The American Endurance Ride Conference (AERC), a non-profit equestrian organization that promotes long-distance riding, has named Deirdre C. Monroe as a state trails advocate. Monroe has been active in New Mexico trails since the late 1990s, developing a multi-use trails map of the Caja del Rio (a 100,000 acre portion of the Santa Fe National Forest) and spearheading a $100,000 Recreational Trails Program (RTP) grant for a Caja del Rio trailhead. The grant was supported by the USDA Forest Service’s Española Ranger office and included contributions from the AERC.
Because AERC’s 5,000 members compete with their horses in distances from 25 to 100 miles in one day, safe and accessible trails are of utmost concern. Many members participate in trail work days and hundreds have become certified as Trail Masters, able to plan and work on new, rerouted and repaired trails which are sustainable for the future.
Monroe will be coordinating with trail users throughout the state, including land managers, horse councils and trail user groups. Being able to quickly identify solutions to state and local issues makes having 50 state trails advocates an important component of AERC’s trails advocacy.
To find contact information for your state trails advocate and others across the U.S., visit https://aerc.org/TrailsContacts
About AERC
In addition to promoting the sport of endurance riding, AERC has encouraged the use, protection, and development of equestrian trails, especially those with historic significance, since 1972. Many special events of four to six consecutive days take place over historic trails. The founding ride of endurance riding, the Western States Trail Ride or Tevis Cup, covers 100 miles of the famous Western States and Immigrant Trails over the Sierra Nevada Mountains. These rides promote awareness of the importance of trail preservation for future generations and foster an appreciation of our American heritage.
The American Endurance Ride Conference, established in 1972, is headquartered in Auburn, California, “The Endurance Capital of the World.” For more information please visit us at www.aerc.org.