Journey back to the early 1830s as we uncover the fictional haunting legends of the Genesee Valley. Follow Greyson, a diligent land surveyor, and his steadfast Morgan horse, Orion, as they chart the path for the future Genesee Valley Canal. But as the autumn fog rolls in, they stumble upon a mystery that has been long buried in the valley’s depths. Dive into this chilling Rochester Trail Tale and discover the spectral guardian that still haunts the region to this day. A perfect tale for those chilly October nights. Listen… if you dare.
Carlton Hill Multiple Use Area
Links
Google Maps Coordinates to Parking – Note, come up from the south to avoid the bumpy Bank St Rd
Stats
Ride or Drive – Ride Only
Trail Level – Advanced- steep hills, narrow paths, many creek bed crossings
Parking – Moderate – Will need to back into a space to allow room for others
Distance – 9 miles of trails – Get Printable Map Here
Footing – Fields, packed dirt, some gravel, roots, rocks, water crossings
Challenges – Challenging and fun trails, think safety first, ride with a friend if possible and stay on the trails! Recommend to condition you and your horse before going here. Continue reading “Carlton Hill Multiple Use Area”
Erie Attica Trail
Links
Stats
Ride or Drive – Both! Drivers, there are no gates and access to GV Greenway (Right turn) for 7+ miles and junction to Lehigh Valley Trail
Trail Level – Easy
Parking – Massive
Distance – 2 miles Round trip
Elevation Climb – Minimal to flat
Footing – Packed Stone Dust – some larger aggregate in areas
Challenges – Starts with large bridge over the Genesee River (Mounting blocks on other side) Continue reading “Erie Attica Trail”
Oatka Creek Park
Links
Google Maps Coordinates to Parking
Stats
Ride or Drive – Both! Yellow/Orange Trails ride only. Go LEFT on Red Trail if Driving
Trail Level – Moderate – trail range from flat to hilly
Parking – Moderate – Park top of hill on the left before yellow gates
Distance – Over 5 miles of trail – over 3 miles accessible by carriage
Footing – Packed dirt, grass, herd path, minimal mud
Challenges – Overgrowth, Ash tree blow down, Yellow trail often needs maintenance and is a narrow herd path with a steep hill. If Driving go LEFT on Red Trail or you will end up like me.
Transcript
Rochester Trail Challenge 2 – Oatka Creek Park
Introduction
I cautiously opened my eyes to look at my alarm clock 4:20am. UGH I just want to sleep in! The dogs somehow know I am conscious even though I haven’t moved a muscle, they start to stir. Looks like I’m up. Great.
Dogs pottied and fed, I checked to see what the weather was going to be like today. Seriously? Rain, again? But not until late morning. I’m awake, there is a challenge to be done, might as well pick a park and ride!
Setting
My choice today was one I hadn’t been to in years, Oatka Creek Park. Oatka Creek is one of Monroe County’s public parks, it’s 461 acres and is located at 9797 Union St, Scottsville NY, and has a little over 5 miles of trails with minimal doubling up on a section. Directions are probably the easiest you could get. Take 390 south from Rochester (north for me) and get off at the Rush exit. Go West on Rt 251 and just keep going! Pay attention to all stop signs and just keep driving forward through every single one, even when 251 leaves you to the right. Just go Straight. (Never go straight! always go forward (wise words from a gay friend). Where was I. Oh yes. Just keep going forward, the road eventually turns into the park!
Trailer parking is at the top just as you enter on your left, before the yellow gates. It’s of decent size and several smaller trailers can easily spin around and park without trouble. There isn’t too much opportunity to get the trailer to a grassy spot as the lot quickly dips off down to soccer fields. Definitely need to pickup after your pony with a heavily used shared space. The other bonus this parking lot offers, a port-a-pot, something that will come in handy after today’s drive.
The Journey
Who to take? I wandered out into the pasture and my mini Tuna randomly came up to me. Conveniently her cart and harness were already in the trailer, perfect! I’ve always wanted to drive Oatka Creek, Tuna and her cart are small and light enough should I get myself lost or in a pickle it’s easily remedied.
I loaded Tuna up into the trailer, trailering a mini always seems wasteful to me. It’s such a little thing in such a big box. Oh well, unless I build something for the bed of my truck, trailer it is.
I put the truck in drive and crept down my long driveway. 5:18am. By the time I get to the park and am ready to go it’ll be sunrise. What a great way to start the day!
We had the lot to ourselves and I unloaded Tuna and started tacking up, being early has it’s perks! As soon as I thought it, another car pulled in with a dog. The gate to the lower lot wasn’t open yet so he parked and headed on down the road to the trails. We weren’t too far behind but he was out of site by the time we got to the trail head.
