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The PROBLEM is that the FS has the cart before the horse.  All this should
have been done BEFORE the fact.  IMHO, it's time for Georgia equestrians to
step up, stick together, and fight for our trails.  How about a "ride in" to
every FS office in Georgia and camp there till they get the message?

Why only the Chattahoochee, Cherokee, and Oconee National Forests?  I've
ridden National Forests all over the East Coast.  There is no more "damage"
from horses here than anywhere else.  The other National Forests do not have
these restrictions.

Sharon, I applaud your efforts, but by the time you replace 10% of the
trails lost to the new Land Management Plan, I'll be too d*** old to ride
them!

Jim, Sun of Dimanche+, and Mahada Magic


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Ridecamp Guest" <guest-owner@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: <ridecamp@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Tuesday, April 20, 2004 10:20 PM
Subject: [RC] Chattahoochee National Forest


Please Reply to: Sharon King gatrail@xxxxxxxxxxxxx or ridecamp@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
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Samantha..
If you want information directly from the horses mouth "so to speak"
Kathleen Atkinson the FS Supervisor will be speaking at the Chattahoochee
Trail Horse Assoc. annual meeting.  We have already requested input on
issues that have been presented for topics. One, is the fact that many
designated trails within the Forest are either not accessable by rigs (no
parking), or that the mileage is such (one trail is 1/2 mile)and thus not
worth the effort.  Two, how are trails that have been ridden in the past by
equestrians, to be looked at to become cataloged as a designated trails.
Three, how is the plan to be implemented.  Kathleen will also discuss other
issues and answer questions.
Kathleen Atkinson, along with Managers from the National Park Service, State
Parks, Fish and Wildlife and Corp of Engineers will all be speaking at the
Southeastern Equestrian Trails Conference hosted by the Chattahoochee Trail
Horse Assoc. in Atlanta Ga. in July regarding these public agencies policies
concerning equestrian trails and how equestrians can work with land managers
in development and support of their Agencies program in regards to
recreational trails.  More info can be obtained at www.ride-ctha.org or
www.southeasternequestrials.com
Kathleen is an equestrian (owns a horse)and has been out on horseback with
members of CTHA and SORBA (mountainbike, who also rode a horse) to tour the
trails and discuss issues.
As far as new trails CTHA, GA. Horse Council and SORBA have worked jointly
on a new trail system (proposed 40 miles, with 12 completed) at Lake Russell
WMA near Toccoa.  There is also discussion of a new 60 mile trail system in
the Oconee area (they are seeking equestrian suppor/commitment to the
maintenance of this proposed system).
This is where the problem arises,FS does not have the manpower or the funds
to maintain or develop trails without support from the recreational
community.  The US government has mandated a procedure that must be followed
to establish a designated trail.  This policy is far too indepth to be
covered here...but to say the least it is not easy.  Along with this you
have all the environmentalist who fight them tooth and nail anytime they
want to do anything other than designate a wilderness area.
You can't get around the fact that FS is GOVERNMENT and the paperwork,
policies and redtape are enough to drive the lay person trying to work with
them batty, but our elected officials are the ones who placed these
restrictions that they must follow.  Their charter is the protection of the
resource with recreation (now coming more into the forefront) and
afterthought.  We have found that you get more done by working with them vs
seeing FS as the enemy that we must fight back againest.  There are two
sides to every story and both sides must be understood and a compromised
reached.


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You don't have to be a 100-mile rider or a multi-day rider to be an
endurance rider, but if you want to experience the finest challenges our
sport has to offer, you need to do both of those.
~ Joe Long

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If you treat an Arab like a Thoroughbred, it will behave like a Quarter
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~  Libby Llop

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