Due to the popularity of the FETA trail system, the FETA Board was forced to introduce membership restrictions beginning in 2001. Currently, only residents, landowners or persons boarding horses in Polk County, Landrum and Campobello are eligible to join FETA as riding members. Persons boarding horses in this area, unless grandfathered as members prior to 2001, lose their membership eligibility if they move their horse from the area.
Does FETA own the trails?
All FETA trails are owned by private landowners. Some trails are protected by equestrian trail easements to FETA but remain privately held. Landowners have ultimate control over the use of their trails and may themselves use them as they wish.
How big is the FETA trail system?
That is the $100,000 question! It is very hard to estimate the total mileage of the FETA trail system. The trail system encompasses all of Old Hunting Country (used by the Tryon Hounds from the 1920's to the 1950's) and New Hunting Country (used for fox hunting until the 1980's) as well as surrounding areas. It encompasses approximately 15 square miles bounded (for identification purposes) approximately by Highway 108 to the North, Highway 14 to the South, Highway 176 to the West and Highway 9 to the East. The system is estimated to comprise approximately 125-150 miles of trails.
Can I use my mobile trail / tracking GPS app while riding the trails?
FETA understands the surge in technology concerning these tracking apps such as Ramblr, EquiLab and others that provide a recorded history of where you have ridden, speed, elevation and other features including safety notifications. You as a member may use these while riding the FETA trails, however, you cannot post, share, or make public your recorded tracks. Sharing can be done with other FETA members or family members who need to know your location for safety reasons.
Please respect the privacy requests of our trail owners who do not want non-FETA members and the general public knowing how to get around their property(s) and only use apps that have a private or secret settings/functions for recorded tracks.
What is FETA's role on the trails?
FETA was formed by area riders and landowners to protect and preserve the trails, and establish collective guidelines for equestrian use. Landowners depend on FETA to ensure that riders have submitted medical information and release/wavier and rules agreements they need for legal protection, and to collect the dues that pay the bills for some of the trail maintenance and insurance. FETA does not sponsor or coordinate trail riding or other activities on the trails.
FETA's By-Laws establish the broad policy rules concerning the trail association. FETA is managed by a Board of Directors with 9-15 members on staggered three year terms. The Board submits a slate of candidates for the open positions based on volunteer efforts and interests of members. Additionally, the Board likes to have good representation from the larger landowners. Seven of the twelve to fourteen Board members must be landowner members. The open Board seats are voted on by the Landowners at the Annual Meeting, usually held in early fall.
How large is FETA's budget?
Your board carefully manages your dues and donations. Annual revenues are approximately $55,000. Approximately 46% of revenues go to trail maintenance and construction, another 42% for insurance to cover Landowners and the remaining balance to membership expenses (saddle tags, printing, membership materials, postage), the annual meeting and legal fees for easements. We gladly accept donations since we are committed to keeping membership fees low.
The Board establishes the rules and reviews them annually for the coming membership year. Most current rules are the result of landowner complaints about conduct on their trails. Landowners are not, however, required to observe FETA rules on their own trails. Landowners may also waive a rule for their own trail in specific instances. For example, a landowner might give a neighbor permission to use a gravel lane on his land to access River Road when the trails are closed or they may permit a neighbor to bring their dogs on trail rides. The landowner may not want everyone riding on the wet trails or bringing unfamiliar dogs but may permit a limited exception. This is their sole right as a landowner.
Exceptions to the rules are not common or encouraged as they make general rules enforcement very difficult. Most such exceptions are between friends and neighbors for limited reasons. Most Landowner Members, particularly out of town and non-riding Landowners, do not want to be asked to waive the rules which have been established for their benefit.
FETA's relationship with landowners depends on riders obeying the rules. Rules violators jeopardize the entire trail system, and are treated seriously. Rules violations are dealt with by the Board of Directors in their discretion, which may include termination of your FETA membership. Please help us show our gratitude to our generous landowners by reading and following rules.
Who maintains the trails.?
Although FETA and landowners try to keep the trails clear, members ride at their own risk. Neither FETA nor the Landowners represent that the trails will be in a safe condition due to weather, man-made or natural obstruction, surface conditions, neglect or any other reason. The association and landowners expressly disclaim a duty to maintain the trails in a safe condition. Report any trail problems promptly so that we can schedule the work to be done. Turn around time depends on something getting reported, scheduled, and prioritized. Even if you think someone else must have reported it go ahead and report, multiple reports are always better than no reports. Give the trail name if known, if you are not sure describe the location. If you have your smart phone with you, take a photo of the problem and send it to Trailmaster@fetatrails.org. Indicate if the trail is blocked or if you can ride through. Remember, you can't leave a trail to go around something, it violates your membership rules. Describe the problem. Is it a tree (how big around), washout, overhanging limbs, etc.? Give the date and approximate time you found the obstruction, so we can determine if we cleared it before your report came in. Report problems by emailing Trailmaster@fetatrails.org
Are the trails always open?