It’s been a while since I’ve been here, so I made sure I downloaded the map before I left. As memory served, I knew I had to avoid the Orange and Yellow trails that lead down to the creek. They were too narrow of a foot path for a carriage to fit. But if you’re riding, they are moderately challenging and offer the chance to dip horse hooves into the creek.
There’s a yellow gate to mark the trail head but to the left you’ll find a walk around wide enough for a carriage. Today my goal was to get to a trail I had not been on before. Could be a good idea or not, we’ll find out! As I made my way onto the main trail I looked for my marker, White trail to Red and we’ll make it up from there depending on how things go.
The trails are nicely marked at each intersection with a colored square and an arrow. If you have a map, it makes it very easy to understand where you are and where you want to be.
I think the last time I was at this park was pre-covid, so I was running a lot on memory and praying that trail maintenance had been kept up on since. The trails were freshly mowed, by the look of how many clippings my wheels collected, I’d say they were mowed just the day before. However, it wasn’t long before I realized mowing and down tree removal were the only trail maintenance that was being done. I was. Having to duck and weave overgrowth, stretching hopeful arms into the center of the trail. If I Had to duck driving a miniature horse, I can’t imagine the difficulty riding one would be. Sounds like a good opportunity for a volunteer trail clearing event, and I made a mental note to talk to the parks department about one.
At just 4 years old Tuna was being perfect. She looked around and but marched forward and navigated over roots, rocks and around branches and then we hit the Red Trail. This trail had a figure 8 look on the map and we entered it at the bottom of the 8. The plan was to go right, then figure 8 myself around and back to the white trail covering the entirety of the Red.
Solid plan, until I rounded the corner and there it was. A bridge. A narrow bridge, with railings. Hmmmm. It seemed like a clearing to the left of it. Mud pit, and not the kind you want to be in, the kid that looked like the movie Neverending Story. I will NOT be losing my pony in the mud today. Man, I want to do all of this. The other side of the bridge looked newly mowed, where a mower can get through so too can a carriage was my thought.
Tuna just stood there while I played out a few scenarios in my head. 1 insane one came to the front. The hyperbike she’s pulling only weighs 30 lbs. What if I line drive her over the bridge, and pick the cart up over the railings. Seems like a good idea. I mean, I’m driving a 4 yr old baby green pony, who I’ve never asked to walk over a bridge before, and I’m by myself. What could go wrong? I figured I’d ask 3x, if Tuna said no way, we’d just turn around and go the other direction.
I lined her up straight with the bridge, asked her to walk up to it and step her front 2 feet up on. Without hesitation she complied. Seriously? I then asked her to stand, as I hoisted the cart up to my shoulders. “Tuna, walk on” and her back feet jumped up to match her fronts on the bridge. We casually made our way across, like this was a common occurrence. She gingerly jumped down on the other side, and I asked for a woah as I set the cart down. In total disbelief I did what any sane person would do and dug out my phone for a photo. Good girl Tuna! Best pony award!
I got back into the whips seat and we set off once again. Making our way around the figure 8, I found the correct path back to the white trail, one with an abandoned bridge and wide MOWED path to its side. Mental note, go LEFT not RIGHT on the Red trail next time.
We continued along the white trail which is a mix of trees and meadows, I opted to take a left onto the Blue trail when I came upon the junction. Shortly down this trail, I got more excited than any normal person would have. BIG HUGE Black Raspberries! Not the small black caps either, these were the size to compete with any top grade Wegmans berry. Tuna enjoyed the break and I enjoyed my fresh breakfast. Mmmm.
Towards the end of the blue trail I could see Tuna was losing interest. We over 3km in and the constant change in elevation up and down hills was starting to test her stamina. The Green Trail was a straight shot home and Black trail would bring us back but a little longer route. I pondered the choices as we neared the intersection.
It was then, a very confused deer saw us. We had passed quite a few so far but this one was perplexed. It didn’t know what to make of a tiny horse, carriage and human. Tuna stopped and the stand off began. Who would make the first move? I’ve been charged by a deer before when they are in this state. Tuna sensed that standing still was the best course of action as well. After what felt like lightyears the doe finally broke eye contact and decided to bounce her fluffy white tail off the trail.
We continued on our path, but I caught eye of the doe as we passed. Nope, something is telling me this one is trouble. When we got to the intersection the doe turned to face us. Uh oh. Ummmm. Tuna time to pick up the pace, she chose to go straight (black trail) and I was more focused on the deer behind us who let out a loud blow and kept coming. Tuna, blissfully unaware of the goings on just happily plodded on. I finally had to yell out to the doe and demanded that she stop following us. Tuna took this break in silence as a queue to trot on and I wasn’t about to reprimand that choice. Bambi’s mom finally decided we weren’t a threat and broke off, Phew.
I brought Tuna back down to a walk and we continued on the black trail though the cool woods. With how much rain we’ve had this year I was pleasantly surprised on how great the footing was. I only encountered 2 mud spots the entire trip and both were easily avoided with either a bridge or dry path around it.
