Bay Area Barns and Trails

BABT’s mission is to assist landowners and land managers with preserving and maintaining publicly accessible barns, stables, pastures, staging areas, horse camps, and trails throughout the nine Bay Area counties. Its grant materials also cover public-trail access, trail drainage and repairs, pasture and manure management, water quality and conservation, multi-use trail improvements, and equestrian facilities connected or adjacent to public trails. Matching-funded projects are among the priorities listed.

BABT provides technical and financial assistance to equestrians, public and private landowners, trails associations, and community groups. Its Emerging Trail Rider program supports programs intended to develop riders toward trail riding, with priorities including trail etiquette, stewardship education, public-trail access, community involvement, and participation by people with limited access to horses and nature.

Examples of supported organizations include the Bay Area Ridge Trail Council, whose stated mission is to sustain a connected hiking, cycling, and equestrian trail; the Sonoma County Regional Parks Foundation, which raises funds and advocates for Sonoma County Regional Parks; Sonoma Ecology Center, which works with its community to sustain ecological health in the Sonoma Valley; and Square Peg Foundation, which rescues and retrains horses to assist families affected by autism and related needs.