The CT DEP is considering a rule change banning horses from state
land unless expressly allowed. This will take miles and miles of
trails away from equestrian use. Please write to help stop this
change.
Roger from CT
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The Connecticut Horse Council, Inc.
URGENT TRAILS ALERT- January 2007
Calling all Trail Riders - SAVE OUR TRAILS!
DEP Public Hearing: February 5, 2007 at 7:30 p.m.
The DEP has announced that they are making a regulation change
specific to horses, which reads as follows: "Trails are open unless
posted closed to hiking, mountain biking, or other types of trail-
related activities. Horseback riding is prohibited on trails unless
posted as permitted. Use of any trail, road or path posted as closed
by the DEP is prohibited".
WHAT THIS MEANS TO HORSE OWNERS IN CONNECTICUT: You will lose access
to most of the trails that are now available for equestrian use. Such
signage for horseback riding as noted above is currently inconsistent
or non-existent. This would remove horse access from almost al l
trails!!
CHC believes that the DEP should align horse traffic with other user
groups, and allow horses on all trails except where posted as
prohibited. Over the past 20 years CHC has been diligently working
with DEP to keep trails open for equestrian access. This proposed
regulation change is contrary to past conversations, and the current
usage practices on trails throughout the state.
WHAT YOU CAN DO: The CHC is calling attention to this proposed
regulation and will need every equestrian to come to the public
hearing and ask that this regulation be appealed before the
regulations are finalized. Please attend the public hearing on
February 5, 2007 at 7:30 p.m. at Phoenix Auditorium - 5th Floor at 79
Elm Street (DEP Building), Hartford, CT 06106 .
(If state offices are closed due to inclement weather, on Feb. 5th,
the hearing will take place on Feb 6th, at the same time and place.)
Let DEP know that horses should not be excluded. That horseback
riding should be categorized with the other user groups, and trails
should be open to riding unless posted closed. If equestrians do not
speak up, we will lose trails. Please attend this hearing and tell
friends!
There is also a public comment period. Written comments will be
accepted through
February 13, 2007 and should be submitted to Pamela Aey Adams,
Director, State Parks Division, Department of Environmental
Protection, 79 Elm Street, Hartford, CT 06106 (telephone: 860 424-
3200).
Additionally—send your written comments to the Regulation Review
Committee:
A list of those members and contact information will be posted on the
CHC website
If you have questions, please contact CHC trails chair, Diane Ciano
at [EMAIL PROTECTED]
or CHC President Amy Stegall at [EMAIL PROTECTED] (860) 684-6583. You
may also visit the CHC website for updates www.cthorsecouncil.org (a
copy of the proposed regulations will also be available on the CHC
site shortly) along with directions.
MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD! UNITED WE RIDE!
If you have received this email in error or wish to have your name
removed from our email list please reply to this email.
--
Frederick J. Mastele
Connecticut Horse Council
First Vice President
and Newsletter Editor
