Re: Horse Trails Symposium Summary

["Robert Morris" <bobmorris@rmci.net>]

Betsy:

We are pleased you obtained some good information from the symposium/
Especially about the Blue Ribbon Coalition. Some of our early Idaho
endurance rides were assisted by the founder of the BRC Clark Collins and
Adena Cook who is a mainstay of the BRC has given us considerable help in
the past when we get into trails controversies.

I hope you can get your local trails people (I am not sure what part of the
country you are in) to work with you using the US Forest Service Trail
Construction and Maintenance notebook and the Horse Camp Planning books,
they are very good.

Do you know if the sponsors of the Symposium will be issuing a set of
"proceedings" for those unable to attend. I am sure there are many of us
who could not make it back east that would like a set. 

Thanks for your report.

Bob Morris
Morris Endurance Enterprises
Boise, ID

----------
> From: Betsy B Gilman <bbgilmanbb@juno.com>
> To: ridecamp@endurance.net
> Cc: trailtales@aol.com
> Subject: Horse Trails Symposium Summary
> Date: Saturday, October 24, 1998 8:22 PM
> 
> First, I want to thank all you ridecampers who contributed to my
> education by sending me to the Nat'l Symposium on Horse Trails in Forest
> Ecosystems.  It turned out to be very pro-horse and many of the speakers
> (although they represented other organizations) were horse owners and
> trail riders. The theme of the symposium was partnership-both with other
> trail user groups and with the land managers.  We heard several land
> managers speak - including the ex-chief of the Forest Service- who
> explained the conflicts land managers face and how they prefer to be
> treated (with respect).  It was suggested that all the trail user groups
> unite to help participate in forest service planning and volunteer to
> maintain  (or put in) trails and sit on the advisory council.  All the
> speakers stressed the reality that we must share the trails since the
> land available to us is shrinking!  
> 
> My personal conviction was that I need to join a local horse group that
> is active in working on trails and volunteer some labor.  It is important
> that all the labor we do is documented so the land manager knows we care!
>  I also will now stop and pick up trash on a trail instead of trotting
> by...trash pick up is everybody's responsibility.  Also, trail etiquette
> became very important to me.  On a trail shared by hikers/day walkers
> that I frequent I will now make my horse walk past a walker instead of
> trotting by- a good first impression is a lasting impression!
> 
> I have some great materials from the symposium: a US Forest Service Trail
> Construction and Maintenance notebook; Horse Camp Planning; and, the most
> valuable to me right now: a publication for OHV (off highway vehicles)
> riders called the Blue Ribbon Magazine (in which is an article on
> Equestrians and OHV's: can't we share?)  there is a listing of ALL the
> states Senators and Congressmen and how often they voted to support
> private land rights and land access issues.  This info will certainly
> help me vote in Nov.!  
> 
> Thanks again for the experience- and lets all remember we need to share
> the trails and the beauty that belongs to all of us!       Betsy Gilman
> 
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