NO HOR
SES ALLOWED!
By Susan Maiwald
What do you mean NO HORSES Allowed? I’ve been riding this land for 14 years, the land has been put into perpetual land conservation and we have been riding the trails with the owners blessing. The land conservation restricted development and allowed for the continuation of the land at its present uses.
Right? Not now, though. Harrison County Conservation board has acquired the land and they will not allow Horses – they DESTROY the land you know. I could not believe what I was hearing. Surely this must be a mistake! I had heard about the trails disappearing across the country and how we should all take a stand a support our local trails. Funny, I just never thought it would happen to me!
After all the owners had put the land into a perpetual land conservation trust which would limit any development in the future and maintain the pristine nature of this unique ground, conserve it forever – for the future generations. However, when they moved from the area and put the land up for sale it was purchased by the Local Harrison County Conservation Board that shared the same interests or so I thought.
I could not believe my eyes as I read the signs posted – No Horses -on this pristine prairie land and forest located in the beautiful Loess Hills in Harrison County Iowa. This ground was right out my back door – 20 plus miles of trails. The land was sacred to me. It was here I went with my favorite horse to feel the healing powers of nature as I suffered through chemo and radiation. It was here where I came on horseback to commune with nature and recharge my human batteries. Full of wildlife, timber, hills, creeks and fantastic views, I had probably logged over 3,000 miles of training for Competitive Trail Riding on this ground and now it is gone!
No horses – they destroy the land you know! Where was this land destroyed by horses? How? They must be mistaken. I thought going to the board and talking with them to let them know that horse people love the land too, and we take care of the land. We know not to ride the trails when they are wet, not to leave trash and garbage behind, not to disturb the wildlife, not ride straight up and down hills which create trails which cause erosion. Let me tell you – the board did not care – they know horses destroy the trails – and would not entertain any other thoughts. Pleading my case fell on deaf ears and preconceived notions about horses and horse riders for whatever reasons, closed the gates to these trails forever to those who would have continued to enjoy them by horseback.
According to the Equestrian Land Conservation Resources we are losing 6,000 acres a day of land. Land that was once available to us to farm, raise horses, hay crops, pasture, pleasure and trail ride. Once this land is.jpg)
gone it is gone forever. Even if you do not trail ride this affects you has a horse owner. Where will horses be kept in the future? Where will you buy hay? Will people be able to afford to buy the horses you raise, the cost of hay, the price of land? Right now we continue to enjoy horses across our generations – great family past time that builds confidence and values in our youth and careers and industry for our nations. One that grandma and grandpa can enjoy with their grandkids – whether it be camping and trail riding or week end shows – it is multigenerational.
I would like to encourage you to become more involved in protecting our public lands and our right to ride and to educate the public of the need to be actively involved. I would encourage you to seek out more information and become an educated consumer. A good website to start with is the Equestrian Land Conservation Resource website, dedicated to preserving the land, increasing partnerships and funding sources.
The Nebraska Horse Council has been very proactive in preserving trails and getting grant money to further develop more equestrian trails and as a result there are many great places to ride in Nebraska. The Nebraska Horse Council has been very successful in educating the public and raising money for trails advocacy. It stands to reason that the Iowa Horse Council could take the active leadership role and preserve and help develop more equestrian trails in Iowa with the help of the various saddle clubs, 4-h groups and various horse organizations across the state. Talking to other people across the state of Iowa, there is a great need for a strong organization with many voices, such as the Iowa Horse Council, to help with trails advocacy.
In March we had a trails advocacy meeting in Missouri Valley that resulted in over 40 avid trail riders coming together to discuss the need to be proactive in preserving the trails we currently have and to advocate for more. People came from Sioux City, Carroll, Harlan, Sydney, Council Bluffs, Omaha, Blair, and as far away as Kearney, Neb. We created a group that is actively working on trails in their local areas and seeking more trail riders to support our advocacy for the trails. Please visit the Iowa Horse Trails website for minutes from that meeting and to check out available trails in Iowa. Through the Missouri Valley meeting we have started an email database of concerned horse people and periodically update the group on issues before trail riders and communicate needs and concerns across our region. If you would like to be added to this list please send me an email at sumarcopper@yahoo.com with trails advocacy in the message line. Everyone has a unique talent or gift to bring to preserving our trails. We need you to get involved, take a stand and not think someone else will do this for you. Please get involved with preserving trails now – tomorrow may be too late! They may be gone forever.
