FW: [RC] caught in the middle - Jannelle Wilde & Adam Falk
I feel for both of you, and am afraid for
all horse people as well. I have heard form many hikers that they
would like to close the trails to horses. We leave poop behind, we
make the trails muddy in the winter. If people can lobby to have the area
closed to motor vehicles they can be closed to horses at some point. I
wish that we could find a way to make everyone happy, or maybe make everyone
unhappy would be ok as well.
Just my thoughts
Adam.
Jannelle Wilde & Adam Falk
584 Romie Howard Rd.
Yoncalla OR 97499
541-849-2460
866-241-1531 (toll-free)
home.centurytel.net/mfarm
From:
ridecamp-owner@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:ridecamp-owner@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Mom Alexander Sent: Sunday, February 12, 2006
4:36 PM To: ridecamp Subject: [RC] caught in the middle
(Long)...I have just
learned that all of the public land in our area (a HUGE area! OcalaNat.Forest, Lake
GeorgeCons.Land, etc.,) is being closed off
to off road vehicles, atv's etc, and will be open only to hikers, mountain
bikers, and horses. This will take effect March 31st, 2006.
While
this sounds fabulous to everyone on this sight, I can also see it from the
other side, as I am "caught in the middle". My husband is a
"motor-head". He used to race motocross, a lot, then when I
finally convinced him that he was old he bought a Yamaha Rhino and a group of
Rhino's and ATV's go out almost every weekend and ride the trails through these
public lands. I have been on a few of these rides and this is a group of
middle aged guys and their wives/girlfriends out for the day enjoying the
trails. We would pack a picnic lunch, ride for about 4 miles, then
stop for a break, then go some more. Our group (I know there are some
crazy, careless people out there too) always slowed down when we approached
another rider, we ALWAYS cleaned up after ourselves and would pick up after
others that didn't, and we always stayed on the trails that were fire breaks
cut by the forestry, so we weren't out there "raping" the land.
I actually enjoyed myself on these rides.
But,
I am also a horse person, have been all my life, and I ride trails on my horses
too. I too get pissed when a dumb ass comes flying down the trail on his
4-wheeler and doesn't care that he's freaking out my horse, I too get pissed
when the hunters leave trash and fecal matter all over the trails, and I kinda
hate those roller coaster bumps left by 4-wheelers (my husband says they're
"braking bumps" caused by people gassing then braking
repeatedly) But, I feel for the other side too. I am secretly happy
that now I will be able to ride EVERYWHERE and not worry about an atv coming
along, but my husband and his friends now have nowhere to go out and have a
little good clean fun and enjoy the trails. He will probably sell his
Rhino and start riding dirtbikes again at motocross tracks (God help me)
or have to trailer to Georgia
to ride. I think there is some solution so we can all enjoy the
land.
