Bay State Trail Riders Association

Trail Work Day at West Hill Dam
2021-04-17 08:30 - 12:00 (America/New_York) | West Hill Dam, 518 East Hartford Ave., Uxbridge, MA, 01569, United States
Join us for our 28th annual trail work day. This partnership with the Army Corps of Engineers (ACE) started in 1993 when this area was going to be closed off to horseback riding. The dam and flood control is their main responsibility. Back in the early 1990’s, recreation was pretty informal–do as you please for the past 30 years. With attendance increasing in the recreation area (beach) and more people on the trails, problems were arising..
Their rules and regulations under 327.11 Control of Animals Section C states “No person shall bring or allow horses, cattle, or other livestock in camping, picnicking, swimming or other recreation areas except areas designated by the District Engineer.”
We worked with ACE to establish a bridle path system (that is open to other trail users as well) with a commitment to have a yearly work day to keep the trails maintained.
If we, as trail users, respect their mandate and stay on the trails, then ACE doesn’t have to expend resources to repair situations created by users going off the trail, especially on the dam.
RAIN DATE April 18th.
Where: West Hill Dam Headquarters, 518 East Hartford Avenue, Uxbridge MA
Time: 8:30 check in 9:00 trail work starts.
Covid -19 Protocol: Stay home if you are sick. Maintain physical distance of at least 6 feet for those not in your “family” group. Wash/sanitize your hands. Masks required when you are at the table to register/get your lunch/ or any time you are closer than six feet from someone else.
Wear appropriate clothing for working in the woods, including sturdy shoes and wear gloves. Viola has a good stock of shovels, rakes, and long handled loppers.
Work will consist of cleaning up any winter debris, cutting and brushing back as needed and cleaning out all the water bars that have been installed over the years.
Lunch provided by BSTRA for the volunteers.
Contact: Becky at 508-476-3960 or bstra@charter.net so we can have a head count and plan accordingly.
If you can join us on this work day please fill out the contact form below

BSTRA's Valentine's Day Photo Contest
2021-01-04 08:00 - 2021-02-12 20:00 | CT
You and your equine love. Enter your best photo of the two of you decked out for Valentine’s Day. Best costumes win.
Top 3 photos receive prizes, and photos for all entries will appear on BSTRA’s Facebook Page and in The Bugle.
First Place Prize: $50 Gift Certificate to The Saddle Shed PLUS $25 Gift Certificate to the Tractor Supply Co.
Second Place Prize: $50 Gift Certificate to The Mane Place
Third Place Prize: $50 Gift Certificate to Hardwick Farmers Coop
Entry Fee per photo: Members $10 Non-members: $15
Submit your photos via email to: lynnparesky@aol.com and make sure to use BSTRA Valentine Photo Contest in the subject line. Include your name, your horse’s name, address, telephone number and email address along with your photo.
Deadline for submission is Feb. 12th, 8 PM.
This will be a fun contest to be part of, especially in the wintertime during the Covid pandemic when there isn’t a lot to do.
Have fun, show your love, and good luck. Winners will be selected on Valentine’s Day.

Giving Tuesday
2020-12-01 08:00 - 2020-12-31 17:00 | CT
BSTRA invites you and other trail enthusiasts who enjoy using trails for horseback riding and other forms of outdoor recreation to be part of Giving Tuesday by making a donation to our nonprofit organization.
Giving Tuesday is a growing global movement that encourages everyone, everywhere to support and give to nonprofit organizations in order to help them do good in the communities they serve. It also provides an opportunity for individuals and businesses to make those final tax-deductible donations for the year.
Although Giving Tuesday is December 1st, the majority of Giving Tuesday donations will be made during the month of November continuing right up through December 31st.
BSTRA hopes you will help us with our mission of trail creation, maintenance and preservation by supporting us for Giving Tuesday. Together we will make a difference to our trails as part of the Giving Tuesday movement. Our current projects include improvements to the Douglas State Forest, Upton State Forest and Grafton’s Pell Farm, and your Giving Tuesday donations to BSTRA will help fund these beneficial projects.
Make your tax-deductible donation anytime now through December 31st. Thanks from all of us at BSTRA!
Via mail, please download this form: 2020 Giving Tuesday Donation Remittance Form
To make donation on-line, please fill out form below.
Please enable JavaScript in your browser to complete this form.Name *FirstLastBusiness NameAddressAddress Line 1Address Line 2City--- Select state ---AlabamaAlaskaArizonaArkansasCaliforniaColoradoConnecticutDelawareDistrict of ColumbiaFloridaGeorgiaHawaiiIdahoIllinoisIndianaIowaKansasKentuckyLouisianaMaineMarylandMassachusettsMichiganMinnesotaMississippiMissouriMontanaNebraskaNevadaNew HampshireNew JerseyNew MexicoNew YorkNorth CarolinaNorth DakotaOhioOklahomaOregonPennsylvaniaRhode IslandSouth CarolinaSouth DakotaTennesseeTexasUtahVermontVirginiaWashingtonWest VirginiaWisconsinWyomingStateZip CodeEmail *PhoneDonation Amount *Minimum Price: $10.00PayPal Commerce *PayPal CheckoutCredit CardCard NumberExpiration DateSecurity CodeCard Holder NameClick on the drop down menu to select PayPal or credit cardHow did you hear about us?InternetFacebookMagazineNewspaperFrom a BSTRA memberContacted by BSTRA Fund Raising CommitteeOther ______________________________________Comment or MessageSubmit

