You are here: NEWSLETTERS > TROT News May 2001

Editor: Suzanne Anderson 301-829-3881 301-829-3880 FAX	NEWS	TROT Information 301-588-TROT
May 2001	Electronic Edition	Number 129

Thanks to 2 Very Generous TROT Fellows!

Two Montgomery County businessmen, who are TROT members, have put their heads and their funds together to move TROT's trail mapping project forward. They have donated a total of $17,800 to TROT, to be used primarily for trail mapping.

Under the direction of TROT Vice President Tim McGrath, TROT is planning a trail mapping endeavor using GPS technology to plot the trails. The GPS data will be superimposed on contour maps, with roads and other landmarks added. The ultimate goal is to published a new trails map book to replace the one published a decade ago.

In discussions on how best to move the GPS mapping project forward, our benefactors indicated interest in involving local college students as well, thereby providing a real experience project for cartography, geography, or civil engineering students. To this end, Tim has opened discussions with Tom Ravenhurst at the University of Maryland Baltimore Campus (UMBC), director of instructional cartography.

The prospects are looking good for the following: under contract (using these funds), students in the UMBC department would receive from TROT the data gathered using new GPS units (to be chosen and purchased also with these funds). The department students would process the data to provide paper copy of maps as well as files to be displayed on TROT's web page. These same students would probably also undertake to train 2 TROT riders as the official "techies on horseback" in the best use of the GPS unit(s), and these riders would make forays into the established trail systems known to them and escorted by other TROT members familiar with them.

There's a chance for many of our members to become involved. The first trails undertaken will be in Montgomery County, including such areas as the Travilah Loop, the Rocky Gorge Watershed, and the Seneca State Park. As the process of data collection, delivery to the UMBC cartography department of data, and the process and resulting maps is established, further funds for further mapping can be applied for through the federal program ISTEA (Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act).

Get excited! Call Tim and help him organize these efforts! Just imagine, accurate trail maps you can make copies from, or even download from our website! With roads named, and parking for trailers marked out, this will be the best trail tool yet!

And for those of us techies already riding around with a GPS in our pocket, if you are already collecting trail data of your own areas, give Tim a buzz and tell him. As he gets the process underway, he should be able to say what format file you could share that can be processed along with those described in this project.

And once again, a heartfelt, feeding time whinny-type Thank You to our 2 benefactors.

I/We want you to know that as a horseback rider and taxpaying citizen, whose taxes have gone toward the purchase of Fairland Regional Park, I/We believe the natural surface trails through the wooded portion of the parkland should be retained.

I/We understand that these trails are on the Counties of Prince George's and Montgomery's Master Plans. Princes George's County currently provides an equestrian staging area along the entry drive to the Gunpowder Golf Course Clubhouse.

I/We would prefer to see the woods left intact. If this is done, people who now enjoy horseback riding and/or walking on these trails with their families and dogs may continue to have a scenic, less urbanized setting for their outings. Such activities provide a non-consumptive participation in nature. The current spacious environment in these woods allows plenty of room for the above-mentioned activities, as well as mountain-bike riding.

Additionally, the natural surface trails provide winter-time activity for cross-country skiers.

It is my/our sincere hope that the trails will not be re-routed to an outside perimeter of Fairland Regional Park, which would deny many the pleasure currently enjoyed during recreation in this natural, wooded setting with streams.

Signature:

Address:

Attention!

To TROT members & those who love & care about horses:

Also, consider becoming a member of TROT. The benefits to horses owners and their horses are tremendous. For information call 301-588-8768 or log on to http://TROT-MD.tripod.com. Contributions may be made to Days End Farm Horse Rescue, Inc., P0 Box 309, Lisbon, MD 21765 and donors will receive a tax deductible receipt For more information, call Days End Farm 301-831-7095 or 301-854-5937. Copies of this information as a handout/flyer may be obtained by calling Pat at 301-253-6932 

Gregory Gingery, Chairman Organized Competitions and Shows Industry
Timothy Capps Maryland Thoroughbred Industry
Malcolm Comer Academic Equine Community
Linda Eminizer, Vice Chairman Trails and Recreational Riding
Patricia D. Gilbert Equine Trade and Support Industries
Shari Kennedy Veterinarian Industry
Elizabeth Madlener Maryland Horse Council
Beverly Raymond Representing the Secretary of the Dept of Agriculture
position now being filled Public Member
Eli Solomon Maryland Standardbred Industry
Tahira Shane Thomas Humane Society
Carol S. Wicker Licensed Stables

Visit the MHIB website, marylandhorseindustry.org. There will be an email contact on that site. Or, you can email me directly at emnzr@hotmail.com or call me at 410-661-0176 if you have questions or concerns.

CALENDAR

Hey Folks! I also have some park maps specifically Paint Branch, Union Mills, and Little Bennett that I can send by Email if you want them. I am going to try and do some more. It is sometimes hard to decide what variation of a map I want to use as some parks have several different ones. I also need to figure out my scanner a little better. My Email address is Boprow@aol.com. Mary Prowell

CLASSIFIED ADS

BOARDING West Howard County (Glenwood) on 50 acre farm, new barn with 4 12'x12' stalls. Safe board fencing, quality fields with run-in sheds. Riding ring and access to trails. Full board: $250, field board: $75. Call Laura Pettit 301-854-5020

Unspoiled Trail System Accessible From New B&B

Just north of I-70 between Baltimore and Frederick, a new bed and breakfast has opened that offers overnight horse boarding plus direct access to miles of trails through woodlands surrounding Liberty Reservoir.

