The Sunflower Stretch, Kansas’ segment of the American Discovery Trails 250 Relay, came through Council Grove Tuesday morning, reaching the community at approximately 7:30 a.m. before meeting an equine contingent at Allegawaho Heritage Memorial Park around 9 a.m.
Justine Staten, executive director of Kansas Horse Council/EquiFest of Kansas, described the 11-mile horseback portion of the relay, which traveled the Flint Hills Trail from the heritage park to Bushong.
The equine group was led by a vintage high-wheel buckboard wagon decorated with patriotic bunting and pulled by a team of Percherons — one black and one gray. Following the wagon was a 4-year-old Clydesdale under saddle, along with a Morgan, Missouri Fox Trotters, an Arabian, a Connemara carrying both a rider and dog, several American Quarter Horses of various colors, a mule and several Bureau of Land Management mustangs.
Staten said the variety of breeds represented more than the horses taking part in the relay. “The diversity of breeds was a nod at the melting pot of this beautiful country,” she said.
As the group traveled the Flint Hills Trail, riders passed through Kansas prairie, rolling hills, limestone bluffs, creeks and timber. Staten noted the ecological diversity found within the relatively short 11mile stretch of the former railroad corridor, now converted to recreational trail. At times, the riders traveled closely together at a steady pace. As the miles accumulated, the horses began spreading out along the trail. Staten said conversations ranged from the Pony Express to speculation about train robberies, stagecoaches and how Native people may once have used high points overlooking the surrounding landscape.
“It was fun. The weather was perfect,” Staten said. “The trail is very well maintained, and anyone who has never traveled it should give it a try.”
She said the Flint Hills Trail provides opportunities for several forms of recreation while giving people a common place to experience Kansas.
“No matter if you’re a walker, a cyclist or an equestrian, the trail brings us all together to enjoy our state, nature, recreation and meeting new people,” Staten said. “That’s exactly what we did today.”
Staten expressed appreciation to American Discovery Trail organizers for coordinating the coast-tocoast, multimodal relay in celebration of America’s 250th birthday. She also credited Kansas Trails Inc. with organizing the Kansas portion, known as the Sunflower Stretch, and inviting the Kansas Horse Council and its trail-focused Back Country Horsemen of Kansas to organize an equine segment.
She also recognized the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks for its stewardship of the trails used during the event.
When the equine group reached Bushong, the relay baton — which contains a rolled copy of the Declaration of Independence — was handed off to the O’Brien Bicycle Club to continue east.
The horseback segment covered 11 miles of the 99 miles scheduled to be traveled Tuesday and was part of the approximately 575 miles the Discovery 250 Relay will cover across Kansas.