Bridle Trails

Bridle Trails History

The tradition of Indian Hill as an equestrian community has always played a prominent role in the unique history of the Village. Originally, the Camargo Hunt members would gather and hunt from each other’s properties, utilizing the trails and the connecting farms to travel up to 50 square miles of established hunt country.

The precedence of preserving and protecting “Green Areas” was established in the mid-1920’s by members of the Camargo Hunt who acquired and donated land to the Village Green Areas and additional trails were cleared for use by riders for pleasure and hunting. The trails within the Green Areas are protected to this day by Village ordinance which designates their use for “Horses and Hounds only”. 

Today, the Indian Hill Bridle Trails traverse Green Areas land, protected easements and private lands covering an estimated 75 linear miles. This is an especially unique attribute of the Village considering the next closest residential community offering such a vast area for riding is over 300 miles from Indian Hill.

Reporting Process for Trail Blockages

Riders are encouraged to report downed trees, trail blockages, safety hazards, trail signage requests and any other feedback to improve the riding experience for all riders.

The Indian Hill Equestrian Club works closely with the Village of Indian Hill to support trail maintenance & prioritization of trail clearing needs.

How to report issues you encounter on the INDIAN HILL trails:

1. Write to: ihbridletrails@gmail.com and Include:
2. Description of issue
3. Trail # & location on trail
4. Specify if the trail is completely or partially blocked
5. If possible, include a picture
6. Use the Village of Indian Hill app
   1. App includes click-through steps to report trail issues with an option to attach photos.
      1. For iPhone, download Village of Indian Hill app at the App store
      2. For all other phones, download Village of Indian Hill app on Google Play

How to report issues you encounter on GREENACRES trails:

1. Write to: bbrannon@green-acres.org and include:
2. Description of issue
3. Trail # and/or description of the location on trail
4. Specify if the trail is completely or partially blocked
5. If possible, include a picture

Note: The Village does not address trail blockages on Greenacres property

Trail Maintenance Volunteers

The club seeks to support the integrity of the Indian Hill Bridle Trails through monthly organized volunteer events from March to October. Volunteers contribute to the maintenance of the trails at whatever level they’re comfortable with, ranging from brush trimming & small debris removal, to using chainsaws to clear fallen trees.

All IHEC Riding & Social members, Hunt members, and Village residents are welcome to support the club’s trail maintenance activities. To volunteer for a future event, contact Pete McAdams, Trail Maintenance Chair at: pmcadams513@gmail.com

Indian Hill Bridle Trails & IHEC Riding Guidelines

• All IHEC riders must have a current Village of Indian Hill Bridle Trail License. Guests of riders must purchase a Day Pass from the Village of Indian Hill to ride the Bridle Trails. For information visit www.ihill.org or Call (513) 561-6500.
• Some bridle trails cross Indian Hill residents’ property. Be sure to stay on designated trails and only ride on a homeowner’s lawn if it’s within the trail route. If a route is not clear, the rule of thumb is to “ride along the tree line”. 
• Please ride slowly through the center of a muddy route instead of drier sides to prevent added erosion and to keep from making trails wider which leads to more maintenance.
• The Indian Hill Equestrian Club recommends you wear a helmet. And it’s recommended you replace your helmet every 5 years (and replace it if you ever fall and your helmet makes contact with the ground).
• Riders who ride in IHEC organized trail riding events must sign an Indian Hill Equestrian Club waiver and provide emergency information.
• IHEC Trail Rides are leisure rides at a walk, no fast pace or galloping. And riders must maintain a safe distance from other horses. If a horse is known to kick, please tie a red ribbon at the top of the tail. Trail Ride Leaders have absolute discretion in maintaining a safe ride for everyone and may ask any rider or uncontrolled mount to leave the group if necessary. 
• Cell phones should not be used while riding and should be silent for the duration of an organized IHEC trail ride.
• Dogs are not permitted on trail rides or at any other time on the Village trails. Only hounds from the Camargo Hunt are allowed on the Village trails.
• Be sure to clean up after your horse at trailer parking locations and public locations such as hiking paths and parking lots, as well as private driveways.

Greenacres Bridle Trails

• No trespassing signs –signs posted along Loveland Madeira Road are intended to notify hikers & hunters not to enter Greenacres property. As with Indian Hill trails, only Horses & Hounds are permitted on the trails at Greenacres.
• Trails Map -refer to the Village map to navigate trails north of the Arts Center (former Fleischmann estate). When riding south of the Arts Center, you must follow the cow pasture fencing around the perimeter of the grounds.
• Grounds –because of farming activities & events within the grounds & facilities, Greenacres has asked that riders remain on the perimeter of the grounds and not ride near the stables, arena, greenhouse, or front drive and lawn & gardens of the Arts Center.
• Closed trails –U25 is closed due to a landslide alongside Winding Creek (as of 11/11/20). Trails U31, U32 & U33 within the grounds are no longer accessible for riding.

Indian Hill Bridle Trails Map

The maps for the Indian Hill Bridle Trails are only available to current bridle trail license holders and may be obtained at the Village Administrative Office.

The maps are divided into 6 sections: Lower “L” trails which are south of Shawnee Run, Clippinger “C” trails surrounding Clippinger Field near the NE end of Shawnee Run, Middle-West “M” trails located behind Camargo Stables & north to Kugler Mill Road & Given Road up to Sutphin Field south of the Little Red Schoolhouse, Middle-East “M” trails, east of Given near Buckingham Road and includes the trails near Whitegate Lane and Kroger Farm, Upper “U” trails, trails north of Camargo Road including the Little Red Schoolhouse area up to Livingston Park. And Greenacres trails are located west of Loveland Madeira Road, between Remington Road and to the south, across from the crossing at Keller Road.