"The trail system is Carroll County’s best-kept secret," says Randi Place whose Americana B & B is situated to offer outdoor enthusiasts a welcome respite from the intense overdevelopment of land in the region. "The main reason more people don’t utilize them is the lack of access. There is only one small parking area for the public and it is not suitable for horse trailers," explains Randi. "Camping is not allowed."

"Americana B & B is a great place to leave behind the stress of your world," says Janet Neumann of Gaithersburg, MD, who has hiked these trails often. Conveniently located less than an hour’s drive from Washington, D.C., Baltimore, and Frederick, MD, the farm offers a quick escape back to nature. Landowners in the vicinity describe the meandering trail system hard by the waters of the Reservoir as a "jewel in our backyards."

"You can ride for eight hours and only cross one or two roads. So while you will rarely see anyone else on the trails, you are on your own but not alone," explains Judy Haran, Eldersburg, MD who also horseback rides the trails.

After years of informally hosting friends eager to ride these wide shady trails on horseback or bikes, the decision was made four months ago to formally open the home to others. In an incredibly short time (six weeks), Randi negotiated the Carroll County zoning and permitting process. "I discovered that the Board of Tourism is quite enthusiastic about a new B & B because there is a shortage of overnight accommodations in South Carroll."

Guests share this "home stay" bed and breakfast with its four-legged residents: "Wrecks," a yellow lab, and designer cats, Rocky and Sweetpea. The farm is also home to several critters that reside outdoors: barn cats, horses, goats, and a donkey adopted from the Grand Canyon. Regular forest visitors include a hoot owl that lives in a corner of one pasture and a family of fox.

Check-in time is 3:00. Put your horse up in one of two barns. Park your trailer on the circular drive, your bikes in the garage. After freshening up with locally made Udderly Precious Goat Soap, munch on a few of Randi’s melt-in-your mouth Cowboy Cookies.

Study pre-published Reservoir trail maps from an upcoming book, "Baltimore Trails, A Comprehensive Guide," by Bryan Mackay due out in 2002 from Johns Hopkins University Press. Then plan your day and let Randi know what time you want to do breakfast in the morning and if you need her guidance on the trails.

For reservations, call Americana Bed & Breakfast, 410-549-5763 locally or 800-437-5770. If Randi doesn't answer right away, she's probably feeding the animals, mowing the pastures, tending the garden or leading a ride. So leave a message and she’ll get back to you. Plan to leave your watch at home, kick back, relax and soak in the peaceful beauty of life in the country.

Goat Milk Soaps on sale, with proceeds going to Johns Hopkins Cancer Center.

www.americanabnb.com

West Nile Virus

Fifty-nine horses were infected with the virus in 2000 and of these 23 died or were euthanized. Twenty human cases were reported that included one death in 2000. In 1999, 62 human cases were reported and 7 deaths occurred. Crows with the virus have been found as far south as North Carolina. Last year the disease, in horses, migrated down the coast as far as New Jersey. Marylanders will be on the look out for the disease this year. There is a vaccine that is currently being developed for this mosquito-borne disease but currently the only defense is supportive treatment.

Neurological signs are the hallmark clinical signs and your veterinarian can perform lab test to help diagnose the disease.

Foot and Mouth Disease

Horses cannot become infected with foot and mouth disease. It only affects cloven-footed animals such as cattle, swine, sheep, goats, deer, llamas and alpacas. The US has been free of the disease since 1929. The virus causes blisters of the tongue, lips, in the mouth, teats, between the hooves and is associated with a fever. Most of the animals will recover, but the disease leaves them so debilitated the there is a severe loss in milk and meat production. The disease is highly contagious and can spread by contact with infected animals, clothing or footwear, contaminated water or even semen from infected bulls. So far the disease has not entered the US and for more information about the disease go to the net at http://www.aphis.usda.gov.

More to come!

Ros Bowersett D.V.M., bowersettjr@att.net Happy Riding!

County Coordinators & Contacts

Anne Arundel Kirsten Enzinger410-867-0798
Baltimore Linda Eminizer410-661-0176
Carroll Anne Bennof301-829-0949
Frederick Angela Klinger 301-898-9133
Pat Merson301-898-3251
Howard Gale Monahan301-854-3852
Montgomery Tim McGrath301-428-8216
Pr. George's Mary Angevine301-937-0014
Wicomico Judy Myers410-860-0540

The Editor welcomes submissions of any articles and news items that would be of interest to TROT members. Pictures submitted must be of good quality and high contrast.

DEADLINE: All materials must be received by June 25 for the July TROTNews. Please send all materials to:

Suzanne Anderson
7928 Bennett Branch Rd.
Mt. Airy, MD 21771

Original articles may be reprinted with the notice "Reprinted from the (month year) issue of TROTNews."

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