Back in the days when the USDA Forest Service employed horseback Park Rangers, Missouri Fox Trotters were the mounts of choice. Rangers were able to cover a large territory every day and ride in comfort. However, the Forest Service along with other public land management agencies have turned to the use of volunteers to provide Park Ranger services.

   Volunteer Park Hosts are used in conjunction with paid Park Rangers in the Jefferson County Open Space (JCOS) program in Colorado. JCOS manages over 30,000 acres on the west side of Denver, extending from the western suburbs well into the foothills. Most of this land is contained in the 18 parks designed for public use. Trails in the parks are
multiple use. In the foothills uses include mountain biking, hiking, cross-country skiing and horseback riding. With increased use pressure from a rapidly growing urban area comes increased conflict between users. JCOS has designed a volunteer Park Host program toinvolve the users themselves in resolving the problems that arise from multiple uses of popular outdoor recreation sites. Park Hosts may bike, hike, ski or ride as they educate other park visitors about our wondetil open space parks.

During the summer I accumulate several hours in the saddle as a JCOS Park Host. In this photo I am riding Casey (Cassey's Last Chance), a 3 year old Missouri Fox Trotter. The other rider, Will Chester, has asked where some easy trails might be located. His horse,Tonka(Chiefs Allstar), is also a MFT and has been ridden as a Park Host mount for 3 years. He has been used to find lost hikers, carry free dog leashes for people with dogs off leash, and enjoys stopping for flower identification questions. Tonka has charmed children along the trail by checking their backpacks for treats and allowing them to hug him. Casey is new as a Park Host mount, but he promises to be just as delightful.

    In the foothills west of Denver we have the opportunity to escape urban life, to enjoy wildlife and restore ourselves in natural settings. Yet with the pressure of urban growth,trails are becoming more crowded and park agencies often face restricting certain uses. Often the first use that gets restricted is horseback riding. My goal as a Park Host is to help park visitors enjoy our parks while encouraging cooperation. I have been impressed by how readily people respond to me when I am riding a horse. Most people are very positive about seeing a horse on the trail, especially if they have children with them. Once in a while I meet someone who has a negative attitude. My approach is to educate them
about traditional uses like horseback riding, and suggest areas to them where horses are not permitted.

   Although I enjoy my job as a faculty at Metropolitan State College in Denver, where I teach Parks and Recreation Management courses, I would still rather be out on the trails riding my MFT and working for free. Sometimes I almost believe that Casey and Tonka know they are doing the work of their ancestors as they happily fox trot down a trail.