No. Trails are closed when weather conditions would make riding damaging to the trails. Trails are also closed when extreme weather has resulted in known hazardous conditions which have not been fixed. Members are required to obey trail status rules. Trail status should be checked by calling the FETA answering machine at be 828-859-0133 - or - join FETA's private FB page at Foothills Equestrian Trail Association Members.
What happens if a member violates the rules or a person rides without being a member?
Persons violating FETA rules are given one warning and put on probationary status. Additional violations may result in the termination of membership at the discretion of the Board. In addition, any FETA landowner may prohibit any member from using his or her property for cause, which is a matter between the landowner and the member. Persons riding on the trails without FETA membership or specific landowner permission are trespassers and are subject to criminal trespass charges as well as liability for damages resulting from their trespass.
Are the trails permanent?
Many miles of trails are protected by trail use easements to FETA or conservation organizations, and additional easements are being sought. FETA also has a "reciprocity rule" which provides that landowners wishing to ride other people's trails must make their trails available for riding, and that developers who develop property with private or FETA trails must make them available to FETA or their buyers will not be eligible to join FETA.
Absolutely!! We need volunteers for trail liaisons to monitor trails, trail stewards to help with rules enforcement, newsletter contributors, hospitality and mailings. To volunteer,please use the CONTACT US on the home page.
Yes, members may bring a guest but guests must fill out a release and carry a Coggins. Read the Rules and Waiver Agreement carefully for full details. Member-hosts are fully responsible for their guests. Guest passes are obtained on this website under GUEST PASS on home page.
Are there maps of the trails?
No. For privacy and security reasons, large landowner members do not want maps publicly distributed. If you are a new member or want to explore unknown trail areas please contact Trailmaster@fetatrails.org for information. We have many members (mentors) who enjoy taking out new members. Ask the trailmaster for a mentor! FETA also hosts 2x a year, "Explorer Rides". These rides are guided by a knowledgeable trail member to help share the trails and pass the knowledge to newer members. Watch for a posting on our FB page or via email and newsletters.
For a detailed description of FETA Parking areas go to next question.
FETA has four official parking areas providing access to the entire system:
FENCE
From I-26, east or west. Take SC Exit #1 toward Landrum. Go 1.5 miles, then turn right onto
Bomar Road (look for the Land Mart on the corner). Go one short block, turn right onto Prince
Road. Follow Prince Road for approximately 1.5 miles. Turn left onto Hunting Country Road
(just before the I-26 overpass). Follow Hunting Country Road for approximately 3/4 mile.
Equestrian Center entrance, Mane Gate Lane, will be on the left just before the I-26 underpass.
For the main FENCE entrance for the FENCE Center, hiking trails and TROT barn, continue on
Hunting Country Road under the I-26 underpass to the main FENCE gates on your right.
Scriven/Hooker/River Road
Located just past the intersection of River Road and Scriven Road, along the right side of Hooker
Road, just before the pipeline. Rondo Ridge and Cotton Patch areas are accessible from this
parking area. FETA diamonds are posted on the trees along the road.
Peniel Road Parking
Located on Peniel Road, 3/4 of a mile west of the intersection of Henderson Road, Luther
Durham Road, and Peniel Road. Situated on the edge of a hay field, riders are reminded to keep
to the designated parking. Do not drive or ride your horses in the field.
Scriven Road Parking
Parking is available on Scriven Road, just east of Markham Road and west of the Scriven
Plantation home. This parking area provides access to the Scriven Trails back to Cotton Patch or
hack along Scriven Road to the Glen Trail on Hooker Ridge or the Ag Tract at Cotton Patch.
Follow Scriven Road to Hooker Road to access the Rondo Ridge Trails.
In addition, there are unofficial parking areas. They are:
Finally Farm
Located on Carriage Row, just before the intersection with Hunting Country Road. Several trails
may be accessed. You may ride along Carriage Row when trails are closed. Riding on the roads
is permissible when the trails are closed but be aware that you may not use a FETA trail to get to
the road. Do not tie to fences. Never tie your horse to anything they can pull loose from in the
event of a panic. Horses have been known to pull away from fences that remain attached to the
lead rope. Compounding the flight response is the object chasing them which usually results in
injury.
Fields Edge
Park along the fence near the Morgan Chapel Bridge. Do not block the carriage/horse trail on
River Road between Golden and Morgan Chapel Roads. Do not ride across the short end of the
field. Ride River Road in either direction to access FETA trails. Cross the Morgan Chapel
Bridge to access trails to FENCE (left after crossing the bridge) or the Underpass Trail (right
after crossing bridge). Check the trail status line for updates on the Underpass Trail. Do not tie
to the fence.