Robinson State Park Fall Foliage Ride
2019-10-20 09:00 - 15:00 | Robinson State Forest, 428 North Street, Feeding Hills, MA, 01030, United States
Ride Sponsor: J. F. Cove Insurance Agency
Come join us and our co-hosts, Scantic Valley Riders & Drivers, as we explore Robinson State Forest that abuts the Westfield River in Feeding Hills MA.
Address: 428 North Street, Feeding Hills MA
Check in: 9:30 Ride out: 10:00
Length: Your choice of a 9 mile loop or 6 mile loop. Or do both for 15 miles.
Price: $25, BSTRA/Scantic Valley members $20. Juniors 17 and under, 1/2 price.
Meal included for pre-entries. Pre-entry deadline is Oct. 16th.
NEHT Affiliated
Required: clean up your hay and manure from where you are parked.
Contact Sharron at 413-668-7606 or hiddenhollowacres@comcast.net
Click on the flyer below to download registration form if you prefer to pay by mail.

2026 Live Lark Acres Ride Flyer

On-line registration is a TWO PART process. Please complete BOTH the registration form and the payment part.
Part 1:FIRST STEP. Please fill out the registration form below and hit send.

Please hit the send button before you make payment below.
Part 2: Please pick the correct payment line from the drop down menu then click the Add to Cart button. You have the option of adding member and non-members to the cart.

Robinson State Park

Non-Member Adult $25.00 USDNon-Member Junior 17 & under $12.50 USDBSTRA/Scantic Member Adult $20.00 USDBSTRA/Scantic Junior 17 & under $10.00 USD

Tornado Alley Ride co-hosted with Scantic Valley Riders and Drivers
2015-10-18 09:00 - 15:00 | CT
Ride sponsored by Equissentials
In June of 2011 a tornado came through lower central MA. One of the areas the tornado hit was the Brimfield State Forest. To see an area devastated by a force of nature and then notice the awe inspiring views that one now has, definitely gives one a mix of emotions.
But mother nature is quick to reclaim, so it won’t be too much longer that we will be able to enjoy these incredible views.
Location: Use 99 Dean Pond Road, Brimfield MA for GPS to get you to the parking area.
Check in: 9:30
Ride out: 10:00
Price:$20 (BSTRA & SVRD members $15) Age 16 and under 1/2 price
Meal included for pre-entries. Pre-entry deadline is Oct. 14th.
NEHT Affiliated
Please clean up your hay & manure from the parking lot.
Contact: Sharon at 413-668-7606 or hiddenhollowacres@comcast.net

To register by mail please click below to download registration form.

2026 Live Lark Acres Ride Flyer

To register on-line, fill out the form below and hit send. That will bring you to the payment page.

Douglas State Forest Trail Work Day
2015-04-18 08:30 - 13:00 | CT
BSTRA and DCR will be partnering up to start improvements to part of Ridge Trail.
This project will be serving double duty. Not only will brushing and cutting back on Ridge Trail get done, but every single person’s work that day will go towards the match of a partnership grant that BSTRA received from the Blackstone Heritage Corridor, Inc. Part of that grant includes re-grading and putting in drainage swales to keep water from running down the hill and eroding the trail, which has made the trail at the Coopertown Brook end is extremely rocky.
The cutting and brushing back will prepare this section of Ridge Trail for the finish work.
Where: Wallis Street Trailhead parking lot. The closest house number to the parking lot is 124 Wallis Street, Douglas MA
Time: 8:30 check in 9:00 trail work starts. Work until 1pm.
Wear appropriate clothing for working in the woods, including sturdy shoes and wear gloves. If you have long handled loppers, bow saws or pole saws, please bring those with you.
Work will consist of cutting and brushing back. Brush will either be stacked or dragged into the woods.
Lunch: provided by BSTRA for all volunteers.
Contact: If you can join us on this work day please contact Becky at 508-476-3960 or bstra@charter.net so we can have a head count and plan accordingly.
