Ft. Custer Horse Friends
Association

• FCHFA riders, Jan Enyart and Judy Johnson, featured on the DNR Horseback Riding page.  Check it out!
• Muddy Trails
  We have pretty well drained trails at Fort Custer but here’s some good advice from the DNR:
  
  With warmer weather in the forecast, we wanted to remind everyone to help protect Michigan trails by not using them when muddy. Riding or walking on a muddy trail destroys the surface. It leaves ruts/deep holes, uneven tire and footprints, contributes to erosion and creates a hard-to-fix trail surface. Hint: If you are leaving visible bicycle ruts, deep footprints or hoof tracks the trail is too muddy.
  Spring is an especially sensitive time because frost layers often linger below the trail surface (even when air temperatures have warmed up). As a result, spring rains have trouble permeating the soil, creating muddy topsoil. Trail use and muddy conditions can erode trails very quickly.
  Although you should avoid muddy trails altogether, please keep these tips in mind if you encounter a muddy section:
  - Mountain biking - If you encounter a muddy section, dismount and tiptoe down the center, not to the sides because it widens the trail.
  - Hiking - If you must traverse a muddy section of trail, go right through the center of the trail, rather than traveling around the mud and widening the trail.
  - Horseback riding - Although most horses don't mind getting their feet wet, you and your horse are encouraged to travel through the center of the trail so inadvertent trail widening doesn't occur.

New Equestrian Campground Opened for Reservations
Construction of a new equestrian campground with 7 large campsites has been completed.  The new campground is now open for camping.  Reserve your site by using the DNR reservation system.

DNR web site reservation system 

After choosing Fort Custer as the park and the size of your camping vehicle it will take you to a map where you can choose the Equestrian site of your choice.  There is a description of each site.
 
These are primitive sites with no electricity or water hookups. There is a hand pump and pit toilet.  Manure should be deposited in the manure bunker near the outhouse not in the woods.  Site No. 7 is a drive through.  The others are a back in or out situation.  Picket poles are located in the back of the site.  A fire pit and picnic table are at each site.  Please clean up after ourselves and let’s make this a grand success.

Fort Custer Recreation Area is located in Southwest Michigan near the small town of Augusta between Kalamazoo and Battle Creek. While there are many opportunities for outdoor activities our group's focus is the equestrian trail system.  There are almost 20 miles of wooded, marked trails for equestrian use within the park, some with water crossings. Our "Maps" section has more info.  The equestrian trailhead allows easy parking, even for big rigs. You need not be member of our group to ride at the park.  But we would sure love to have you join! Hope to see you on the trails!!!

When parking at the trailhead, please clean up all manure around your trailer and put it in the manure pit at the edge of the parking area. Also, anyone who would like the compost is welcome to take it.

Fort Custer is getting so popular it is important that we use parking at our staging area to its best advantage.  Ideally we can get three rows of trailers. For that to happen the first row has to be as far forward as possible - see map. First comers please pull forward and leave just enough room for trailers to drive in front of you   (On the map, for example, the big rig is in a pretty good spot but could be forward a bit. The dark truck and trailer could come forward a lot.)  The second row should also allow enough space in front on them to allow for a trailer to pass - judge space by the longest trailer in the front row.  Same for Row number 3.  Admittedly this would be an ideal situation but that’s what we’re trying for.  Make sure you are not blocking anyone in and let’s do our best.  We want as many folks as possible to enjoy our beautiful trails.

Board member Wayland Funk has volunteered to coordinate an ongoing fund raiser through Tribute Horse Feed Partners Program.  If you use Tribute Feeds please save the proof of purchases on feed bags and click the link below to contact Wayland about getting the proofs to him:

 
Contact Wayland

Each one is worth $.25 for the club and could provide a small but steady source of funding for the club.  As we were unable to have our two campouts, which are our major  fundraisers,  any extra funding is especially important. 


(Proof of Purchase from any Tribute feed bag is eligible. These are examples.)