Getting a Leg Up on Trail Cleanup: Meet the 2026 USPC Brookfield Land Conservation Award Winner

Every year since 2012, the USPC Brookfield Land Conservation Award shines a spotlight on the folks who are rolling up their sleeves for land conservation, preservation, and stewardship — whether through member projects, club initiatives, center programs, or regional efforts that go above and beyond the ordinary. At the 2026 USPC Convention, this honor was proudly presented to Wendy Raih, of Leg Up Equestrian Team Pony Club Riding Center in the Midsouth Region during the Meeting of the Corporation on Saturday morning, January 31.

Named for the historic Brookfield Farm near Lexington, Ky., the award, which includes a $500 cash award to the winning club/center/region, celebrates the spirit of caring for the land that nurtures our ponies, riders, and equestrian communities. Thanks to the generous support of the van Nagell family, this tradition continues to encourage thoughtful stewardship across the country.

This year’s winning proposal from Leg Up Equestrian Team Pony Club Riding Center is below.

From Wendy Raih, Leg Up Equestrian Team Pony Club Riding Center

For my land conservation project, I chose to work with the Leg Up Equestrian Team—a public riding school that serves many in our local community. Their trail system had become outdated, overgrown, and difficult to use safely. I partnered with the Leg Up Equestrian Pony Club Riding Center team to clean up and renovate the trails so they could be safely enjoyed again by riders and horses. With the help of my fellow Pony Club members, we tackled this big task together.

On Saturday, September 20, I visited the trails to assess the work ahead. I marked areas with flagging tape where tree stumps and low-hanging limbs needed to be removed so riders could more safely navigate the trails on horseback. I also made a list of equipment we’d need to bring the day we clean up the trail—weed whackers, garden shears, hedge clippers, shovels, rakes, and possibly a chainsaw would provide the most help.

The actual cleanup was scheduled for October 4. The plan was to weed whack overgrown grass and weeds, clip back branches and bushes, rake back leaves and debris, remove any stumps and roots that pose as a tripping hazard, and fill any holes or divots with gravel. I would also put up new trail signs, repaint trail blazes (markers) along the trails, and do a final safety walkthrough.

Initial Walkthrough

During my first walkthrough, the trail was almost impossible to distinguish from the surrounding forest. Overgrown trees and branches made it hard to navigate, and stumps and roots posed tripping hazards. I didn’t find any major holes, so gravel wouldn’t be necessary, but I did note the need for new signs and blaze updates along the trails to help riders stay on the correct trails.

Cleanup Day

On October 4, we gathered at Leg Up and did a group walkthrough to assign tasks and identify the trail path. Once everyone understood the best ways to help, we split up and got to work. The first thing we did was weed-whack the trail edges to make it more visible. We clipped back branches and bushes and removed dead limbs overhanging the trail. We raked leaves, and removed small trees, roots, and stumps that posed as potential tripping hazards. Anything we were not able to remove, we marked with neon orange spray paint to make it visible and easier to avoid.

In addition to cleaning up the trail, we were also able to widen the trail with all of this cleanup to make it safer and more comfortable for multiple riders to travel together at the same time. We also installed four new signs to help clearly mark the more difficult trail to help riders navigate the trail system and avoid the trails above their skill level.

Final Walkthrough & Evaluation

After the cleanup, I walked the trail again to ensure everything was safe. The trail was now clearly marked, wider, and free of hazards. The new signs and updated blazes made it easy to follow and understand the trail system. I was proud of the work we accomplished—it looked great, and the trail was once again safe for the Leg Up riders, horses, and the local riding community.

This project went very smoothly and was a huge success! With the help of 10 volunteers (Pony Club members and parents), we completed the entire cleanup in just 3–4 hours. We cleared the trail, widened it, added signs, and updated the blazes. Now, the Leg Up Equestrian Team, and local horse riding community, has a safe and easy-to-navigate trail system again.