Caledonia Group Boasts Partnership Between Tails and Trails

The Caledonia Conservancy and Racine County Pony Club hope to expand a partnership that helps maintain horse riding trails and hones young riders skills.

"We want to work closer with Pony Club to coordinate our efforts," said Sandy DeWalt, past president and district commissioner of the conservancy.

With 25 conservancy volunteers to manage 36 miles of trails, mostly north of 5 Mile Road and west of Highway 31 to the Root River, the land conservation group needs all of the help it can get. The Pony Club, which trains local riders from 7 to 19 years old, is a natural partnership. 

Under an agreement between the horse club and the conservancy, Pony Club members do two trail cleanings a year. Riders spend about four hours a year cleaning trails used for hiking and horseback riding.

"This coming year, the conservancy asked if we could get involved a little more," said Beth Gronland, the Pony Club's district commissioner.

The partnership is a logical union for the two volunteer organizations, considering some of the conservancy trails start about 100 yards from the club's barn, the only owned and operated pony club equestrian center in the country.

Sometimes, it's hard work.

Gronland's daughter Katie, 15, said the last time she cleaned a trail, laying fresh wood chips to define the path, it took nearly all day.

It was worth it, she said. 

"The conservancy does a lot and they repair everything and go out in the freezing cold," said Katie, who has been riding since was 8.  "I don't really use the trails yet, but I will. So, I'll be happy to have a clean path."

Involving riders with trail clean-up not only teaches them to appreciate the effort that goes into maintaining trials, but it's also a way to give back to the community, Beth Gronland said. Along with maintaing trails, the Pony Club offers riding lessons to non-club members who do not own horses.

"That's what the barn was built for," Beth said. "It was for educating the community."

The philosophy dovetails with the mindset of the conservancy, which aims to protect land and trails for the public use.

"We encourage people to come out and use them," DeWalt said.