Upon return to the trail head I opted to get out and line drive Tuna back up the hill to the trailer. Seemed only fair to her as a cool down for how awesome of a pony she had been.
Our round trip was exactly 5.0km (3.1miles) I could have easily done 5 miles with the trails available, but best to end early and gas in the tank so to speak, especially with a young horse. Lots of elevation change in the trails with a total climb being 288meters (974ft). I was on a leisurely stroll at an average pace of 4.4kmph for the whole trip
Conclusion
Oatka Creek, #2 on my Rochester Trails Challenge. I forgot how much I liked this park. Nicely groomed, variety of trails from meadows to woods, and flat to rolling hills. Riders, the Orange and Yellow trails are more challenging, especially the yellow which is more of a foot path with a very large hill climb. Last time I rode it, a tree had fallen mid-way up the steep hill. It felt like a fox hunt, cantering up the hill with a log jump halfway up. Just be prepared for anything if you choose to ride it.
Rochester Trail Riders Podcast Pilot
Join me as I embark on the Rochester Trail Challenge, discovering the most scenic and horse-friendly trails in Rochester, NY. From the picturesque landscapes of Monroe County Parks to the serene paths of State Parks and Forests, each episode delves deep into a new trail. With detailed setting descriptions, journey anecdotes, and expert tips, every episode immerses listeners in a unique equestrian adventure. Whether you’re an avid rider or just someone who loves the outdoors, you’ll get a firsthand experience of what it’s like to journey through Rochester’s hidden gems on horseback.
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Fall Barn Preparations
The weatherman scared me to death last night with threats of frost and in some cases further south a freeze warning. Reality has to set in, the warm weather of summer and fall is quickly leaving us and cool air, dark mornings and the shedding of summer coats and thickening of winter woolies on our horses backs are in full swing. Here are some tips to get you ready for winter.
- Blanketing – We all rush to put on blankets so quickly when the temperature dips but by leaving the blankets off for as long as possible helps your horse grow a thicker warmer winter coat. Try not to blanket unless there is a cold rain for an extended period of time.
- Check weight – Winter is hard on our horses so make sure your horse is in good health and weight. I like to have mine body score at a 6 with a little extra fat to help them transition into the colder weather.
- Hay – this year as many of you know was a bad year for hay. Because of the poor quality this year I recommend having your hay tested so you know if you need to supplement with feed or minerals. A balanced diet = a hearty winter horse. I also recommend transitioning into feeding your horse hay. Don’t abruptly take them off pasture and lock them in a mud paddock, instead toss a few flakes of hay out for a week or 2 before you move them over to hay entirely.
- Fecal Test! We haven’t had our first hard frost yet but once we do it’s time to test those road apples. Fecal tests are inexpensive, just pop a poo ball into a zip loc bag, label it with your horse’s name and drop it off at the vet. By waiting to test until after a hard freeze you’ll be fairly certain your horse is parasite free for the rest of the winter. Check with your vet for other worming recommendations though.
- Water – If you have summer auto waterers time to put them to bed and drag out the old troughs before a freeze cracks the fittings in them. Drain your long hoses and coil them up for the winter. Bailing twine wrapped around a coiled hose makes things neat and tidy and easy to hang up and out of the way. A short hose 6-8 feet will allow you to still easily fill buckets yet is short enough that you can drain all the water out after each use so it won’t freeze come winter. Remember, horses need a lot of water in the winter months to help digest hay so check your water heaters to make sure they work and make sure your horse has a continuous supply of warm water.
- Fence Walk – many of us have electric tape, rope, or other tension fencing. Now is the time to walk your fence, mend any shorts and tighten up the tension. Freezing rain, heavy snows and strong winds seem to do the most damage to fencing. Make sure it’s in good standing before the storms hit.
- Pasture maintenance – fall is the time to pickup or spread poo piles in the pasture. You will also want to mow down any tall areas to 6” in height. Tall grass that falls over onto itself under snow can get moldy and cause health issues in the spring. If you have bare areas it is a good time to over seed them so young grass can start to grow before the first snows.
- Mud – There’s no way around it, things can get muddy! Many folks lock their horses into mud paddocks where horses wallow in the muck for much of the winter season so pastures aren’t ruined. Make sure your horse has the ability to get to dry ground. Soggy feet cause all sorts of issues with thrush and scratches. Also make sure your horse gets a chance to stretch their legs for a good run and aren’t stuck standing and walking for months on end. Feel free to stop by my farm and see our track system which allows horses the ability to run and move all winter long without being stall or paddock bound.
- Ice Prevention – Drips off the barn, a leaky hydrant or an area that tends to pool water after a heavy rain are all potential ice hazards. A little time and a shovel can fix most drainage issues. Clean out old hay/straw from wet areas too. Hay and straw makes a good insulator and can actually keep an area wet and frozen longer and clog up areas that you may need to shovel free of snow later.
