Roaring Fork Valley Horse Council

WELCOME

Roaring Fork Valley Horse Council
P.O. Box 127, Snowmass, Colorado 81654
* 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization *

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Contact us: rfvhc.colorado@gmail.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/keephorsesontrails/

Instagram: www.instagram.com/rfvhc/

2021 Summer Trail Work With RFVHC Partners

Below are reports from our work on the Town of Snowmass Village/Sky Mountain Park Upper North Mesa Trail and Sutey Ranch trails. On behalf of the RFVHC Board of Directors, we'd like to thank each organization, each team leader and each member of the crews for making the Roundup Riders of the Rockies to RFVHC Trails Grant use possible for the Summer 2021.

Summer RFVHC/RMYC/BLM Barbed Wire Removal Project on Sutey Ranch (PDF)

Upper North Mesa Trail Improvement (PDF)

RFVHC Survey about RFV Trails for Equestrians and Hikers

YOUR OPINION MATTERS... Please click the link below to take our survey: With the release of the 2021 RFVHC sponsored Trails Survey Monkey Questionnaire for hikers and horseback riders, we want to thank the respondents - a cross representation of trail users that are helping the community land managers and saving them time by giving feedback about 12 RFV trail areas.
10 - 15 minutes of your time taking this survey will make a direct impression on the results.
Every single piece of advice in the written comments will be carefully considered to help make our trails, parking. safety and signage better.
Trails will become more fun. And a critical component is the communities interest is keeping wildlife safe and able to thrive. What are your ideas?
If a trail area doesn't interest you, skip it...go on to the next.

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/JL23DN3

Roaring Fork Valley Horse Council's Goal is the Preservation of a
Sustainable, Generational Legacy Equestrian Community.

We want to offer horse people SOLUTIONS to everyday equine needs. Become a RFVHC member and/or join our Business Directory and connect to hundreds of horsemen and women in the valley

THE MISSION of the RFVHC is to provide a unified voice for equine related interests by working to preserve access to trails, promoting charitable involvement in equine related experiences and activities, educating the public on equestrian issues, providing connections and resources for the equine community, and supporting the overall well‐being of horses and horsemanship.

Press Release - Sunday June 13, 2021 Thank you to Aspen Fire leadership and the entire RFV Horse Council that donated the funding and their time to making the Leslie Thomas Large Animal Training program a success. We are continuing to accept donations for this program. We are deeply grateful how this will assist in the large animal rescue of livestock, wildlife and horse rescue. Here is a report: Report by RFVHC Trails Chair Susan Cuseo. Training Session held by Aspen Fire June 12, 2021 This final day of the training program took place at Cozy Point Ranch, Aspen Co. This day was the hands-on portion of the 3 day training where 6 valley agencies came together to reveal the new equipment in action and learn its use in the field. The training was led by Gina Gonzales of the Loveland Fire Rescue Authority who conducts these trainings nationwide. The first two days covered equipment use and all necessary factors to prepare for this practical field emergency. The scenario was staged in advance by leaders of Aspen Fire and the participating responders were called by radio from nearby to the unknown actual scene as they would in reality. The professionals quickly assessed the situation and acted, not as quickly as they would in future emergency events as they discussed their roles and moves but practicing all they had been taught. The actual equipment consists of a large green animal slide board and 4 wide yellow webbing straps. In the photos, you can see the straps secured beneath the model horse in order to extricate it from the brush and debris where it fell. Leader Gina mentioned how some earlier rescue methods had injured an equine patient badly (example - pulling on neck or tail) resulting in further injuries and necessitating euthanasia. The technicians commented that using this new equipment would be a huge improvement. The responders had also been trained in basic veterinary skills, assessing vital signs first in determining how to proceed. Safety around the horse was stressed by those participants familiar with horses, where to approach, how to calm, what to expect when the horse was pulled free. Although the technicians pulled the horse out manually in the first scenario, it was explained that some vehicle would be used for a real horse. In the second scenario, a horse and rider had fallen beside a bridge and the rider landed further downstream. “Life safety” was explained as human safety being the initial priority so the team split, part responding to the injured rider. Once the rider was located and paramedic help progressing, attention turned to the horse. Water was an added danger in this second scenario and the team quickly got the horse strapped in position on the creek bank to be extracted by a forklift borrowed from Cozy Point Ranch ( thank you to Cozy Point for your help ). The participants I observed were eager and professionally curious. They worked so smoothly as a team, very impressive. As our Horse Council representative as well as Leslie’s friend, I was greeted with appreciation and enthusiasm. Having these trained first responders available to rescue a horse and rider is hopefully comforting to our RFVHC membership and our community at large. This is a great step forward in rescue techniques available to all of us! Compliments to all agencies involved and thank you from RFVHC!

As a member, you will receive Newsletters filled with photographs, thank you's to our members,
supporters and community partners
Click here Spring 2020 RFVHC Newsletter
Click here August 29, 2020 RFVHC Newsletter

OUR YEAR END NEWSLETTERS - Catch up with our progress

2020 RFVHC Year End News Letter Please click here to view (PDF)

2019 RFVHC Year End News Letter Please click here to view (PDF)

2018 RFVHC Year End News Letter Please click here to view (PDF)

2017 RFVHC Year End News Letter Please Click here to view (PDF)

This photo, below, was taken from near the top of Buckskin Pass. The highest of twin peaks is Hagerman Peak. The mountain to the left is Snowmass Peak. Snowmass lake is nestled below Snowmass Peak. Below the red colored ridge is Willow Lake. Buckskin Pass winds up to the summit, which drops down into the Maroon Creek Basin. We camped in Lost Remuda Basin, a beautiful little area past Snowmass lake. Moon Run Outfitters operated in the Snowmass Maroon Wilderness for over 18 years. Photo by Holly McLain
Our High Country Wilderness awaits you!

Aspen Daily News April 17th and 20th 2020 - Let us not forget our partners, our equine business members and YOU !

We work to protect and restore hikers and horseback riders only trails that offer a safe, predictable and peaceful trail experience through a variety of changing landscapes, including wildflowers, cactus, sage brush, junipers, pinon pines through spruce tree woodlands with breathtaking views. In many places, this two-track trail allows riders to walk side by side for conversation and camaraderie.

Roaring Fork Valley Horse Council
P.O. Box 127, Snowmass, Colorado 81654
* 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization *
rfvhc.colorado@gmail.com Facebook: www.facebook.com/keephorsesontrails/
Instagram : www.instagram.com/rfvhc/