Pat Olivia and PA

["Hickory Ridge Arabians" <hikryrdg@evansville.net>]

Pat,
You did a great service by telling the story about the issues in 
Pennsylvania.
For those of you not aware of the situation, the Pennsylvania Game 
Commission is trying to remove horses and other users from lands 
purchased with funds collected through the Wildlife Restoration Act 
aka, the Pittman-Robertson Act.  Interestingly enough,
the Feds want the lands to be used for other purposes. Please refer 
to http://fa.r9.fws.gov/wr/fawr.html
The feds put up 75% for the land purchase and the balance comes from 
the state.
The lands purchased are used 90% of the time by others, and the US 
Fish and Wildlife Service expects and encourages other uses of the 
lands.  Claims are now being made in Colorado that our passing 
through an area disturbs wild life.  The claim is being made with no
scientific study.
For those of you in Pennsylvania and Colorado who are not involved in 
the process, now is the time to jump in there and help your trail 
advocates.  Debbie Zanot is our leader in Pennsylvania
and in Colorado, work through the Colorado Horse Council.
Jerry


  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: PatOlivatigger@aol.com 
  To: ridecamp@endurance.net 
  Sent: Tuesday, August 21, 2001 10:49 AM
  Subject: RC: I AM A MEMBER PLEASE POST


  PA Game Lands 

  A great example of how horse enthusiasts can be powerful and 
effective 
  advocates for sustained access to trails occurred in Harrisburg, PA 
on 
  Friday, Aug 17th.   

  Pete Johnson  the state trail chairman for the PA. Equine Council 
was 
  fighting a lonely battle with little support.  Burn out made him 
think about 
  throwing in the towel when Debbie called him about the Game land 
issue.    
  They joined forces and organized a protest rally at the Games 
Commission. 
  Headquarters. This was not just for horse riders.  They invited 
bikers and 
  ATV's to join us. We met at a site about a mile from the Game Lands 
  Headquarters for a march there to present our views.  There were 
three TV 
  networks and the press from several newspapers covering the march. 

  We formed an impressive line with 108 riders, 2x2, a carriage and 
the very 
  best group of pooper-scoopers in the world.  Bringing up the rear 
on clean 
  pavement were the bikers and ATV's. The finest of PA's state 
troopers did the 
  traffic control.  The game land personnel came out to talk with 
Pete and 
  Debbie while we made an orderly group of friendly trail users.  The 
media 
  recorded this.  There was a march back to the parking area followed 
by a 
  short meeting and a lot of "thanks" 

  There were few endurance riders-BUT there was the real strength of 
us trail 
  users.  The backyard  riders,  your next door neighbor biker and 
ATV users 
  joining together for a common goal.  This was an impressive 
demonstration of 
  our collective commitment and responsibility.  Not only did this 
event 
  influence the policy makers, it also gave all of us hope about the 
promise of 
  what we can accomplish together.  Debbie you stand tall! You earned 
the 
  right.  We have our sleeves rolled up and we won't give up! 

  There are lots of well-organized efforts that are limiting our 
access to 
  trails everyday.  If you think that trails will be available for 
our future 
  without our work, advocacy, collaboration and planning - wake up 
and smell 
  the coffee.  This is not going to happen by itself. Riders who want 
a future 
  for their sport will need to journey down the path of activism and 
become a 
  part of the solution.   


  -