Off another list: 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 all 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 "The greatest enemy of the truth very often is not the lie- deliberate, contrived and dishonest -- but the myth -- persistent, persuasive and unrealistic." "All truth passes through three stages. First, it is ridiculed. Second, it is violently opposed. Third, it is accepted as being self-evident." ~ Arthur Schopenhauer [] The video every Icelandic Horse owner should have: http://IceHorses.net/video.html [] Lee Ziegler http://leeziegler.com [] Liz Graves http://lizgraves.com [] Lee's Book Easy Gaited Horses http://tinyurl.com/7vyjo [] IceHorses Map http://www.frappr.com/IceHorses [] IceHorses ToolBar http://iceryder.ourtoolbar.com/ Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/IceHorses/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/IceHorses/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
