SUTTON, Vt. (WCAX) – More opportunities for horseback riding may be coming to the Willoughby State Forest in the Northeast Kingdom.
“We all hear about our hiking trails, biking trails, but do we really hear about our equestrian trails,” said Lisa Lafont, a riding enthusiast from Irasburg.
She said since she has taken up riding, she has noticed there aren’t enough equestrian trails near her and is one of many who are rooting for more trail access at Willoughby.
“You can only ride around your house so many times and then you want to go do something else. And even riding in your own neighborhood, you can get neighbored dogs that are not friendly, as well as the typical four-wheeler, dirt bike that comes through,” Lafont
The idea to expand access to the state forest has been in the works for nearly 20 years. Since then, trail riding has only increased in the area, with more groups of people, according to the Vermont Horse Council, of which Lafont is a member.
The council, along with The Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation, are looking to add about 10 more miles to the existing six-mile route.
FPR’s Luke O’Brian says the state wants to make sure all forms are recreation are accommodated for. “We want to be responsive to the public, and again consider multiple uses on our state lands. We felt like this was compatible with other uses of the forest that is now at a scale that is consistent with other uses. We are always conscious about potential conflicts — resource conflicts, user conflicts,” he said.
The Vermont Horse Council hopes to make Vermont an equestrian recreation destination. “There is about 8,500-plus horses from our Equine Impact Study. Of the respondents that we get, that trail access is really important, not only to in-state Vermont people, but we get the most inquiries on our website from out-of-state people that want to come to Vermont,” said the council’s Jeannette Cole.
The state is taking public comments on the plan through the end of May. There’s no time frame on when a decision will be final.