"Only you can prevent forest fires." -Smokey the Bear

"Only you can prevent the loss of trail." -Jerry Fruth

In the January Endurance News Ride Managers' Forum, Paul Happel produced an outline of how to work with a land manager while establishing an endurance ride. Paul wrote, "Ask the BLM official if an archaeological, biological, or any other clearance will be needed on any of the proposed routes."

Ladies and gentlemen, that is where the rubber meets the road. Our land managers are responsible for the management of our lands by the rules imposed by Congress. The Endangered Species Act, Clean Water Act and National Environmental Protection Act are three of the most important acts that may impact where and how you ride.

Our land managers take the rules seriously in the process of managing our public lands. But like anything else, there are ways to interpret the rules. In the past we have seen trails closed due to staff decisions based upon claims that could never stand up to scientific analysis, or claims made out of poor analysis of the issue, or sometimes based upon bias against horses.

In the past seven years we have had the opportunity to make the case for more access to our public land. Our land managers have listened, and in general, a great deal of progress has been made. Partnerships have been formed between the land agencies and user groups.

I'm proud to say that AERC played a major role in making our case for trail access and preservation. The AERC Board of Directors understands the issue and has consistently funded our projects. They deserve a huge thanks from all of us for their willingness and foresight to support our endeavors. Without their financial support, we would not have the trail programs we have today.

To those of you who have contributed to the AERC Trails Fund, I can't begin to tell you what a difference you have helped to make. Without your support there would be no trail grant program. Trail grants within AERC are used on what I call "bricks and sticks"Ñthose items that help us to assist in the funding of trailhead items such as rest rooms, water to sites, concrete bridges, signage and so forth. Combining our trail grants program along with our Trail Master program is a key to our success with our land managers.

Those who want our wildlands closed to the public have not gone away. They've just been put on hold. If that changes next year, where will we be and what can we do to make our case for continued access?

To that end, I've negotiated a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Bureau of Land Management for AERC. It is a blueprint of how we will work together in partnership to achieve certain goals with each other. The MOU is good for five years and hopefully, if AERC does its part, we will be able to renew the MOU in years to come.

Keeping the MOU in place is up to all of us. Like I said, trail access is no longer "free." We have to work to keep our access.

First and foremost, only you can prevent the loss of trail. Only you. I'd like to say that over and over again, but I think you get the message.

Our access to our wildlands is no longer free. To keep it, you will have to be at the planning table with your land managers. You will have to be part of the crews that go out and labor on weekends to keep the trails in good shape, safe to ride, and sustainable.

And while we are at it, isn't it time to consider the long-term ramifications if ride managers continue to put on rides in areas where the trails are not sustainable?

Are you training on trails that are not sustainable? Do you participate in rides where the trails are not sustainable? Do you care if you are on sustainable trails?

If we are to have any place at the table with our land managers then we must begin to think in terms of riding only on sustainable trails. Working to make our trails sustainable must become part and parcel of being an endurance rider.

If we are not part of the process we will be perceived as part of the problem. If we are going to talk the talk, then we must walk the walk.

I believe that it should be mandatory for every endurance rider to work 20 hours a year on trail projects or fund someone to do your work if you are unable. In addition they should take at a minimum a one-day course in trail maintenance. And, if possible, become a Trail Master.

Like I said earlier, trail riding is no longer free. As endurance riders we can either sit back and watch our trails disappear or take a very strong leadership position nationally in trail preservation. It's all up to you.

In the East we have suffered a great deal of trail loss. We have learned how to work with our land managers to keep what we have. It hasn't been easy, and it is an ongoing process.

Fort Stanton, in New Mexico, is evolving into our training center for our Western states. Taking part of the training offered at Fort Stanton should be on the agenda for every Western rider.

In addition to working on trails we need to be familiar with the laws that our land managers work under. Knowing the rules, the lingo, and how the system works is just as important as knowing how to design, construct and maintain a sustainable trail.

I believe AERC should develop a course on how environmental laws impact our access. I believe AERC should support good science when it becomes necessary to preserve our access. And I believe AERC membership should become very serious about trail preservation.

AERC has six reasons for existing. Read your bylaws: #6 tells us to ride and preserve historic trails. When is the last time you did either? Only you can prevent the loss of trail access. Remember, all you need is a horse and a trail.

Coming in April's Endurance News: Working as a team with land managers, by Roger Taylor.