Ottawa Area Trail Riding Equestrian Community

Good evening, NCC has decreed the trails OPEN! :) Gates to the parking lot will be open from 8 am until 4 pm until Dec. 1st. Reminder to ensure OATREC waivers are signed (available via our website) and you possess a membership OR day pass for Ramsayville. An NCC waiver is available in the lounge at Second Chance Ranch across the street (once a year signature). Please ask for Kolynda for one. If she is not available a designated barn staff can get you one. Thank you for your p...atience and understanding while we sorted this out. It's been a very, very long road so I hope you make the most of it and to see you on the trails! Any donations you wish to make for the local Legion please deposit in the mailbox under the map display in the parking lot. Any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to ask us. Marisa

Good Friday evening all. Just an update, earliest convenience for NCC to inspect Ramsayville trails is Tuesday. However! While horses are not permitted before then, the trails can be explored on foot via Generation crt off of Ramsayville :) (gates to parking lot are closed). I have attached a few photos for your viewing pleasure. Day passes or 2020 memberships will be needed to access the trails with horses. We also have NCC waivers available for signing prior to entry (one t...ime signature per year). In honor of the upcoming Remembrance Day, we would also like to extend and invitation to our community to drop off a donation for the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 627 located at 8021 Mitch Owens Rd, either at their location directly, or in the drop box below our map display case in the parking lot. The Legion at this location has been kind enough to allow us use of their hall in the past, and we would like to return to sentiment. Thank you for your patience and consideration :) Sincerely, Marisa, president of OATREC.

Aiming to open next week, and open till Dec. 1. Short, but sweet. Trails offer a couple hours of fun though! Stay tuned!

Hello all you lovely horsey lovers! While Larose is closed for the season, stay tuned while Ramsayville prepares to open! It would open after the trails are cleared up and stay open until Dec 1st for winter. Updates will be posted as we progress. Thank you as always for your continued support!

Good morning from your friendly Larose Forest Representative! After a beautifully dry summer, the equestrian trails in the Larose Forest are now CLOSED for the season. Thank you to the United Counties of Prescott-Russell for another great riding season on such beautiful trails! This is a friendly reminder that there are no winter riding trails in the Larose Forest. OATREC sincerely thanks the riding community for respecting the Memorandum of Understanding that we have... with the UCPR and not riding on the trails during the winter. Respecting the rules ensures that OATREC members will continue to have access to such fantastic equestrian trails for the other three seasons. If you have any questions about the Larose trails please feel free to reach out to us (OATREC) on this Facebook page, or by email at [email protected]. From all of us on the OATREC board, have a happy and safe winter, and see you in May 2021! - Kelsa Staffa, OATREC Larose Forest Representative

Greetings Everyone! We will be holding an online zoom Annual General Meeting August 3rd at 7pm. The link will be provided to members via email closer to the date. Please purchase your 2020 Membership on our website if you wish to receive the Agenda and Proposed changes to the Constitution and Bylaws, as well as attend and vote at the meeting. OATREC will be in need of a new President as I have served my 2 year term and will not be standing for re-election. I will be happy to... mentor and provide a thorough handover to whoever takes the reins! There are also a few other positions which are or will be vacant. Hope to see you all there remotely!

Great news! Larose Forest trails to open this weekend! Please respect social distancing guidelines at all times - a minimum of 2 metres (6 feet) between individuals, and no groups larger than five. As happens in the springtime, trails are likely to be wet in places. Please ride accordingly and respectfully.... Happy trails! Kelsa Staffa OATREC Larose Forest Representative

Good morning all Here is the official information from the United Counties of Prescott-Russell regarding Larose Forest trails: "Given the current pandemic situation, all trails will remain closed until further notice."... Note that this includes both non-motorized trails and motorized trails (concessions and Sentier 25). Thank you for respecting the County's directive during these challenging times. - Kelsa Staffa, OATREC Larose Forest Representative

In the winter there are often riders on the roads, as many do not have access to winter trails. During this time, we are sharing the roads with motorized vehicles. There are laws to keep horses and riders safe, but many motorists are not aware of them. "According to the OPP , the Highway Traffic Act is clear in the responsibility it places on the drivers of motor vehicles as they approach horses or other animals drawing a vehicle, being led or ridden. The motorist is ...required to slow down and exercise every reasonable caution to avoid frightening the animal, and to ensure the safety and protection of the person in charge of the horse or other animal." (R.S.O. 1990, c. H.8, s. 167) https://www.simcoe.com//2018071-rules-for-sharing-the-roa/ Finally, here are some statistics from our friends across the pond. Please take a moment to slow down and pass wide. Help keep us safe and off of your windshield!

