Plan to add horse trails to Citrus tract in works

BROOKSVILLE — Thanks to the hard work and cooperation between a local group of horse folk and a state agency, riders and their four-legged friends soon may be able to explore deeper into the Withlacoochee State Forest.

More trails and loops are being added to the Citrus tract, following similar efforts in the Croom tract in east Hernando where horse paths now number 50 miles and include one improved trailhead and two primitive trailheads.

"This has been a huge project for everyone involved,'' said Truman Prevatt of the Florida Forever Back Country Horsemen.

"The experience gained by both the state Department of Forestry (and his group) in the Croom tract has made this (Citrus) project manageable."

New trails in Citrus will tie into the existing 24-mile perimeter trail, adding easily accessible loops to form a true system, Prevatt said.

The DOF's recreation administrator, Joe Tyberghein, said the layout is close to approval. Forestry provided the main scheme, then handed it to the horsemen for additions, revisions and comments.

The plan is now back with the DOF.

"We work together; we have a give and take," Tyberghein said. "It's a real positive group."

The horsemen's Citrus committee has an e-mail list of contributing partners, Prevatt noted. Three recent neighborhood meetings brought out 175 people, many living next to the 43,000-acre forest and wanting easier access with their mounts.

In addition to the trail expansion, under consideration are new trailheads for day-use riders, which will help alleviate overuse of trails south of the Tillis Hill equestrian campground off of Stage Coach Road.

FFBCH volunteers will clear the trails and prune away overhanging branches. Some of them will bring in their own equipment, Tyberghein said.

Still, forestry employees like to get out and help.

"When we have the manpower," he said, "we like to get out there and show them we can do it with them."

The horsemen will mark trails and produce color-coded maps to match the markers. Then, if the agency can secure a grant, DOF-approved signs will be added.

Sally McDavid, a leader on the Croom tract effort for FFBCH, has prepared two grant applications to the American Quarter Horse Association to fund map production — $500 — and buy signs — $2,500. So far, she's been churning out maps on her home computer.

While AQHA awards the grants, they are funded by Tractor Supply Co. Grant winners are expected to be notified this summer.

Groups such as the FFBCH are essential, Tyberghein said. Last year, volunteers donated 30,700 hours in the Withlacoochee tract. Based on federally set guidelines, the value of those hours amounted to about $500,000, he said.

"We're pretty proud of that, and we're always looking for more volunteers."

Beth Gray can be contacted at graybethn@earthlink.net.