Re: Re: re: manure at rides

["Kathryn Flynn" <flynson@teleport.com>]

Howard,  I must say I agree with the others on this.  I'm lucky to live in a
state with an extensive system of horse trails.  But when riders don't obey
the rules, they do indeed ruin it for others.  You may think you are the
only one, but your actions effect your fellow riders and I personally
believe yours is an incredibly selfish position  to take.  Apparently the
other riders in your area are taking the direct and prudent approach with
duct tape and attending meetings.
----- Original Message -----
From: <Howard4567@aol.com>
To: <dfletche@gte.net>; <ridecamp@endurance.net>
Sent: Thursday, November 09, 2000 9:49 PM
Subject: RC: Re: re: manure at rides


> In a message dated 11/9/00 10:12:08 PM Eastern Standard Time,
> dfletche@gte.net writes:
>
> << Paper and plastics are also biodegradable. Plastic has a substantial
>  different time frame. >>
>
> Yea, like forever.  Come on, you're comparing plastic to manure?  This is
> silly.
>
>  <<As for riding public land where you are prohibited, I know some golf
> courses on
>  public land that I would love to ride. >>
>
> Just because they call a golf course "public" does not mean the land is.
And
> I wasn't speaking of any golf courses.  I'm talking about our forests, our
> land.  Government land that is not privately owned.
>
> << I can also be somewhat an anarchist in terms of attitude. But I also
>  understand the process. I can ride some prohibited areas and get away
with
>  it. But I can guarantee you will not ride in an endurance ride in a
> prohibited area. And that is not the ultimate solution. >>
>
> I'm not speaking of endurance rides; they are never a problem.  Most
riding I
> do, and other riders I'm sure, is training in areas to get your horse
> prepared for that next endurance ride.  If, for some reason, the state or
> federal rangers decide that I can no longer take my horse into the forest,
> because the hikers don't like the mess, or the hunters say I'm scaring
away
> the deer, or the 4-wheelers can't hear me, I will still ride there.
>
> I'm not trying to get anyone to agree with me and have them think this is
the
> proper thing to do.  It probably is not.  But I will do it if it ever
comes
> to that point.  To ride is to live; to live is to ride. Ride till you puke
(I
> never liked this phrase until I actually did it at an endurance ride).  On
> this issue I feel so strongly that I will violate the law, if no other
option
> is available.
>
> <<When push comes to shove, I (and other horsemen) lose. I (along with
others
> in your organization) spend a great deal of time working to keep trails
open.
> And
>  part of that is obeying the rules. Part of it is pointing out where the
> rules may not have any signifcant difference to the goals of the land
> manager. And part of it is getting other horsemen not to screw us all
because
> of their attitude. Instead of an attitude, perhaps you should spend some
time
> helping out Jerry Fruth. >>
>
> If I break the law and get caught I will be the one punished.  It is my
> choice and, if arrested, I promise not to tell the police that I belong to
> AERC or any other equestrian association.  If you really think that I'm
> harming you and other horseman because I have this belief in my head then
> you're missing my point entirely.  I'm speaking theoretically, of other
> options available, if it ever gets to the point where we have no place to
> train, no place to ride.
>
> Maybe it's just me, but I'm getting a little sick and tired of having to
> produce more and more papers, as time goes by, to cross my state line with
a
> horse.  I'm getting a little tired of paying more money because I own a
horse
> just because the authorities demand that I do so.  Why do I need to have
my
> vet come out to my house to sign a Health Certificate that is only valid
for
> 30 days to leave my state?  Why do I need to have a Coggins test once a
year?
> And, God forbid, if my horse comes up positive after the test they will
> expect me to allow them to euthanize my best friend, even if he's
perfectly
> healthy.  Who knows what they're gonna come up with next month.  Am I the
> only one getting sick of this bullshit?  And now you're telling me I can't
> ride?  I don't think so!
>
> I've attended several local meetings to discuss the use of local trails
I'm
> concerned about and we have a good thing going here.  For now.  Not
because
> of me, but because of other riders who know how to handle meetings and get
> things done.  These smart riders usually put duct tape over my mouth and
sit
> me in the corner till the end of the meeting.  But I'm lucky and this
could
> change at anytime.   I am concerned about our equestrian trails
nationwide.
> And I think Jerry is doing an exceptional job and I commend him.
>
> But, let's say we start losing trails.  Some government agency comes in
and
> says you can't ride your horse here anymore.  You attend meetings, do
> everything the legal and proper way, but you still can't ride.  Not where
you
> want to, not where you've ridden for the last ten years.  It's all gone!
>
> This is where I draw the line.  I'll take my damn glow stick and ride in
the
> dark if I have to.  I just have to ride.  I'm training a Saddlebred for a
50
> and that is not an easy thing to do. We need space.  And it can't be done
> with just ring work.  Catch me Ranger, if you can!
>
> cya,
> Howard (I will shut up now cause I'm busy counting the votes down here in
my
> precinct; Dan Rather will pass out when he gets our results.  Nader win's
> Florida, now what the heck do we do?)
>
>
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