Larose Forest trails are now OFFICIALLY CLOSED for the winter until May 2020. That means it's time for your Winter OATREC Larose Forest update! OATREC attended the annual Larose Users Committee Meeting on December 17, 2019 with representatives from the United Counties of Prescott-Russell. As well as cementing existing links with other user groups in the Larose Forest, OATREC was part of discussions on several items pertaining to equestrian use in the forest, including:... - the future construction of a new welcome centre - parking and access road projects - trail risk management responsibilities for clubs - new user trails under development - planned logging operations - Larose Day 2020 - upcoming club events It was especially positive to hear that there has been a decrease in unauthorized equestrian use of trails off-limits to horses in the winter (mush trails, ski and skate-ski trails, snowshoe trails, and hiking trails) . This is directly attributed to increasing awareness within the equestrian community about where horses are and are not allowed to go within the Larose Forest. So, on behalf of OATREC, thank you to the equestrian community of the Ottawa area (YOU!! ) for honouring the User Group Agreement that OATREC has with the United Counties of Prescott-Russell. This includes: - purchasing an annual membership or day pass to use the 3-season Larose Trails (which provides insurance to use the trails) - respecting posted signage about equestrian use of trails - liaising with the OATREC Board of Directors regarding any concerns about the trails The OATREC riding season in Larose is OFFICIALLY CLOSED until May 2020. Riding anywhere during the winter is at your own risk and all riders MUST respect ALL posted trail signs. If you have specific questions about the Larose trails please feel free to reach out to your Larose Forest Representative (me!) at [email protected] and I will do my best to help. Safe riding and happy holidays! Kelsa Staffa OATREC Larose Forest Representative

Happy Winter from your friendly Larose Forest Representative! OATREC trails are now closed in the Larose Forest until Spring. Riding is at your own risk. When in doubt, remember that in Winter horses are NEVER allowed on trails marked for non-motorized use, including:... - snowshoe trails - ski or skate-ski trails - fatbike trails - mush trails Please be respectful of the forest's other users, and they will do the same. Please share this notice far and wide -- the equestrian community is at great risk of losing winter riding privileges if we go on trails where we are not allowed. If you have any questions please contact me (Kelsa Staffa) and I will be happy to help! Happy trails -- zoom zoom!!

Encouraging everyone to try a fun 12 mile Set Speed friendly competitive ride in Larose Forest this October! Enjoy our excellent trails, fall colors and crisp air. Please follow the links and register! It's so much fun. Hope to see you all there!

Sasha checking out the new OATREC trailhead map at Larose Forest's P3 (the Bourget end parking for trailers). Now we're just waiting for Kendyl Bassindale's sponsorship signs to come in! The same map can be found at P7, the Limoges end parking for horse trailers. The trails are dry and gorgeous from end to end. Zoom zoom!... - Kelsa Staffa OATREC Larose Forest Representative

Please note that Ramsayville is still closed for maintenance. We will post an update when it reopens.

We've updated our website! www.oatrec-crero.ca We'd like to ask our members to post their photos in the comments here so that we can add more photos to the website! Maybe enough for a slideshow? Please post your favorites from the OATREC trails!!

Ramsayville Trail Update. The Ramsayville trails will be completely closed from today until the beginning of August (A week) due to necessary maintenance to the Gully Crossing. We will be celebrating the upgraded crossing with an OATREC Shindig - Please stay tuned for dates and times. Thanks, Cathy... Ramsayville Trail Rep. See more

Larose Forest trails are gorgeous, gorgeous, gorgeous! If you are interested in taking advantage of the Larose trails next weekend, why not give distance riding a try? The Larose Forest will host an OCTRA-sanctioned ride on Sunday, July 14. Trails are marked with ribbons, and you and your equine partner can explore parts of both the Northern East-West Transect (new this year) and the Southern East-West Transect. For more information please contact Ride Manager and OATREC La...rose Forest Representative Kelsa Staffa. Zoom zoom!