common cause. Pressure from development and lack of funding is placing enormous pressure on availability of places for equestrians to ride,” Ms. Smith said.

Jerry Hancock, of Spencer County, who has Kentucky Mountain Saddle horses and Quarter horses, was elected vice chair. Carolyn Kenton, Paris, a owner and breeder of Tennessee Walking and Mountain horses and a trail rider, was elected secretary and treasurer. Phyllis McGuire, a Rocky Mountain breeder, from Henry County; Buck Winburn, who breaks and trains trail horses of Estill County; David Stefanic, a co-owner and General Manager of the Kentucky Mountain Saddle Association and a Mountain horse breeder, of Georgetown and Greg Jones, a member of the Kentucky Horse Council Board and an endurance rider, from Mt. Sterling, will serve as members of the executive committee.

Plans call for a series of committees to be formed with equine trail riding enthusiasts from across the state participating to address various areas of concern such as loss of equine trails in national parks and a lack of trail riding opportunities in state parks.

“TREK wants to work with existing trail riding organizations around the state as points of contact,” said Ms. Smith. “This is the Horse Capital of the World. It should be the trail riding capital as well.”

Ms. Smith said TREK representatives will be contacting equine trail riding organizations in the near future to encourage TREK membership at $10 individual and $15 family. The funds would be used for organizational expenses and marketing.

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