HORSE ASSOCIATION & TRAIL RIDERS NEWS

When reserving online, remember your first click is on the "Equestrian" tab on the right side of the first page, then you can select our horse camp.

fence. It is a honey bee nest so they are not aggressive. The DNR will continue to monitor it so please proceed with caution.

Ionia Horse Trails Association

Our 2023 Event dates are: Forbidden Trails Ride - Sat., June 10. Chili Cook Off - Saturday, October 7.

Our events are on the Facebook page. Our website is being processed over to a different provider (much to our surprise), so is not available for us to update right now www.ioniahorsetrailsassociation.org

Our workbee on April 8 left the campground ready to go for opening on May 1. We decided to clear trees needed to expand sites for corrals, as well as clean up many dead Ash trees the park had dropped. The ground was still too wet to bring in a skid steer to level and add material for new corrals, so it made more sense to do the prep work, so the grading can be done later in the season without destroying the turf. We also installed a new obstacle on Phase 1 of the Confidence Course, where we had pulled one out a couple of years ago. We hope you enjoy it and it helps your horse be prepared for the "real world" out in the woods.

We have plotted out the path for Phase 2 of the Ionia Confidence Course. Previous plans had been to build in 2023. We have decided to keep the path mowed this year so riders can travel it and pack the soil before we build obstacles Riders are welcome to start using the path to go from day staging to the Phase 1 course. The path will pick up from the trail just across the road from day staging, then take the first right (presently it is marked by pink ribbons in sets of two - stay between the ribbons.) Park staff will need to brush out the trail again, and then will keep the trail brush hogged so you can easily find the path this season.

We have one available seat on our board, so if you'd like to contribute a bit of time and be part of the improvements at Ionia, please reach out to any board member, or tag us at “Ionia Horse Trails - IHTA” on Facebook, or simply show up at a meeting That would be great!

THREE DAY PARKING AREAS: 1) Normal Day Staging; 2) Go past the day staging parking lot to the "Barn Lot" on the same side of the road; 3) There is also a new option to access the west end of the park more easily! It is still signed as the X Country Ski Trail, just before the beach entrance (on the opposite side of the road) when entering the park. Park staff enlarged the parking area to hold four or five horse size rigs, but this is not a parking area suitable for BIG rigs. The drive entry is not wide, and the turn around area is not huge. If your rig is more than 30 feet or you lack backing skills, this may not be a good option. Please park like you expect the lot to be full when you come back. Leave room for others and plan for all rigs to be able to exit safely

If you encounter a situation on the trails, please let the park staff know as soon as you can by calling 616-527-3750. Let us know if you think we can be of help. We all work together as best as we can to keep the trails clear You can ask questions or report trail issues on our Facebook page “Ionia Horse Trails - IHTA”

Remember to mark your calendars for our fall ride which will take place on October 22, 2023. We look forward to a great turnout like last year!

Recently, we received two (2) separate inquiries about taking over the riding stables facility at the park. They are both considered serious inquiries, so we are hopeful! Still, if you or anyone you know that might be interested, contact Traci Sincock at sincockt@michigan.gov

Please remember that there is NO hunting at Maybury State Park. Another great reason to ride in our park in winter months!

Continue to follow us on Facebook for updates on the trails, events and general news going on in the park. Feel free to post pictures from your rides!

Hi, trail riders – it’s shedding season! Hope you are able to get out and enjoy the park on these super warm and dry days!

Please be aware that we have been having some technical issues on our website, www.mayburytrailriders.org. If you have a question, please send it through our Facebook page and we will get back to you as soon as possible. Thank you for your patience!

There has been a bees nest spotted 10 yards north near the O Trail marker by the

You’re invited to ride the Metamora Hunt Summer Hunter Pace!

ONLY TWICE A YEAR, miles of ribboned trails are open across gorgeous private properties and quaint dirt roads throughout the Metamora Countryside for you and your equestrian riding buddies. The 95th Metamora Hunt is your host for the day. We provide snacks and drink stops along the approximately 6-12 mile marked trail. You can ride English or western on your own horse and please note, helmets are required. Any jumps have natural walk overs or arounds. This is a relaxing, fun ride, do it at your pace with your own team of 2-4 riders. If you don’t have a team, just show up and we will match you with a group.

The Hunter Pace is a historical ride with two categories which get awarded:

1-6th place ribbons. They mail to teams after the ride date and post online.

HUNT CLUB, CONT.

Fastest time, if you are the competitive type. Depart between 8:30 and 9am.

Optimum time, meant to mimic a real fox hunt pace. It is symbolic only, not a race at all, and if your time just happens to come closest to the mystery time, bonus!, your team could get Metamora Hunt ribbons.

