From: Bob
Morris
Sent: Monday, September 10, 2001 6:07
PM
To: EquesB@aol.com;
ridecamp@endurance.net
Cc: qbmike@hotmail.com
Subject: RC: RE: Sierra Club?
From my
experience here in the West, be very careful of what you wish
for!
Bob
Morris
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I really
think equestrian trail riders, endurance ones in particular, need to know
that the only ones who will take care of our rights (what's left of them) is
us. People who ride horses in the great outdoors need to stick
together and pay attention to what local authorities are doing.
Because they will take it away from you if you aren't paying close
attention. We are the minority here, and we need to be aware that
most other citizens could care less about our horses or
our trails.
We cannot
expect bicyclists, hunters, hikers, or members of the Sierra Club to share
our goals. What has happened in Pennsylvania is a prime example.
Hunters, bicyclists and hikers usually don't want us with them. And in
PA, hunters got their wish, cause they have the power and the bucks out
there. And that's who wins. It never comes down to what is fair,
what is just, what is right. It's who has the money to retain
the best attorney and obtain the most political clout. And who has the
largest numbers. Look around; our numbers are
small.
I know
I've said this before, but I'm not embarrassed to repeat myself. If we
don't fight for our trails, we will lose them. If we don't unite, with
all other equestrians, and any other group we can accept, our small number
will lose out to the larger one. Hunters don't want us out there
folks. They're afraid they might shoot one of us. And hunting
season is right around the corner. It won't stop me riding, not one
day, but it does stop some of my fellow riders. My attitude to
the hunters is, "This deer shoots back."
That's
why, to me, when all the trails are closed, when they tell us we can go
there no longer with our horse, I will take that final option. And I
will take it till they pry the reins from my cold dead hands (which
won't be easy to do since I seem to be getting a touch of arthritis in them
lately). That option is RENEGADE RIDER. I will ride, or I will
die while attempting to ride; I care not what the stupid law
says.
cya,
Howard
(the Sierra Club can go pound sand)