The Green Mountain Horse Association, Inc. | Trail and Open Space Preservation

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Trail and Open Space Preservation

GMHA is responding with a renewed commitment for open space planning and trail preservation

Imagine how you might feel if you could no longer access your favorite trails....

Gone are the days when it was commonly accepted to ride horses on open farmland and forestland without first asking for permission. Large family farms graced the countryside, often remaining for several generations. Among neighbors it was understood that the fields and woods could and should be shared and enjoyed with respect and gratitude. Sadly, decades of increased property turnover and development have changed that less complicated culture.

Loss of Open Space

A different physical and legal landscape now resides in Vermont. Family farms are few or nonexistent, and landowners are more inclined to be wary of uninvited visitors and protective of their boundaries. They are concerned about loss of privacy, misuse of and damage to their property, noise pollution from motorized vehicles, and liability issues. These are all legitimate concerns.

Adding to the loss of open space, an uncertain and struggling economy over the past few years has greatly increased the number of properties being placed on the market. These are often subdivided to hasten sales. The result is a further fragmented landscape of broken views and diminished trails and wildlife corridors. One by one, these instances contribute to a cumulative impact on the rural landscape that has no reversal.

Culture is who we are

...how we live, what we think and what we care about; it is patterns of thought and behavior that are learned over time. Culture is expressed in myriad ways including the arts, literature, traditions, how people relate to the land, participate in civic life, and spend their leisure time. Vermont culture and civic life today face tensions between rural values and traditions and the complex demands of modern life. Vermonters value the small scale and rural nature of the state, but recognize that it poses significant challenges for residents. They look to a future where the state has grasped the best opportunities ahead without destroying what is most essential to and most valued about Vermont.” Vermont in Transition

Go to The Beauty of Trail Easements