If you haven't done so, please visit the ELCR web site and take the
survey!
COMPETITION VENUES DISAPPEARING NATIONWIDE
New
Survey Shows Equestrian Competition Land Increasingly
Vulnerable
Lexington, KY. November 24, 2008. The Equestrian Land
Conservation Resource has commissioned a survey about the loss of land
used for horse-related competitions, which has generated considerable
interest prompting an extension to the survey deadline through to January
15, 2009. Data has so far been received from over 100 locations in
more than 24 states across the country and focuses on equine
competition sites that have been lost to development since 1997.
According to the survey results so far, among the competitions
that have disappeared are Barrel Racing, Cutting, Dressage, Driving,
Endurance and Competitive Distance Rides, English Pleasure, Gymkhanas,
Hunter Trials and Hunter Paces, Polo, Reining, Rodeo, Roping, Saddle
Seat, Team Penning, Cow Sorting, Eventing and Western Pleasure. These
events have impacted many breeds and disciplines from Sport Horses to
Arabians, Morgans, Quarter Horses and Saddlebreds.
"We have received
an overwhelming and diverse response to our request. The loss of
competition spaces for horses affects all breeds, disciplines and
regions. This information is helpful in raising awareness of the land
loss issue and moving horsemen into action. All land is conserved
locally. We need local equestrians to become active to preserve our
passion, our sport and our heritage. Once equestrians are motivated,
the Equestrian Land Conservation Resource can provide the "how-to"
information," said Deb Balliet, CEO, Equestrian Land Conservation
Resource.
In addition to the competitions that have been lost to
development, the survey revealed that a number of other horse related
activities have been compromised including clinics, rallies, youth
programs, boarding stables, riding academies, training facilities,
summer camps, schooling, private farms and ranches.
The
Equestrian Land Conservation Resource is calling on all horsemen and
equestrians to respond to these three questions: 1. The name by which
the competition site or farm was commonly known; 2. City & State;
3. Type of competition held there, e.g. reining, dressage, eventing,
roping, driving, polo, etc. Deadline for submissions, to be sent to
_info@xxxxxxxxx (mailto:info@xxxxxxxx) , is January 15,
2009.
The Equestrian Land Conservation Resource is engaged in
farmland conservation, trails access and sustainability, best
management practices for soil and water protection, equine economic
development, and community land use planning and zoning. It currently
has 104 Equestrian Partners. These are dues-paying organizations such
as equine product companies; conservation and equine trail groups and breed
and discipline organizations, which are in need of current information
on topical issues as well as for networking and collaboration
purposes.
About the survey...
The survey was
electronically distributed through our volunteers, dues-paying
Equestrian Partners, and the media. The results were collated by farm
name, state and activity. The survey questions were: 1. Name by
which the competition site or farm was commonly known; 2. City &
State; 3. Type of competition held there, e.g. reining, dressage,
cross-country, roping, driving, polo.
About the Equestrian Land
Conservation Resource The Equestrian Land Conservation Resource was
founded in 1997 by a group of concerned horse people who recognized
that loss of open land is the greatest threat to the future of all
horse sport, recreation, and industry.
_www.elcr.org_
(http://www.elcr.org)
Contact: Deb Balliet;
CEO dballiet@xxxxxxxx 859-455-8383
Loss of open land has
been identified as the greatest threat to the future of all equestrian
sport, recreation, and industry. By educating horse people and
encouraging partnerships with conservationists and other user groups at
the local level, the Equestrian Land Conservation Resource is
mobilizing thousands of equestrians to work for land access and
protection in their communities. We recognize that without such
concerted efforts, the equestrian world as we know it is at great
risk. __________________
Caren
Stauffer
SEDRA Treasurer, SENTINEL Editor, Web Site
Wrangler Membership, Publicity, Sanctioning Committee 181 Riverwoods
Dr, Chuluota, FL 32766 407-365-5601 _www.DistanceRiding.org_
(http://www.distanceriding.org/)
South Eastern Distance
Riders Association a proud Host of Southeastern Equestrian Trails
Conference, Gainesville, FL... July 9-12,
2009