The Summer Hunter Pace is scheduled for Saturday, June 17th, 2023. Check the Metamora Hunt Facebook page or call the hunt kennels: 810-678-2711 for updates if the weather looks like a date change.

Get your horses vaccinated a.s.a.p. against Eastern Equine Encephalitis, Western Equine Encephalitis and West Nile Virus, as well as all of the other usual transmissible diseases. This will probably be a bad year for bugs.

Staggered start times: 8:30am-12:30pm. Horse trailer parking: Northeast corner of Barber Road and Rock Valley Road, Metamora, MI (follow signage).

Ride to the registration area and start at the Metamora Hunt Kennels, 5614 Barber Road, Metamora, MI.

You can download your forms online, (registration and hold harmless release) at http://www.metamorahunt.com/

It is best to have them filled out along with cash or check to Metamora Hunt, as you will ride to the start from your parked rig

Adult: $50. Junior (17 & under, must be accompanied by an adult): $35.

Please contact John Mandich, Metamora Summer Hunt Pace Organizer with any questions via email: johnmandich@ comcast.net or call 248-990-1910.

We are looking forward to seeing as many of you as possible at the May 27 Michigan Foxtrotting Horse Association (MFHA) Judged Trail Ride to be held at the day use equestrian area of the Ionia Recreation Area. All breeds are welcome. Test you and your horse on a number of practical obstacles and possibly win a prize. The Adult fee is $25 each, those under 18 pay $10 to participate. Young people are welcome to try their horsemanship skills as well and will leave with a ribbon and prize. Top scoring riders over 18 will get a payback amount. The obstacles will make you and your equine problem-solve which is good practice for later on the trail. This will be a fun way to spend a day morning from the campground. Bring a dish to share for the potluck Saturday night and your own table service. The MFHA will provide the meat. We will eat in the Pavilion. It will be a fun way to meet other people and listen to their horse stories. Last year we had a gentleman from Nebraska participate. He was very interesting to talk with.

June 24th we have a members-only Driving Clinic with clinician Judi Campbell at Morning View Farm located in Ionia, MI followed by the Natural Trail and Obstacle Clinic the next day at the Holland Western Saddle Club in Holland, MI. This clinic has filled already. Clinician Susan Williams will instruct us on the various trail obstacles. I have never been there, but have heard so many good things about this facility. I am looking forward to going. We will be serving lunch to participants and auditors Auditors are encouraged to come watch. Go to hollandwestern.com to inquire about the auditor fee. You will learn important information for when you are faced with similar obstacles on the trail in the future.

September brings the member-only trail ride at Hungerford Recreation Area. It will take place the September 29th, 30th and October 1st. We will be rustic camping. Participants in our Versatility Program have been working hard earning points with their horses both in the saddle and on the ground. The first quarter shows Katie Collier leading the Not Under Saddle division w/Nasari, following Carrie Carpenter w/River, Georgi Carlton with Romeo and Marilyn Mannino with Kate. The Under Saddle Division leader is Amanda Kellogg with Liberty, followed by Carrie with Moo, then Carrie with Carma, followed by Ron Montgomery with Sloopy, Georgi with Joey, Nancy Green-Duffy with Chinook and Marilyn Mannino with Sam. Carrie leads the Ultimate Horseman Division, followed by Marilyn, then Georgi.

If you have recently acquired a new-toyou MFT, don't forget to send in the paperwork to the MFTHBA (mfthba.com) to get him or her transferred into your name. I recently did this, even though my new mare hadn't had her paperwork transferred in 17 years, yet she had been owned by more than one family before me. Such interesting bloodlines, it would have been a shame to lose track of them.

MI FOXTROTTING HORSE ASSOC.

Whew – All of that rain and snow last month sure switched quickly to warmer weather, Spring flowers and mosquitoes!

We are hosting the second annual Great Lakes National Trail Ride (NTR) July 7-9 at Waterloo Recreation Area in Chelsea, MI. It will start out at the Waterloo Horseman's Camp. Make your camping reservations now: midnrreservations.com and specify the Waterloo Horseman's Camp. Cabins are available to rent there as well. All Fox Trotter riders who want to earn an NTR point for attending this ride will need to sign in and all riders pay the $10 fee. Georgi Carlton and Amanda Kellogg will lead the ride out on Saturday

MFHA breeder, Chuck Fanslow of Gladwin, MI, has a pair of quality well-gaited stallions available to breed your mare to. Contact him to set up a date for your mare! Look up River Flat Ranch to see pictures of his gorgeous studs with Cotton-Eyed Joe bloodlines.

We have lots planned for this year If you would like to join our association to help promote this wonderful breed and qualify for clinic discounts, go to www.michigan foxtrottinghorse com to print off the membership form and read all about us. We encourage youth as well as adults to join. Encourage your friends to join too.