02.28.13

Upcoming Events: March 2013

Posted in Announcement, Events of Interest, Fort Harrod Back Country Horsemen, Kentucky Horse Council, Kentucky Horse Park at 9:06 pm by Thomas

March 2nd, 2013 – Saturday

This weekend, Saturday March 2nd at 6 PM, Fort Harrod Back Country Horsemen will be having their annual meeting which is open to the public at the Mercer County Extension Office in Harrodsburg.  This is a great organization made up of a wonderful group of horse people dedicated to seeing that we will always have places to ride.  There will be a free dinner and speakers, please check out their Facebook page for more information.

March 9th, 2013 – Saturday

The Woodford Equine Hospital Spring Vaccine Clinic will be held from 8 AM to 2 PM at the Woodford Equine Hospital in Versailles.

After you have gotten your Spring Vaccinations why not head over to the Kentucky Horse Park for the Fayette County Farm Bureau Equipment Consignment Auction which will run from 9:30 Am to 4 PM.

To end your Saturday why not swing by Spindletop Hall for the MSEDA Gala 2013-Cirque du Cheval to benefit the Kentucky Horse Park Foundation starting at 5:30 PM with Cocktails and Dinner at 7:00 PM.

March 27th, 2013 – Wednesday

The Kentucky Equine Youth Festival will be held at the Kentucky Horse Park’s Alltech Arena from 9 AM to 2:30 PM.  This will be a great event for the whole family and is worth getting the kids out of school for as an educational event on Kentucky’s signature industry.сондажи

09.24.11

KHC Equine Industry Planning Session

Posted in Fort Harrod Back Country Horsemen, Kentucky Bred, Kentucky Horse Council, Kentucky Proud at 11:13 pm by Thomas

I had the great opportunity to be a part of the Kentucky Horse Council Equine Industry Planning Session today at the Fayette County Extension Office.    This was scheduled as an all day event starting at 8 AM so it was wonderful to see a solid group of close to 50 participants.  This was a varied group across all areas of the horse industry from Thoroughbred breeders and members of several Equine Departments of our major Universities and Colleges to small local organizations like myself representing the Fort Harrod Back Country Horsemen.

The facilitator was Colonel Walter Herd (Retired U.S. Army) who is also on the KHC Board.  He did an excellent job and was very engaging which set a very positive tone for the day.  The primary topics of discussion were coming up with ideas to bring Kentucky closer to that idea of a “haven for horses” that we all dream of by developing the “culture of the horse in Kentucky”.  Ultimately in simple terms, we are the Horse Capital of the World, which is derived from the impact of the Thoroughbred Horse, how do we expand that definition to be all inclusive of everything Equine in the State or at least that was my take.

I am not going to go into all the details because there was lots of great discussions and ideas.  One tidbit I will report on, we did hear from a member of KEEP that the Kentucky Proud Program was being expanded to include horses and that specific program would be called Kentucky Bred.

At the end of the day we voted on all of these and the KHC is going to digest those results and come up with an action list to start working on in November when they are planning on scheduling the next set of meetings.  I will report on what comes out of those meetings as we get more concrete objectives to act on.

Kentucky Colonel
Thomas Demond
KyWEGO®

04.05.10

Volunteers Needed to Assist with Stream crossing Improvements at Eagles Nest Equestrian Trails

Posted in Fort Harrod Back Country Horsemen, Volunteerism at 9:40 am by Thomas

Harrodsburg, KY, April 4, 2010 – Members and friends of the Fort Harrod Back Country Horsemen (Ft. Harrod BCH) are converging on Eagle’s Nest Equestrian Trails in Harrodsburg on April 10 – 11, 2010 to repair water crossings.

The group of central Kentucky equestrian trails enthusiasts has been instrumental in maintaining trails at both Eagles Nest and Shaker Village since their inception two years ago.

The upcoming work weekend will focus on rebuilding two creek crossings to properly maintain water flow and reduce erosion and mud.  The project requires rock and other materials which are being purchased through a grant from the Tractor Supply Company and the American Quarter Horse Association.

