BRLA

Bedford Riding Lanes Association Bedford, New York

- John Stanley

In 2016, one of the oldest riding-trail systems in the country marked its centennial. The Bed ford Riding Lanes Association (BRLA) maintains about 180 miles of trails which cross public and private property and run alongside dirt roads in Bed ford and Pound Ridge, some 50 miles north of New York City.

Bed ford’s riding trails developed in the early 1900s as foxhunters in the area traveled across the countryside to meets at the Fairfield-Westchester Hunt. Around 1920, a group of horsemen and large property owners established the Private Lanes Association (PLA), predecessor of the BRLA. The aim was to preserve, protect and maintain a system of country lanes and trails on private property so they could avoid the roads with their increasing automobile traffic. PLA members were a group of amateur riders who mostly lived within Bed ford. The landowners agreed to give access in part because they and their children also used the trails and everybody knew to leave gates as found and not to trample the daffodils.

By the late 1950s, newcomers began to move to northern Westchester. Many had no interest in horseback riding and wanted their privacy protected. Roads were paved, new roads were built and many riders from public stables in the area used the trails without knowing or following trail rules. The l5 or so riding families in the PLA could no longer keep up with the rising costs of maintaining the trails.

To put new life into efforts aimed at protecting the trails, PLA evolved into BRLA during the 1960s. BRLA now had a tax-exempt status to encourage membership and donations. Fundraising efforts include the occasional barn tour and spring and fall paces which draw riders from the tri-state area. This past fall, a gala was held to celebrate the 100th anniversary.