Friends of the Equestrian Skills Course

Friends of the Equestrian Skills Course is a 501c3 nonprofit corporataion. Our mission is to promote the education of equestrians and other trail users by developing and maintaining a public equestrian skills course.

The Equestrian Skills Course is located in Bear Creek Regional Park in Colorado Springs, Colo. This Skills Course provides a learning environment for equestrians. The course consists of various sets of obstacles based on realistic elements riders often find on the trails in the Colorado foothills and mountains. Each obstacle set has a minimum of three difficulty levels (beginner - green, intermediate - blue and advanced - black) to allow horses and riders of all ages and skill levels a place to improve their skills as they prepare for the trail. Signage and a multi-use regional trail through the area also provide an opportunity to educate other trail users how to interact with horses and riders on the trail. Equestrians can take this opportunity to gradually expose their horses to the mountain bikes, hikers, runners and dogs frequenting this trail. The trail also allows the opportunity for equestrians to share their horses with trail users who might not otherwise have the chance to see a horse up close.