OHC was founded in 1972 to obtain trails at Caesar's Creek, East Fork and Alum Creek.

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STARK CO OHC Chapter was founded Jan. 29, 1979 by a group of concerned horse persons.  They met to discuss the possibilities of joining OHC and starting a chapter for 3 counties, Stark, Carroll, and Tuscarawas.  Stark Co had President, Dick Baus - Vice President, Dick Wentling – Secretary, Jane Smyth and Treasurer, Mary Ann Walter.  Dick Baus, Bob Chovan, Al Zaleski & Dick Wentling attended the State OHC Meeting 2/24/79 in Xenia, Ohio.

They had the first meetings at The Red Dog family Restaurant.  Al Zaleski & Tosh Norman owned it.  They had board meetings, reg. meetings & banquets there for quite a while.  Pat Battista remembers riding there & tying up outside to go to the meetings.

In the early records they did not include membership lists.  So some of these names are not in the right order.  We found Linda Miller, Penny Malavite, Pam Goldsworthy, Lois Henson, Jan Slutz, Betty Holland, Thelma Armstrong Dyer, Pat Battista, Jan David & Shirley Smith as early members.

They used to have some competive trail rides at Malavites and worked a lot of the Haunted Woods and Rodeos at Bear Creek.

In 1986 they were still having all 3 county meetings and joint council meetings.  The joint council meetings included Tusc Co, Stark Co, Carrol Co, Holmes Co, Massillon Saddle Club, Buckeye Trail Riders, Tri-Co and Country Estates Pony Club.

Back in the day they rented a bus to go to Cleveland to the Rodeo a couple of times, to Columbus to tour Ohio State and to West Va. to the horse races.  They also did a lot of car parking & worked the beer stand for Lee Soehnlen & the Rodeo & various concerts he had at Bear Creek.  Eventually the Rodeo moved to Gus Malavites and then down to Dover Fairgrounds.  I know I became active back then.  They also rented a lot of movies for the meetings and toured Hannon Frisian Farm, Locust Arabian Farm, Schneider Thoroughbred Farm.  They used to have quite a few progressive barn parties which were a lot of fun.  Mary Hill used to host the costume Halloween Parties at her farm on Riceford.

Over the years Stark has done a lot of work with other counties to help them start a camp ground & trail system.  Cuyahoga Valley, Salt Fork, Beaver Creek, Tappan, Jefferson, Harrison, Mohican and Pleasant Hill to name a few.  Hank & Jerry Fitch, Gloria Deeser, Ron & Pat Hoffman, Jan David, Al Walter, Stacy McGill, Thelma Armstrong & Pat Battista all did a lot of work to start the trails at Salt Fork and on opening up the campgrounds there.

OHC is also a member of the following:
- North Country Trail Association
- Ohio to Erie Trail Association
- Rails to Trails Conservancy
- Morris Animal Foundation
- Buckeye Trail Association

STARK CO OHC works with the Stark Park District to allow equine use on their trails.

STARK CO OHC has adopted the horse trails at Quail Hollow State Park.

OHC was an influencing factor in the adoption of Limited Horse Liability Law.

We are a non-profit, family oriented organization dedicated to working with all areas of the horse industry to establish and maintain public trails. You can stay informed of current concerns affecting the industry, meet other horse people and learn new things. Become a member and you will receive a subscription to Horseman's Corral and the Stark Co. OHC newsletter to keep you informed of local and state wide events.

Membership in the OHC means being part of a growing equine community with over 3,800 members throughout Ohio (as of 2008) that live by the motto;


As a member, you are working to bring attention to the needs of horse owners.






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