Midwest Equine Trail Foundation, Inc.

07/02/2026

Just wanted to get the word out that the METF awarded a grant to the ITRA to supply necessary funds to supply materials in order to make major repairs to trails B, D & A at Versailles State Park. The METF was awarded grants from the Rising Sun Foundation for $2,500 for D trail, Ripley County Community Foundation for A trail for $1,000 and Greenways Foundation for $2,500 for B Trail. METF and ITRA were able to match these funds through the generosity of its donors. We plan on working on these trails in August. The ITRA will be having their workdays from 8/18 to 8/23/26. Help will be needed prior to that in order to get materials hauled out to the site. If you can help out, please message me. We plan on starting to haul materials the 2nd week of July. If you’d like to donate funds, see the QR code seen below. Also, if your on the trails at VSP and see the red/white striped ribbons, those are area we plan on working on. Hopefully the weather cooperates and it dries up a little so we can get this done!

03/27/2026

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1Dmu6S2uoD/?mibextid=wwXIfr

03/27/2026

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1Dmu6S2uoD/?mibextid=wwXIfr

The Shawnee Trail Conservancy recently received some good news! The National Forest Foundation (NFF) has given the approval to move forward with the "Matching" grant funds of $20,000.
STC wants to give a big THANK YOU to all of you who helped support this fund raising effort to make this happen! STC appreciates all individuals who donated as well as contributions from groups such as: The Midwest Equine Trail Foundation, High K**b Campground and Friends of the Shawnee National Forest.
The NFF focuses on community engagement and stewardship activities that connect people to forests.The NFF seeks to build collaborative capacity for Forest Stewardship, conservation and recreational enhancement.
This project will take place in phases and phase 1 is underway.

02/05/2026

We would like to thank the Indiana Foxtrotter's for their donation to our organization, This will be put to good use to help us improve public horse trails and camps in the Hoosier State. Thank you for your support --- it means a lot!

01/09/2026

Interesting

Wild rabbits survive winter on dry grasses and bark. Fresh vegetables cause GI stasis — a painful, often fatal digestive shutdown.

- Rabbit digestive systems are calibrated for low-moisture, high-fiber forage
- In winter, their gut bacteria specialize in breaking down woody browse
- Sudden wet vegetables ferment too fast, producing gas they can't expel
- GI stasis stops their entire system — they stop eating and die within days
- Wild rabbits don't recognize grocery produce as dangerous
- Leaving brush piles and unmowed edges helps them more than any food

You thought you were sharing your salad. You gave them a stomachache they can't survive.

01/09/2026

Well we have camp setup and have been enjoying camp fires with friends most evenings. Eating good and getting me some walking in. After hip replacement 8 weeks ago it is taking awhile to get back in shape. Hopefully be riding soon.
We do enjoy coming to Black Horse Resort Ranch in Umatilla Florida for the worse winter months.

12/16/2025

12/14/2025

The ITRA successfully applied for a grant from METF for materials and contractor services to regrade a hill and perform drainage work on B trail in Versailles State Park. Finish rock will need to be applied on the flat areas in 2026. This was a great improvement.