WELCOME TO FT SILL TRAILRIDERS
Per the base vet, the range will REOPEN on August 1st. Remember to bring your current Coggins with you when checking into Fish and Wildlife in case they ask to see it.
.
We are a loose group of active duty and retired military men and women that trailride on the base training range.
If you chose to bring your horse to the Ft Sill range you will need a military sticker on your vehicle to drive through the Apache gate, otherwise you will need to go through a main gate and wind your way around to the Fish and Wildlife office that is near the base of Medicine Cliffs and across from the golf course and RV parking area. We usually go in the Apache gate and then go to the Fish & Wildlife office. Once you are in the office you will need to look at the map and see what areas are open and which are off limits (red and blue lines).
You will need to attend the Safety Training class through the Fish & Wildlife department (it lasts about 1.5 hrs) and the dates and times will be listed on a board in their office.
The Fish &Wildlife phone number is: 580-442-3553 for the time of the class. And come early seats fill up fast.
You can call the range closer to the weekend now (Dec) to see if they have hunters, but we have been able to get out there to ride without too much trouble.
Riding on the Main Post
You can also now ride on the main post, just have to stay out of the housing areas, per Col Lacy, there are no regulations against it. Just be aware of where your horse poops and try to keep them out of the places where the troops do PT.
We have been parking in Ambrosia Springs by the portajohn and riding across the bridge to the south and past the golf course. You can then ride up behind the officers quarters and the playground. There is an opening in the east corner in the trees behind the playground and you can go down into Rucker park. Go across Rucker park and in the southeast corner is a dirt road, follow that back along the creek. The trail will get narrow but keep going. Almost to the highway there is a washout from rain and you can go up the hill through the trees its a little brushy at the top, but nothing with thorns. It comes up just north of the little historic church. We then ride down along the cedar tree line south to the area where the army geldings are. From there you can go across the road where the big cannons are and ride anywhere. There are portajohns along some of the routes. There are horse crossing signs inside key gate just after the polo field area. Most people have stopped for us when crossing the roads. The little kids like to see the horses and we have let them pet them.
Have a GREAT TIME!!
to have a Negative Coggins Test paperwork while on the range. Keep it in your truck.
Once you pick out your area to ride in. Drive there and unload. Ride and explore. My husband and I usually ride there about 2-3 days per week. We have cut some trails ourselves and others are areas that the training men have made. There are dry to wet creek beds, hills, open areas and wooded areas. There is a road that seems to run the perimeter of the range that you can get on if you get lost, it will usually take you back to a main road.
You will also need to be very aware that there is loose metal, rebar stuck along some of the gravel roads (I think they used to hold hay bales to prevent rain washes, the hay is gone and just rebar is hidden in the tall grass). Where troops camp we have found tent spikes and other metal and broken glass. You will really need to pay attention to where your horse steps so they don't get injured. If you stumble upon any "duds" leave them alone, call them in to Fish and Wildlife, but don't mess with them.
There is ALOT of wildlife that you spook and that spooks your horse. Do not chase or bother any of the deer, elk, coyotes, turkeys and wild pigs etc. or you may be banned from the range. Put on your good manners while riding there. And if you come accidently upon any training military personnel, leave the area immediately. Pick up any trash that you carry in with you, water bottles etc. As long as the horse riders are courteous and clean we can probably continue to ride out there. If there are problems, we can lose the priviledge. Other bases have banned horse riders from the range and we really don't want that to happen here as there is really no place else close to ride.
In the fall there are hunters present and that does restrict the riding areas. It is also a very good idea to where bright clothing during this time period which starts in Sept-Dec.
There are maps available to you at the Safety Class and I suggest you keep it and learn it. After awhile when you ride around all the trees and grass starts to look the same. main roads are and shadow them until you get more oriented to the areas.
We are a loose group of active duty and retired military men and women that trailride on the base training range.
If you chose to bring your horse to the Ft Sill range you will need a military sticker on your vehicle to drive through the Apache gate, otherwise you will need to go through a main gate and wind your way around to the Fish and Wildlife office that is near the base of Medicine Cliffs and across from the golf course and RV parking area. We usually go in the Apache gate and then go to the Fish & Wildlife office. Once you are in the office you will need to look at the map and see what areas are open and which are off limits (red and blue lines).
You will need to attend the Safety Training class through the Fish & Wildlife department (it lasts about 1.5 hrs) and the dates and times will be listed on a board in their office.
The Fish &Wildlife phone number is: 580-442-3553 for the time of the class. And come early seats fill up fast.
You can call the range closer to the weekend now (Dec) to see if they have hunters, but we have been able to get out there to ride without too much trouble.
Riding on the Main Post
You can also now ride on the main post, just have to stay out of the housing areas, per Col Lacy, there are no regulations against it. Just be aware of where your horse poops and try to keep them out of the places where the troops do PT.
We have been parking in Ambrosia Springs by the portajohn and riding across the bridge to the south and past the golf course. You can then ride up behind the officers quarters and the playground. There is an opening in the east corner in the trees behind the playground and you can go down into Rucker park. Go across Rucker park and in the southeast corner is a dirt road, follow that back along the creek. The trail will get narrow but keep going. Almost to the highway there is a washout from rain and you can go up the hill through the trees its a little brushy at the top, but nothing with thorns. It comes up just north of the little historic church. We then ride down along the cedar tree line south to the area where the army geldings are. From there you can go across the road where the big cannons are and ride anywhere. There are portajohns along some of the routes. There are horse crossing signs inside key gate just after the polo field area. Most people have stopped for us when crossing the roads. The little kids like to see the horses and we have let them pet them.
Have a GREAT TIME!!
to have a Negative Coggins Test paperwork while on the range. Keep it in your truck.
Once you pick out your area to ride in. Drive there and unload. Ride and explore. My husband and I usually ride there about 2-3 days per week. We have cut some trails ourselves and others are areas that the training men have made. There are dry to wet creek beds, hills, open areas and wooded areas. There is a road that seems to run the perimeter of the range that you can get on if you get lost, it will usually take you back to a main road.
You will also need to be very aware that there is loose metal, rebar stuck along some of the gravel roads (I think they used to hold hay bales to prevent rain washes, the hay is gone and just rebar is hidden in the tall grass). Where troops camp we have found tent spikes and other metal and broken glass. You will really need to pay attention to where your horse steps so they don't get injured. If you stumble upon any "duds" leave them alone, call them in to Fish and Wildlife, but don't mess with them.
There is ALOT of wildlife that you spook and that spooks your horse. Do not chase or bother any of the deer, elk, coyotes, turkeys and wild pigs etc. or you may be banned from the range. Put on your good manners while riding there. And if you come accidently upon any training military personnel, leave the area immediately. Pick up any trash that you carry in with you, water bottles etc. As long as the horse riders are courteous and clean we can probably continue to ride out there. If there are problems, we can lose the priviledge. Other bases have banned horse riders from the range and we really don't want that to happen here as there is really no place else close to ride.
In the fall there are hunters present and that does restrict the riding areas. It is also a very good idea to where bright clothing during this time period which starts in Sept-Dec.
There are maps available to you at the Safety Class and I suggest you keep it and learn it. After awhile when you ride around all the trees and grass starts to look the same. main roads are and shadow them until you get more oriented to the areas.
