OXFORD, Conn. -- A Connecticut woman who has been riding horses for almost as long as her memory spans has found a way to combine her love of riding with her desire to help others.

Diane Ciano said she has been riding horses for 30 years and has been a member of the Connecticut Horse Council for many of those years. Four years ago, Ciano decided to put together a horse patrol for Connecticut's state parks and forests.

"I actually got the idea from the Maryland State Parks division -- it has a horse patrol in one park -- and then I also contacted the National Park Service and they have a program called Volunteers in Parks -- VIP," Ciano said.

Ciano said the program's volunteers and horses undergo a horse rider exam before being allowed to work in the state's parks.

She said there are currently 75 volunteers who offer first aid and CPR and help give park visitors directions.

Ciano said that while the volunteers have yet to use their CPR training, they've helped dozens of lost hikers.

"This woman was crying," said volunteer Shirley Vicchitto. "She had two dogs and she was completely lost. She was all turned around and she didn't know where to go. I knew the trails enough that I was able to figure out where her car was parked and I was able to escort her back to the car."

Ciano said that the idea for the Volunteer Horse Patrol was conceived in 2003.

"The DEP went through a lot of state budget cuts and we said, 'You know, we're out here on the trails. What could we do to help the DEP?' So we wrote to the Department of Environmental Protection and said, 'We have horses, we're out there on the trails, can we help patrol and maintain them?'" Ciano said.

Laurie Giannotti of the state DEP called Ciano a hero.

"This is an added layer of protection and help for us and we really appreciate it.," she said. "She is definitely a hero."

Ciano said that to date, the group has performed over 5,600 hours of service comma which includes more than 800 hours of trail maintenance.

"If we're out on the trail riding, if we see a branch down or a tree down -- we pick it up. We make everything kind of safe," she said.

Ciano said the group could use donations of folding saws to remove branches and first aid kits. She said they could also use help mapping the trails.

"Right now, we know some of the major trails that are being ridden …. But there are other trails throughout the state that we know people are riding; we just have no record of it," said Fred Mastele, of the Connecticut Horse Council.

The horse council also urged anyone driving by someone who is riding a horse not to go speeding by or beep their car's horn.

"They have to realize that the horse might by shying off on one side of the road because something might be there," said Ciano.

For more information about making donations or becoming involved with the group, visit its Web site.

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