Minnesota Trail Riders Association
Trail riders unite
Friends groups play an important role in planning, developing, maintaining and advocating for Minnesota's parks and trails. The following is a Q & A feature of one such group – the Minnesota Trail Riders Association.
Q: Tell us about the Minnesota Trail Riders Association and the work you do?
The Minnesota Trail Riders Association (MTRA) is a statewide nonprofit organization dedicated to disseminating trail riding information, promoting the development and maintenance of horse trails, and coordinating with government and private individuals for horse trails and campgrounds.
MTRA helps finance various local, county and state trail and campground projects. Our organization works to establish good communications with managers and planners at all governmental levels so that the recreational needs of equestrian trail users are met. We inform planners, communicate with the DNR and legislators, and monitor proposed changes in trail use. Thanks to the dedication and hard work of our members and other supporters, MTRA has been able to help support trail and campground maintenance and improvement projects at all levels. These projects include trail maintenance, erosion control, trail map printing, trail signing and equestrian campground improvements such as corrals, picnic tables, fire rings, picket lines, electrical hookups, manure bunkers.
Q: What are some of the biggest issues facing trail riders today?
The potential loss of trails is a very big concern today. Funding for local, county, and state projects is decreasing. It is imperative, therefore, that equestrians actively support equine use of these facilities. As an organization, we also face the challenge of growing our membership while renewing current memberships so we can continue to communicate the importance of equestrian recreation at all levels.
Q: As an advocacy group, you face many challenges. Please talk about your greatest triumph as an organization.
Although our grant program is a very complex program to administer, it has been able to help financially in areas where help is needed, primarily for trail maintenance and campsite improvements. The MTRA uses donations and a portion of membership dues to apply for federal and state matching funds to double the money available for Minnesota trail and campsite projects. Thanks to coordinated efforts with the DNR, the MTRA has been able to direct nearly $195,000 to the state equine trail system over the past five years alone. In addition, we have worked closely with the Minnesota Horse Council to jointly promote equine trail and campsite projects. While we cannot apply for matching funding for city and county trail systems, we have devoted a considerable amount of financial aid to them as well. The grant program has enabled completion of a significant number of projects that would otherwise have taken twice as long to accomplish.
The MTRA continues to have as a primary goal, “No loss of a single mile of equine trails in Minnesota.” We believe that with continued MTRA membership support and the ongoing spirit of cooperation with the DNR and the Minnesota Horse Council, we can expect to have an equine trail system for today and for future generations of trail riders in our state.
Q: What are some of the Minnesota Trails Riders Association's big upcoming events?
This Spring the MTRA will be at the St. Cloud Horse Expo on April 5-6, 2008 and the Minnesota Horse Expo at the State Fairgrounds in St. Paul on April 25-27, 2008. At these events, the MTRA will promote membership and provide important trail information. As always, we look forward to meeting other horse enthusiasts. We will also be hosting at least five rides this year throughout the state in 2008. Please visit our exhibitions for more information on these rides.
Q: How can people get involved with the Minnesota Trail Riders Association?
You can join the Minnesota Trail Riders Association by sending $25 to the Minnesota Trail Riders Association, P.O. Box 984, Burnsville, MN 55337. Membership benefits include ride information from area saddle clubs and organizations that are hosting rides in and out of state found and a subscription to the MTRA newsletter published six times a year. For more information on the MTRA, please visit www.mntrailriders.com.