I love to take prospective buyers that live outside the area on a tour of Katonah, Bedford, North Salem and Pound Ridge so they can get a feel for the different communities. As we drive around various neighborhoods, they are always surprised when we end up on a dirt road. The question is always, “why doesn’t the town pave the dirt road?” Anyone who lives in a metropolitan area finds dirt roads unusual, but then so is the sign with the horse.

Dirt roads provide the perfect opportunity for me to explain that many of the homeowners who live on a dirt road have barns and paddocks for their horses. They like to avoid paved roads when they ride their horse from the barn to access the Bedford Riding Lanes Association trails that are intertwined throughout the area.

The trails were originally cleared about 100 years ago for the Fairfield-Westchester Fox Hunt. In 1920 a group of property owners started a Private Lanes Association and the system continued to grow and now has over 100 miles of equestrian trails. It is now referred to as the BRLA (Bedford Riding Lanes Association). They have several annual pace events for their members and cleaning the trails is a volunteer spring event to keep the trails clear of brush and debris. When driving on a dirt road with horses and their rider on board, please remember to reduce speed to a crawl as you pass so as not to spook them.

The towns continually maintain the roads and re-grade them after rain and/or snow when the roads start to get ruts and holes in addition to plowing, so they are serviceable all year. When you are on the dirt roads just remember, Happy Trails To You! If you have a horse, would like a horse and want to ride to the trials from the barn, give me a call as I can help you and your horse find the perfect home!

Posted By: Sonja Lovas