The first meeting of the Putnam Horse Council was held in Spring of 1988 at Putnam Park in Carmel. The purpose of that meeting was to form an organization that promotes trail creation, trail riding and preservation in Putnam County. We participated in as many community meetings and activities that we could to spread the message that we as horse owners and riders wanted to be part of the County's social groups. We opened communications with the DEC Ranger, the County Park People, Gipsy Trail Club and the Ranger at Fahnestock State Park. We showed them where we wanted to create a trail system, that we were willing to maintain these trails, and to hold hunter paces on these trails. The paces were, and still are, our main fundraiser and help keep members dues low. This also allows us to make yearly donations to horse rescue facilities, retirement foundations, the USET, and other animal-related organizations we feel deserve a helping hand.
The early council members started working with Lewisboro, Bedford and Greenwich, CT to organize a fall pace series. Schedules, rules and scoring were jointly set up by this combined group which now includes Middlebury and Newtown, CT. It wasn't until later that New York State Horse Council met with us to encourage us to join as a chapter. This helped provide our club with insurance for our public events and later on $1,000,000 liability insurance for members. We also joined into a stewardship with the NYS DEC to maintain the trails which run through their land.
Past club activities included club rides, poker rides, competitive trails ride clinics, riding and jumping clinics, fund raisers, talks given by veterinarians, saddle fitting demos, and feed, nutrition and dentistry lectures. In addition, there were presentations by local farriers. Many of the events were open to the public to make them aware of the Council and to educate them on equine health and well-being.
So come out and join our organization. Meet other horse enthusiasts like yourself and have fun!
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We currently have nearly 8 miles of trails used twice a year for our hunter paces as well as horseback riding for the public. We have many jumps on the trails, all with go-rounds. Since the trails lead through public land, they are also used by hikers and bikers throughout the year who appreciate our upkeep of the trails.
A major portion of the trails are marked with colored trail markers. A map of the Putnam County Park and adjacent DEC lands with our trails indicated by colors matching the trail markers is included on this site. However, some pieces of the trails are not marked but are still indicated on the map. (See MAP link above).
We normally hold membership meetings once a month at the Putnam County Park or in a member's home, at which time we discuss club activities, set up dates for trail clearing and rides, as well as social activities. We have had great fun holding bike rides on the "rails to trails," dinner cruises on the Hudson, mini-rides, poker rides, dinner/movie nights, trips to NYSHC meetings, Equine Fair, tack sales, shows and many other fun activities. | |
