Glacial Drumlin Horse Trail Association

Thank you for inviting me to share my experience with how horse trails have impacted businesses in areas around the state.

The Caledonia Conservancy is a land trust in Racine Co. that formed to protect & expand a unique system of recreation trails. Since this organization formed in 1994 large stables & training barns have come into the area. Drawn by the number of horses and riders centered on the trail system. These are equine centered business that impact both agricultural & non-agricultural segments of the local economy. Land values have been greatly impacted when these businesses entered the market.

The Town of Eagle has embraced the horseback rider in the SKMSF. There is a dead end spur that runs to the edge of the forest where it meets Hwy 59. Several business owners in town built pens in which horses can be safely placed allowing the trail rider to ride to town for dinner. This is such a drawn that riders embrace riding the necessary distance on Hwy 59 to get to town.

Palmyra tried this idea too. The Town is just outside of the largest equine campground in the state. Again there is a dead end spur into town from the SKMSF. A nice hitching post under shade trees was constructed. Unfortunately it is little used. It was build out of sight and a block off of the main area of town. It isn't possible for riders to monitor their stock from the local businesses. In Eagle the pens are in the center of town clearly visible from local businesses.

Property values in Waukesha Co. surrounding the SKMSF have skyrocket over the last decade. The biggest change in owner type? The horse hobby farm. Again drawn by access to the SKMSF horse trail system. Values range from $3000/acre for non-buildable land to $6000-$14000 for buildable land.

Rockton Bar in Vernon Co. is adjacent to the Kickapoo Valley Reserve. This bar is a destination ride from several privately run campgrounds that service the Kickapoo & Wildcat Mountain SP. Their weekly by reservation only chicken dinner cookouts are legendary. Riding to this bar for lunch and smelling the chicken grilling for the last mile or so of the ride in not to be missed when horse back riding in Wisconsin. The restaurant & land managers of the Kickapoo worked together to provide a safe place to hold a large amount of horses that are ridden to this restaurant on weekends.

Can any of this happen around the GNT? Those in the local rural community that ride will be able to use this trail as a transportation corridor as our grand parents & great grand parents did. The rest of us want to come to your community to sample what you have to offer.

Thank you