Thirty-one horses and their riders took the woods in Greenfield Saturday for the Piscataquog Area Trailways (PAT)  annual trail ride. 

The ride, which was an officially sanctioned ride of the New England Horse and Trail Association, enabled competitive trail-riders to log almost 15 miles on Greenfield’s network of trails adjacent to Crotched Mountain. Deanna Durst, one of the organizers and treasurer of the PAT, said riders came from all over southern New Hampshire to participate. 

“Competitive trail riders participate in events all over New England to log the most miles in a year. Some people log thousands of miles,” Durst said.

PAT, a nonprofit which was founded in 2009 by Kim DiPietro and Chris Lippincott, is dedicated to working with landowners  and organizations to ensure continued access to public and trails in the Piscataquog River watershed. The group maintains trail networks and advocates for access in Lyndeborough, Greenfield, Francestown, Weare and New Boston.

“We are mostly equestrian-focused, but our main mission is maintaining trails and ensuing access for everyone,” Durst said. 

PAT is always looking for new members who are interested in helping maintain local trail networks. The group’s next trail ride, scheduled for September, is for PAT members only. 

“Right now, we are looking to connect with youth groups as well – Scouts or 4-H, any groups interested in trails or in horses,” Durst said. 

In the past, PAT has partnered with the Piscataquog Land Conservancy, the Francestown Land Trust, the Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests and other organizations who maintain trails and trail access. Linda Kunhardt of Francestown, a founding member of the group, said PAT was created after pressure for development began to transform southern New Hampshire in the late 1980s and early 1990s. 

“Our founders knew that if we don’t work to conserve these trails and work on relationships with landowners, they will disappear,” Kunhardt said. 

PAT member Denise Poulin, who hosted Saturday’s trail ride along with her husband, Tim Schloemer, at their home in Greenfield, said equestrian and mountain bike groups have some different needs.

“You can tell when you’re on a trail maintained by mountain bikers, because the clearing is all down low,” Poulin said with a laugh. “And they like different kinds of trails – mountain bikers love switchbacks, and horses don’t. We have a lot of similarities, but some differences as well.” 

Saturday’s trail ride was a fundraiser for PAT, with funds going to trail maintenance, including replacing bridges. Kunhardt said horses need different types of bridges and bridge material from mountain bikes and hikers. 

“The mountain bikers sometimes use pallet bridges, but those aren’t safe for horses. There is a lot of new technology in trail maintenance. We’re looking into some new materials that are appropriate for horses on some of the trails we maintain,” Kunhardt said. 

For information about the Piscataquog  Area Trailways, visit piscataquogareatrailways.com.