Yellowwood Clean-Up Day


We plan on having a clean-up day at Yellowwood State Forest on Saturday June 12th. Lunch viddles will be provided. We will meet at YSF horse Camp at 9:30 a.m. Bring your best horse that can pick-up trash. A free night of camping will be provided for participants.

If you need more information, please contact Chris Riehl @ 812-988-2263 or 812-320-7818.

Northwest Indiana Trail Happenings
By Lawrence Turnquist

•    January 31st 2010 our buggy club had a very interesting evening at Balmoral race track. What does this have to do with ITRA? It was a well organized, well attended outing that is an example of what can be accomplished with some effort. Two people I am aware of, in the group, had connections at Balmoral that made it easier to gain access to areas that normal visitors don’t have access to. We had a short presentation from the state vet (IL) explaining his function, including drug testing. We also got to stand in the judge’s booth during a race and were lucky enough to have there be a photo finish while we were observing, thus getting to see how the equipment worked and how they decided who won. Some people got to ride in the starting gate car, interview a driver/jockey and visit the broadcast booth where they send out the results of the races and televise them. The dinner was Read More »

National Trails Day is Saturday, June 5th.  If you would like to be part of making a difference, come and be recognized nationally for the trail work we do during National Trails Day.  We will be picking up trash for those who would like to do that kind of work.  We will also be working on trail projects and trimming back brush.  For those who can't do manual labor we need campground hosts who will check people in and keep track of the hours and also assist in preparing the pitch-in.  Some of the workdays will be on the 12th instead of the 5th.

Deep River County Park
We will most likely be at Deep River County Park again on June 5th.  It’s not as bad as I expected after the long, and in my opinion, rather hard winter, but there’s plenty to do. Contact Lawrence Turnquist at 219-374-5370 if you’re interested in helping. Plans are still subject to change.
 
National Lake Shore Read More »

Approved by Walt Zak: "ITRA VIP Legislative Ride"

     Several State Representatives, local Commissioners and some DNR managers will be invited as the VIP's. This event will be held at Deam Lake Recreation Area Horse Campground on Saturday, June 26th. The DNR Clark State Forest/Deam Lake property manager Walt Zak will be working with ITRA Director Barb Ferguson sketching out the details soon. This event will be showcasing the Deam Lake Horse Campground improvements that have been in the making in 2009 and will be done by June 26. The new 6-mile loop around the lake, the restoration of a comfort station in section A and the finishing of the last 2 of 7 horse barn/stalls.  ITRA members are invited to attend and help out with this event.  Also helping will be local horse clubs and saddle clubs. Everyone will be expected to pay the gate fees and if camping will have to pay the camping fees.  Lunch on Satu Read More »

  We had a great annual ITRA meeting at the Hamilton County Fairgrounds on Saturday, March 20th.    
 
Congratulations to the newly elected officers and directors. 
Greg Hersberger, President
Yvette Rollins, VP
Arlene Smoot, Treasurer
Stacy Lowe, Secretary
New Directors, Ron McCoy and Steve Auth, re-elected directors, Tony Ragains and Scotty Eskridge and Reed Records.
Ron McCoy is Chairman of the Board and Reed Records is Vice Chairman of the Board.

     The food was awesome of course; we have some great cooks in the ITRA.  Thanks to Dave Maksymczak and Melinda Kidd for doing the cooking and for Erin Maksymczak and Caitlyn Kidd for helping with the setup .
     Our silent auction netted $214.

The ITRA Annual meeting was held at the Hamilton County Fairgrounds on March 20th, 2010.  It was called to order at 2:45 PM by Greg Hersberger, President.

Greg called for nominations from the floor for the election.
Two people were nominated from the floor:  Ron McCoy and Steve Auth.
Ballots were given to the committee to be counted.

Country Haven --  There was an open house in November which was well attended.  The camp was full.  ITRA got a lot of exposure.  DNR had hoped to have it open by January 1st  2010 but that didn't happen.  They have now decided not to hire a manager but have taken applications from vendors instead.

VIP rides. --  ITRA will be having some mini VIP rides across the state.  We are not allowed to lobby but we do want to show the legislators what our parks have to offer the horsemen Read More »

April 9-10-11, 2010 • Indiana State Fairgrounds •Indianapolis, Indiana
Join us for the 2010 Hoosier Horse Fair & Expo!

• Six-Horse Hitch Competition
• Breed Demonstration
• Clinics (partial listing!)

                   Sterling Graburn - Driving
        & Read More »

Thank you to the following members who have stepped up to the plate to run for officer or director positions.

Please Note!!!

You will receive your official ballot in the March newsletter in late February. You will be responsible for mailing that ballot in or bringing it with you to the annual meeting in March.  This format is completely different than what we have had in past.  You must be a member for 1 year to run as an officer.

Greg Hersberger, President - Running for President
      I would like to run for another term as President of ITRA.  I've been a director for quite a few years and the past year served as President.  Time flies when you are having fun.  I have met so many great people and had so many wonderful experiences from being in the ITRA and on the board.  There is Read More »

Northwest Indiana Trail Happenings
By Lawrence Turnquist

     There was a notice in Trail Rider magazine that Equestrian Land Conservation Resource, specifically Cynthia Higgs, Equestrian Partners Coordinator, has done a report on “models for equine-based use of State Fish and wildlife Lands”.  This is a 33 page report which is extremely relevant to our situation in Northwest Indiana. These areas represent a huge untapped resource for equestrian trails and it would be a shame if we didn’t do our best to gain access to them. This report gives examples of several other states that have given access to these areas. It also provides sound factual information to defeat the reasons we have traditionally been given, for not permitting equestrians access to these areas.
     November 21st 2009 Maureen and I attended an eight-hour school put on by Read More »

   Well, SR 135 South, between Trails End store and Orchard Road, looks GREAT, thanks to a big bunch of volunteers.   We finished in record time this year; a little over an hour and we were done!   Appreciation goes to: Cherri Cronen, Lea Erwood, Ann and Mitch Popcheff, Marchetta, Ron and Kyla Crouch, Anna Zupancic, Susan Alturn, Michelle Smith, Betty Fagenbush, Dennis Hall and Sonia Novak.   The state highway guys were there mowing the east side of the road, so except for where they got stuck in the side ditch, the road looks spotless.  A big THANKS to you all!!

Chris Eickleberry