Heavy equipment including a bobcat and tractor will be used to transport rock to the work areas and do the strenuous digging.  Volunteers are needed to back dig the crossings, shovel rock, and perform other related tasks.  Greenline Implement of Danville is donating the use of a used tractor for the weekend.  Regular Eagles Nest camper, Brad Rogers of Nelson County, will supply and operate the bobcat.

Ft. Harrod BCH members, Dennis Blackburn the Eagles Nest Trail Boss and Cory Bloyd of Watermark Construction, planned the trail crossing improvements in accordance with practices employed by nationally renowned trail design expert, Mike Riter.  Both Blackburn and Bloyd completed an intense course of study on building and maintaining sustainable trails with Riter.

“We are very fortunate to have members with trail master certification which qualifies them to develop plans for sustainable trail improvements,” said Ft. Harrod BCH President, Brian Rogers. “We’re asking anyone who rides at or enjoys Eagles Nest to bring their tampers, shovels, and wheelbarrows and support this important improvement.”

The work weekend is scheduled on Saturday April 10, 2010 from 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. with a potluck lunch and on Sunday from 1-5 p.m.  In the event of rainfall the work weekend may be postponed.  To volunteer or for more information contact trail boss, Dennis Blackburn, at 859-613-2665 or hardrockfarm@gmail.com.

The Fort Harrod Back Country Horsemen is a local affiliate of the Back Country Horsemen of America.  The member based association of trail enthusiasts works in Central Kentucky to develop and maintain sustainable trails, build land use relationships, and provide educational opportunities.  For more information or to join the Fort Harrod Back Country Horsemen visit www.kybch.com or contact Brian Rogers at rogers1822@roadrunner.com or 859-806-8267.

01.13.09

Fort Harrod BCH Enlists Oxen to Help Clear Trail Areas

Posted in Adventure Tourism, Bluegrass Region, Fort Harrod Back Country Horsemen, Kentucky, Volunteerism at 10:38 pm by Thomas

Harrodsburg, KY, January 12, 2009 – A local team of oxen, owned by Fort Harrod Back Country Horsemen (Ft. Harrod BCH) member Brian Rogers, will work with trail enthusiasts on February 7-8, 2009 to clean out an old dump site at Eagle’s Nest Equestrian Trails in Harrodsburg.  The site primarily contains old tires which work crews will dislodge and load onto a sled pulled by the trained steers.  

Rogers’ oxen currently are used for light farm work including pulling a chain drag, pulling logs, moving stones and feed, and more.  The two-and-a-half year old pair has been working in yoke for the past two years and travel annually to participate in the Midwest Ox Drover’s Gathering in Scotts Michigan. 

“By using oxen to remove the debris we hope to limit the impact on the environment and minimize damage to the vegetation.  This is also a great way for us to incorporate the use of draft stock in our trail maintenance efforts,” stated Emily Dennis, President of the Ft. Harrod BCH.   

The tires will be removed from the Cornishville Road area of Eagle’s Nest to a proper disposal location.  Eagle’s Nest Trail Boss, Dennis Blackburn, is currently working with other Ft. Harrod BCH members and the local community to identify a low cost or no cost recycling or disposal alternative for the tires. 

Eagle’s Nest Equestrian Trails is closed for both January and February to reduce impact and erosion to the trails.  The scheduled work days are to be conducted on foot and without horses. 

Individuals wishing to join the trail clean up efforts will be shuttled from the pavilion at Eagle’s Nest to the clean up site.  Clean up efforts begin at 10 a.m. with a midday lunch break featuring potluck chili.  Participants are asked to bring prepared chili to mix and heat at the work site or an appropriate side dish and their own non-alcoholic beverages.  RSVP to confirm attendance by contacting Dennis Blackburn at 859-613-2665 or hardrockfarm@gmail.com.  

For more information or to join the Fort Harrod Back Country Horsemen contact Emily Dennis at edennis@fewpb.net or 502-330-8798 or Dennis Blackburn at hardrockfarm@gmail.com or 859-613-2665.

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