SES ALLOWED!By Susan Maiwald
What do you mean NO HORSES Allowed? I’ve been riding this land for 14 years, the land has been put into perpetual land conservation and we have been riding the trails with the owners blessing. The land conservation restricted development and allowed for the continuation of the land at its present uses.
Right? Not now, though. Harrison County Conservation board has acquired the land and they will not allow Horses – they DESTROY the land you know. I could not believe what I was hearing. Surely this must be a mistake! I had heard about the trails disappearing across the country and how we should all take a stand a support our local trails. Funny, I just never thought it would happen to me!
After all the owners had put the land into a perpetual land conservation trust which would limit any development in the future and maintain the pristine nature of this unique ground, conserve it forever – for the future generations. However, when they moved from the area and put the land up for sale it was purchased by the Local Harrison County Conservation Board that shared the same interests or so I thought.
I could not believe my eyes as I read the signs posted – No Horses -on this pristine prairie land and forest located in the beautiful Loess Hills in Harrison County Iowa. This ground was right out my back door – 20 plus miles of trails. The land was sacred to me. It was here I went with my favorite horse to feel the healing powers of nature as I suffered through chemo and radiation. It was here where I came on horseback to commune with nature and recharge my human batteries. Full of wildlife, timber, hills, creeks and fantastic views, I had probably logged over 3,000 miles of training for Competitive Trail Riding on this ground and now it is gone!
No horses – they destroy the land you know! Where was this land destroyed by horses? How? They must be mistaken. I thought going to the board and talking with them to let them know that horse people love the land too, and we take care of the land. We know not to ride the trails when they are wet, not to leave trash and garbage behind, not to disturb the wildlife, not ride straight up and down hills which create trails which cause erosion. Let me tell you – the board did not care – they know horses destroy the trails – and would not entertain any other thoughts. Pleading my case fell on deaf ears and preconceived notions about horses and horse riders for whatever reasons, closed the gates to these trails forever to those who would have continued to enjoy them by horseback.
According to the Equestrian Land Conservation Resources we are losing 6,000 acres a day of land. Land that was once available to us to farm, raise horses, hay crops, pasture, pleasure and trail ride. Once this land is
.jpg)
gone it is gone forever. Even if you do not trail ride this affects you has a horse owner. Where will horses be kept in the future? Where will you buy hay? Will people be able to afford to buy the horses you raise, the cost of hay, the price of land? Right now we continue to enjoy horses across our generations – great family past time that builds confidence and values in our youth and careers and industry for our nations. One that grandma and grandpa can enjoy with their grandkids – whether it be camping and trail riding or week end shows – it is multigenerational.I would like to encourage you to become more involved in protecting our public lands and our right to ride and to educate the public of the need to be actively involved. I would encourage you to seek out more information and become an educated consumer. A good website to start with is the Equestrian Land Conservation Resource website, dedicated to preserving the land, increasing partnerships and funding sources.
The Nebraska Horse Council has been very proactive in preserving trails and getting grant money to further develop more equestrian trails and as a result there are many great places to ride in Nebraska. The Nebraska Horse Council has been very successful in educating the public and raising money for trails advocacy. It stands to reason that the Iowa Horse Council could take the active leadership role and preserve and help develop more equestrian trails in Iowa with the help of the various saddle clubs, 4-h groups and various horse organizations across the state. Talking to other people across the state of Iowa, there is a great need for a strong organization with many voices, such as the Iowa Horse Council, to help with trails advocacy.
In March we had a trails advocacy meeting in Missouri Valley that resulted in over 40 avid trail riders coming together to discuss the need to be proactive in preserving the trails we currently have and to advocate for more. People came from Sioux City, Carroll, Harlan, Sydney, Council Bluffs, Omaha, Blair, and as far away as Kearney, Neb. We created a group that is actively working on trails in their local areas and seeking more trail riders to support our advocacy for the trails. Please visit the Iowa Horse Trails website for minutes from that meeting and to check out available trails in Iowa. Through the Missouri Valley meeting we have started an email database of concerned horse people and periodically update the group on issues before trail riders and communicate needs and concerns across our region. If you would like to be added to this list please send me an email at sumarcopper@yahoo.com with trails advocacy in the message line. Everyone has a unique talent or gift to bring to preserving our trails. We need you to get involved, take a stand and not think someone else will do this for you. Please get involved with preserving trails now – tomorrow may be too late! They may be gone forever.
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