Santa Fe County Horse Coalition Rallies for Galisteo Basin Preserve

It was a huge success…read more….

Saturday, October 17th, the Santa Fe County Horse Coalition (SFCHC) held a fundraising trail ride to raise money to build additional multi-use trails at the Galisteo Basin Preserve. Multi-use trails are open to everyone: Hikers, dog walkers, mountain bikers and horses. The goal was to attract 30 riders; over 40 people attended including former Santa Fe County Commissioner, Mike Anaya. The event was a huge success helped in part by a “chamber-of-commerce” perfect 68-degree day.

Beginning with a ribbon cutting ceremony at 10 am christening the newly completed multi-use trail, the riders mounted up and rode out on the 7+ mile loop. The loop can begin from Cowboy Shack or Cottonwood Trailhead. From Cowboy Shack, riders took pre-existing trails over Julia’s Crossing, then dropped down onto the new trail on the western side of the preserve to ride along a great arroyo. In the distance were views of the Ortiz Mountains. The trail meanders to take advantage of views and capitalize on the terrain to minimize impact on the environment. Thanks to all the summer rains this year, the gamma grasses this year were higher than anyone can recall in more than a decade.

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SFCHC brought together horsemen of all ages with widely varied interests including packers, fox hunters, trail riders, English and Western riders, back-country riders, and show horses. Riders came from Arrowhead Ranch, Sunset Trails Ranch, Ashwin Stable, several members of The Santa Fe Sherriff Search and Rescue Posse, the Caza Ladron Hunt Group, volunteers and board members of The Horse Shelter, residents from Lamy and the surrounding residential communities, High Desert Riders, Back Country Horsemen of Santa Fe, some arriving from as far away as East Mountains and Abiquiu.

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This new trail, as yet unnamed, was built with sweat equity from an army of volunteers and the over $7000 raised by the equestrian community from the SFCHC inaugural ride last year.

Riders were very impressed with the quality of the trail, that it represents a riding loop instead of one way trails, and the views that were captured through intelligent trail design. One gal commented that this new trail was her favorite in all of Santa Fe County. After the ride, everyone gathered to enjoy burrito lunches provided by La Plancha Restaurant in Eldorado, and hear from Ted Harrison of the Commonweal Conservancy about the future plans for the Galisteo Basin Preserve.

This trail ride event would not have been possible without Piar Marks, Secretary of SFCHC, and Julia Jarvis, VP of SFCHC, who spearheaded the event, bringing together a diverse group of horsemen.

Trail maintenance and trail building is an ongoing process requiring continued volunteer workers as well as money to build and maintain trails. To make a tax deductible donation, send a check payable to Commonweal Conservancy, Attn: Julia Jarvis, 12 Immanuel, Santa Fe NM 87508.

Photos Courtesy of Piar Marks and Karen Denison

Article originally featured on SantaFe.com – October 20, 2015

Santa Fe County Horse Coalition Rallies for Galisteo Basin Preserve

It was a huge success…read more….

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