Who Are We?
Oregon Equestrian Trails is made up of many individuals from all over the state who share a common love of horses and trail riding, and who want to see Oregon remain a place where trail riders are welcome.
As land-use pressures increase, equestrians may find they are no longer welcome to share trails, campgrounds, or other areas with non-equestrian users. OET's officers work to engage interested parties in meaningful dialogue, making sure that the concerns of equestrians are voiced to lawmakers, land use planners, and the media. To further create a receptive community atmosphere, OET's members work to ensure that equestrians are viewed as helpful and considerate trail users.
OET:
- Builds horse camps and trails in Oregon.
- Maintains communication with local, state and federal land management agencies, to ensure equestrian access.
- Promotes education of equestrians and other user groups in the use of Leave No Trace ethics, outdoor ethics, and campground and trail etiquette.
- Links equestrians together by relating news that impacts all Oregon equestrian trail users.
What We Do
Building A Better Future
The dedicated volunteers of Oregon Equestrian Trails work hard to design, build, and maintain horse camps and trails throughout the state.
Our members spend long hours each year to help ensure that the riding public will have nice facilities when they pull into camp: corrals are in good shape, fences are mended, trails are cleared and marked, signs are up, and there's water for the horses.
In the backcountry, a top priority is reducing and repairing the damage done by other, less-informed riders. OET members pick up trash, perform rehab work on fragile, alpine areas and overused campsites, and share low-impact camping techniques (LNT) with other riders.
We're Keeping Watch
Outside physical activity isn't the only kind of work that OET volunteers perform. They work tirelessly with land managers and agencies to make sure that horse people have continuing access to public lands.
In these days of ever-tightening government regulations, the rights of all equestrians are being threatened. Many areas are being closed to riders for one reason or another, often with little or no notice. It takes diligence and perseverance to ensure that we keep the access to public lands that we have traditionally enjoyed.
Work Hard, Play Hard
It's not all work with Oregon Equestrian Trails. You can be assured that people who work this hard, play hard too!
Whether it's enjoying a local chapter fun ride, kickin' up some heels at the Annual State Ride, Annual Roundup meeting dinner and dance, or digging into those scrumptious potlucks that accompany most every function, OET members have a great time.
They enjoy poker rides, charity rides, parades, summer camp outs, clinics, and many more family oriented activities. Strong friendships are forged while staring into the coals of the evening campfire, enjoying that last cup of coffee and spinnin' yarns about the day's ride.
A Grassroots Organization
Oregon Equestrian Trails is a grassroots, non-profit organization formed back in 1970, and now has chapters all across Oregon. It was built from the ground up, with members setting the priorities and policies for the board of directors to carry out. Each and every member has a voice in guiding what OET does.
Members receive a monthly newspaper, The Riders' Roundup, full of useful and entertaining information, including a yearly activity calendar that lists fun rides, work parties, clinics, and statewide meetings.
Why Tell You All This?
Because we want you to join in on the fun! Not only will you receive the satisfaction of knowing that you're making a real difference in the world, but you'll enjoy doing it, too.
Help to ensure that future generations will be able to enjoy the natural beauty of our state from horseback. It costs so little to join. Think of what it may cost you if you don't. Your own heritage is at stake!
If you own a horse, ride on public lands and enjoy hands-on participation, you should join Oregon Equestrian Trails. It will be the hardest work you'll ever love!
Look To The Future & Join Us Today!
The people and organizations that make up OET work to establish and maintain equestrian trails and camps throughout the state of Oregon. OET cooperates to make sure all state and federal fish, game and forest laws are enforced fairly, and to help improve the regulations that govern activities in the back country and wilderness areas, especially pertaining to horse use.
OET links horse people together by relaying news about the activities, objectives and problems of its members, and helps solve those problems whenever it can.
Above all, OET encourages and works for the preservation of the forests, the wildlife and natural resources of the Pacific Northwest.
Go to the Membership
New Members receive the outstanding OET Trail Guide, a comprehensive collection of information about OET, trail riding etiquette and ethics, horse camps and trails in Oregon, as well as classified advertising opportunities, and access to OET's Trail Mail email service.
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