Bonita Valley Horsemen Help Keep the Trails Clear

Since the 1960s, Bonita Valley Horsemen have helped the County with keeping the trails around Bonita-Sunnyside cleared for horses, bikers and walkers. Mark Kukuchek has always been a leader in that department and still gives the Trail Report with Dianne Carter at the Sweetwater Community Planning Group once a month. The Trail Report tells about work being done on the trails and work that needs to be done.

It takes a lot of effort to keep the trails clear and most people enjoying the trails probably don't give it a second thought. The County does the heavy lifting with their tractors and machinery. Bonita Valley Horsemen does a lot of cutting and removal of brush and making the trails available to traverse. Along the way, BVH started teaming up with Susie Murphy and the San Diego Mountain Biking Association. We all shared the trails and the mountain bikers learned about riding bikes around horses. It was a wonderful marriage!

Click on photos to enlarge

Mark Kukuchek and Janeen Reed show up for work duty. Mark saws down branches obscuring the trail. This interpretive sign depicts many trail users. The photo on the left shows Mark on his famous steed, Bandit.

These photos show the trail being cleared and getting more accessible as the work crew cleans it up. Terry Carr and Janeen Reed can be seen carrying out some of the cuttings.

Mark is still cutting but almost done. Janeen and Terry are still dragging out big branches as a rider waits patiently. Jessica and her horse, Cheyenne, approve of the much improved trail!

FYI—Trail Etiquette:

Cyclists generally yield to pedestrians, with the exception of a bicyclist headed down a hill at a rapid rate. Pedestrians and cyclists both yield to equestrians as horses may spook and are harder to control. Ergo, the signage:

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