The Knox County Chapter of the Ohio Horseman’s Council (OHC) recently donated needed items to the PELIA (Positive Equine Learning in Action) Youth Equine group, run by director Lisa Muncie who has summer camps, a 4-H group and an educational program for students who need extra support throughout the year near Danville.
The Knox County OHC has also donated to another youth group run by one of the chapter members, Rachel Carbetta, near Granville, who has faith-based summer equine camps.
The chapter usually has two fundraisers a year to raise money for youth programs and equine trail improvements. Every February they host a tack auction, and on Aug. 3, they will have an equine obstacle challenge at Thayer Ridge.
Knox County Ohio Horseman’s Council is an active group that you will find on trail rides throughout the state and beyond. The club, with the help of the Knox County Parks District, helped make 4.5 miles of trails at Thayer Ridge Park for equine traffic. This is the only multi-use trail for all that is not paved in Knox County.
The group has adopted the park, and club volunteers have a workday at least once a month. They remove downed trees, trim out the invasive vines that can cover the trails and do some mowing with a brush-type mower the club purchased. It is a good feeling to be able to help keep the trails clear. Volunteers are welcome to join us! The club would like to find sponsors to help us get a shelter at Thayer Ridge to hold summer meetings.
The Knox County Ohio Horseman’s Council is looking for like-minded equine enthusiasts who enjoy their horses, like to trail ride, work on trail improvements, support youth and to keep our state and county parks open to equine.
At the state level, the Ohio Horseman’s Council reports to ODNR how many hours of trail maintenance the members log and ride. Chapters raise money to support needed improvements at their local county and state parks.
Please consider joining your local Ohio Horseman’s Council. If you own a horse or mule, even if you don’t ride, help is always needed at the parks.
Check out our Knox County Ohio Horseman’s Council Facebook page for more information. Go to ohconline.com and search for the Knox County Chapter for a membership application.
