Headquarters Lake State Forest

Our Mission

The Michigan Horse Trails Association works in cooperation with public land managers, equestrian organizations, and volunteers to promote, protect, and increase access to equestrian trails and camping opportunities in Michigan.

A unified voice for Michigan’s representative equestrian trail organizations and volunteers working together in our mission to improve, educate, protect, promote, advocate for, and increase access to the equestrian trails and camping in Michigan.

Introduction

The Michigan Horse Trails Association (MHTA) has been brought to you by the volunteers who created the Michigan Horse Trails Directory, an online platform highlighting the horse trails, camping, and volunteer opportunities in Michigan. MHTA members have made countless horseback riders’ dreams come true with the designation of a Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Shoreline Horseback Riding season along the sand-covered shores of Lake Michigan. Our members have been appointed to serve on the DNR’s Equine Trails Subcommittee and Michigan Trails Advisory Council. Through our continued efforts on behalf of horse trail riders and drivers of Michigan, MHTA members are working to organize the volunteer horse trail associations, giving recognition to these associations and a unified voice to help advance their missions and goals. MHTA is committed to supporting Michigan horse trail riding, driving, and camping opportunities and the volunteers and organizations who continue to advocate for these opportunities.

Trail riders at Maybury State Park
Maybury State Park
Michigan Shoreline Ride
Shoreline Ride > Photo courtesy of Pure Michigan
Waterloo creek crossing
Waterloo State Park
Fort Custer State Park in fall colors
Fort Custer State Park
Kensington Metro Park
Kensington Metro Park

Celebrate Our Accomplishments

  • Michigan Horse Trails Directory, trail event calendar, google maps
  • Michigan Horse Trails Directory Facebook Group
  • DNR trail riding/camping/group information updated Horseback riding
  • Additional equestrian trail/camping opportunities
  • Identified all trail organizations in MI and regularly share communications
  • Shoreline horseback riding season Michigan Shoreline Horse Friends
  • Trails Safe Passing Plan (TSPP) – Roaring Fork Valley Horse Council
  • Goose Creek steps
  • State PRD Horse Campground Land Use Order
  • Equestrian Capital Outlay ~$300K yearly
  • Joint Trail Association meetings
  • Trail Master Course – sustainable trail design
  • Equestrian inclusion in pending vulnerable roadway user legislation and education
  • Surveys
  • Equestrian Annual Improvements Report
  • ETS Goals Tracker
  • Equine Trails Subcommittee/Michigan
  • Trails Advisory Council members
  • Michigan Trails Policy Textbook Author
  • Pure Michigan 2024 Spring/Summer Tourism Publication
  • 2024 Certificate of Pure Achievement for Shoreline Horse Riding Season
  • Horse trail rides for DNR public land management teams 2023
  • Detroit Outdoor Adventure Center Open House
  • Large Animal Emergency Rescue Training and Subcommittee
  • Reporting of Economic Benefits Equine Industry
  • Report Equestrian Trail Volunteer Hours
  •  Incident Reporting Form
  • MHTA Website, Facebook group
  • Equestrian Friendly Lodging added to DNR equestrian tab
  • Upper Peninsula Trail Horse Association
  • Proud Lake Equestrian and Mountain Bike trail separation
  • Organizational Member Event Liability Insurance
  • Safe Passing Videos
  • Non-motorized Signage Subcommittee with DNR
  • Non-motorized Trail Maintenance and Funding Subcommittee to DNR
  • Equestrian Trail and Campground Design Guide
  • MDOT Northern Michigan Plan
  • Fort Custer Campground Electricity
  • Regularly working with other trail user groups on common goals
  • Rebuilt Michigan Horse Trails Directory Website

Join Us In Our Goals

  • Promote with Visitor Bureaus, Pure Michigan, Land Managers, and other organizations
  • Promotional media for riding, camping, volunteer opportunities in MI
  • Increase equestrian presence in media databases
  • State Forest Campground Policy
  • Advise land managers to ensure safe equestrian trail/camping access
  • Outline quality trail experience
  • Equine education for the public and public land manager
  • Create sustainable non-motorized trail maintenance/funding program
  • Sustainable trail design training/team building
  • Legislative/Educational Support
  • DNR/USFS Advisory Boards
  • Gap Analysis of Equestrian Trails in Michigan 
  • Comprehensive Annual Equestrian Improvements Report
  • Reach goals outlined in Goals Tracker/Improvements Tracker
  • Surveys
  • Statewide non-motorized/trail etiquette signage
  • Trail association joint meetings
  • Increase activism in equestrian community
  • Work locally statewide with volunteers/land managers to increase/enhance riding/camping access
  • Trail riding display at DNR Outdoor Adventure Center
  • Grant writing and funding support
  • Conflict resolution
  • Chainsaw certification/safety
  • Educate on use of GIS maps and Trail Apps to improve riding experience
  • Camping and Trail Riding Educational Clinics

Become a Member

Join Michigan Horse Trails Association as an individual, family, business, or volunteer organization to help support our future work and goals. Learn about volunteer opportunities and participate in important initiatives concerning Michigan’s equestrian trails and campgrounds. Get connected with like-minded riders advocating for the same purposes. MHTA also offers organizational members low-cost equine event liability insurance, contact us today!

JOIN US!