Fort Wayne, Ind. – The City of Fort Wayne and Allen County are partnering for a second Trot the Trails horse trail ride on October 17. The ride will take place along golf cart paths at the former Lakeside Golf Course and will also include 2.3 miles of the Rivergreenway between the golf course and the North River Rd. Trailhead along the scenic Maumee River.
The cost to join the fun is $10 per rider. Participants may begin the ride any time between 10 a.m. and noon and will need to finish by 3 p.m. Registration begins at 9 a.m. the day of the event. Participants will need to provide their own horses. Horses will not be available for rent or for the public to ride. Parking is located at 820 N. Coliseum Blvd. at the 24/30 Surplus Store (formerly K-Mart). Other trail users are still welcome to use the same Rivergreenway section during the Trot the Trails event, but they must yield to the horses. This event will take place rain or shine.
Those who would like to look at the horses may view them free of charge at Daryl B. Cobin Memorial Park/Carrington Field, 742 N. Coliseum Blvd., the North River Rd. Trailhead & Boat Ramp in the 7000 Block of North River Rd. or at the American Legion Post 47, 601 Reed Rd.
Volunteers are needed from 8:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. and from 12 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Those interested in volunteering should contact Dawn Ritchie at [email protected].
Proceeds from Trot the Trails will assist Three Rivers Horse Trails, Inc., a non-profit organization formed in 2019 and dedicated to the development and economic impact of a unique resource whereby the public can enjoy safe travel by horseback for recreation, connectivity and quality of life throughout northeast Indiana.
“Horses are extremely popular in Allen County. It’s the county that has the most horses in Indiana and ranks as having the 58th largest population of horses of any county in the United States,” said Lynn Sroufe, Three Rivers Horse Trails, Inc. President. “Trail riding is a very popular equestrian activity and because horse trails don’t currently exist in our community, equestrians must leave the county to enjoy trails. Existing horse trails throughout the United States typically result in driving economic development, building quality of life and even improving property values.”
Allen County, the Northeastern Indiana Regional Coordinating Council (NIRCC) and the City of Fort Wayne are helping Three Rivers Horse Trails determine locations throughout Allen County for the establishment of equestrian trails. Until equestrian trails are officially established, horses are only allowed on existing multi-use trails during Trot the Trails events, due to a City ordinance.
This event is sponsored by Hanning & Bean Enterprises and 24/30 Surplus.
More information is available on the Three Rivers Horse Trails Inc. Facebook page.