- Get out and Ride – Fall is the best time of year to ride, temps are cool, no bugs, good footing and your horse and you are in shape from summer work. Just be aware of the starting of hunting seasons and be sure to dress in bright colors and have a jingle bell on your horse to warn hunters and game of your whereabouts.
Ten Ways To Get In Shape To Own A Horse
- Drop a heavy steel object on your foot. Do not pick it up right away. Instead shout “Get off, stupid. Get off!”
- Leap out of a moving vehicle and practice “relaxing into the fall.” Roll lithely into a ball, and spring to your feet!
- Learn to grab your checkbook out of your purse and write out $100 without looking down.
- Jog long distances carrying a halter and lead in one hand and an arm stretched out with a carrot in the other. Encourage your non horsey neighbors to join in.
- Affix a pair of reins to a moving freight train and practice pulling it to a halt. Be sure to smile as if you’re really having fun.
- Hone your fibbing skills. “See hon, moving hay bales is fun” and “I’m really glad your performance and multi-million dollar horse won you 1st place – I’m just thankful that my hard work and actual ability placed me 2nd.”
- Practice dialing your chiropractor’s number with both arms paralyzed to the shoulder and one foot anchored on the lead rope to a frisky horse.
- Borrow the old Army slogan “Be all you can be……(bitten, thrown, kicked, slammed, trampled….)
- Lie face down in the mud in your most expensive riding clothes and repeat….”This is a learning experience, this is a learning experience,…”
- Marry into Money!
Training Tip: Back it Up
Chores taking up too much time and you don’t think you have time to train your horse?
Start simple. Instead of walking your horse into his stall, turn him around and back him in/out of it.
Instead of walking him down the lane to his paddock, back him up all the way.
A horse that has a good back up is a horse who is respectful and not pushy!
Do you know when your horse is in distress?
Today turned out to be rather eventful one on the farm.
6am: With the weather being cold and crappy I ended up turning out Fay and Goliath in their rain sheets last night. This morning when I went out to give them breakfast I noticed Goliath had made a mess of his sheet. It was practically under his belly and one of the leg straps was wrapped around his hind fetlock. He didn’t appear to be in any distress and stood quietly as I took the blanket off him. I call him a goofball and fed him his breakfast.
7am: On my way down the driveway as I headed off to work the big guy decided to take a nap next to Cotton and the foal. I remember thinking how cute it was so I snapped this photo.
9am: I get a call from my husband who too was heading down the driveway to work and noticed that Goliath was still down and this time none of the other horses was near him. He was all alone and didn’t even react to the car coming down the driveway. M decided to get out of the car and walk over to the fence to check him out closer. Still, Goliath didn’t so much as blink or lift his head. Thanks to the wet ground and rain Goliath was also shivering.
At this point I got the phone call I advised him to do all he could to get Goliath up and I’d call the vet and head back home.
10am: Driving like a mad woman I made it home in record time. Sure enough Goliath was still down and had that glassy eyed look of lost hope. With M’s help I pulled out his front legs and we rocked him as hard as we could to get him up on his chest. At that point the old boy made the effort to actually stand up! Yippy!
I had M walk him around while I ran to get a thermometer and some blankets. This is when it’s good to know your horse’s “normal” temperature. Goliath’s temp usually hangs around 99.9 to 100 so when I got a reading of 98.3 I was pretty concerned and relieved at the same time. At least it wasn’t a fever but disconcerting knowing my poor boy was very cold.
The vet showed up a short time later and did a full physical and thankfully he wasn’t colicing. The vet says it was just a case of “help I’ve fallen and I can’t get up.” Literally he got down, didn’t have the strength or the will to get back up and just “gave up.” Thanks to mother nature being such a PITA he got soaked to the bone and caught hypothermia.
So for today Goliath is covered in blankets and is in a stall to keep him dry so he can warm back up. We’re also taking turns walking him up and down the driveway every 1-2 hours so his fatigued muscles don’t seize up on him again.
Summary:
Here’s what we think happened. After finding a freshly made mud pit in the pasture I concluded that Goliath probably rolled, got a leg caught in his blanket somehow and proceeded to totally freak out wasting all of his energy trying to free himself from his blanket.
When I found him in the morning and freed him of the blanket he finally could relax and laid down for a nap. However, when it came time to stand back up, his muscles were weak from the struggle the night before and he literally couldn’t get back up. He literally gave up trying and just lay there. If it wasn’t for the fact my husband had enough horse sense to stop and check him out we very possibly could have come to a very sick or possibly dead horse.
Hump Day Horse Photos
I caught Fay sleeping away the warm afternoon in the run-in.
Got horses? Share your photos with us!
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