Endurance.Net Ridecamp Archives

It's really hard for me to answer this thread because I get so angry that
I have to be very careful.  Thank goodness, people like Barbara and Heidi
and Drin have done an admirable job of defending us.  Most of the people,
though not all, who are talking are never going to live with wolves and
grizzlies in their backyard.  However, they will be proponents of them
being in our backyards.  Out here in places like Wyoming, we get to live
year around with the rules others make so that they can come out here for
a week once or twice in their lives and see the West as they want it to
be.  (Please forgive me, Barbara for the next part!)  CA has the grizzly
bear on its flag, why doesn't every one demand that grizzlies, and wolves,
be reintroduced into the Sierras???  I'll tell you why...because we
mountain westerners are politically insignificant and others can force us
to deal with their fantasies about what wilderness should look like.  Many
of them have ruined the land around them, so they live vicariously on our
land.  They'll never have to worry about mountain lions, wolves, or
grizzlies attacking their horses or making their trail rides or hikes
dangerous.  As for the comment about hunters, I suggest some research is
in order.  Generally speaking, hunters and their money have done more to
reestablish games herds than any other group.  There wouldn't be any large
elk, Bighorn sheep or even large deer populations in many parts of the
country without sportsmen's dollars and work.  Yes, they have a desire to
hunt that drives this philanthropy, but the result is good for wildlife. 
Generally, out here when we have severe blizzards that threaten our elk
and antelope herds, it's not the Sierra Club out there dropping hay to
them.  It's sportsmen and ranchers.  I truly believe that this is a thread
that has no place on ridecamp except to cause further regional divides. 
Cindy 

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We are talking about all the tools we can use to keep our horses safe and
alive at the rides. Training/conditioning is one of the best tools
available. It makes us better horseman and women, it benefits our horses
and could quite possibly be the key to preventing most crashes.
~ Lisa Salas - The Odd Farm

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