Horses in the News

HERD ABOUT IT? *Trail News*

Chautauqua Cattaraugus Club Rides for Roswell Park — on Horseback
	September 2, 2009 THE OBSERVER, Dunkirk New York http://www.observertoday.com/page/content.detail/id/528613.html?nav=5007 In spite of wet trails and the threat of rainy weather for the afternoon, 40 horseback riders from Allegheny, Cattaraugus, and Chautauqua counties and Pennsylvania met at Lonkto Meadow in Allegheny State Park to participate in a Trail Ride for Roswell. The route for the ride had to be altered slightly so as to protect some of the wetter trails and not have to cancel the ride as this was a very important ride in memory of an important person. The timed pleasure ride was sponsored by the Cattaraugus Chautauqua Chapter of the NYS Horse Council and was in memory of Kathy Calanni who was the driving force that created this chapter in 2004 and first president of the Chapter. The local organization, which Calanni helped establish, keeps all horse people in the Southern Tier apprised of legislation and other issues on the state and national levels that could have a positive or negative impact on the horse industry in New York state. The chapter also is very involved in trail creation and maintenance of which Calanni was a great supporter. She was treasurer of the organization when she lost her life to cancer in March of this year, very quickly and unexpectedly. An avid horsewoman, Calanni was a 4-H Leader in Cornell Cooperative Extension of Chautauqua County's 4-H Horse Program for more than 20 years and also served as vice-president of its Horse Committee. When her own children were no longer involved because they had "aged out," Calanni remained a co-leader of the Chautauqua County Jr. Trail Riders. Calanni wanted all children to learn about horses, their care, and training. Most of all, she wanted children to have fun and grow up to have horses in their lives in the future, whether it be as a hobby, an occasional ride, a member of the horse industry, or to have horses involved in their profession. Her keychain for the 4-H Building says "Start Every Day with a Smile." Calanni was passionate about trail riding and was a member of the North American Trail Ride Conference (NATRC). She organized many a ride at Allegheny State Park, Pine Hill/South Valley in Randolph, and participated in rides along the East Coast. Locally, she was a member of the Chautauqua County Trail Riders. Calanni had worked at the Chautauqua County Home in the Physical Therapy Department as an assistant. She was as passionate about her patients as she was about horses. Always smiling and laughing, Calanni brightened everyone's day in Homeward Bound Rehabilitation Department which she was part of. Earlier this year, her 4-H Club created "Kathy's Club" to raise money for the Ride for Roswell. Audrey Buck (co leader of the Chautauqua County Jr. Trail Riders 4-H Club), her husband Ed, and daughters Vanessa and Monica (who were in Kathy's 4-H Club) participated in the Ride for Roswell in June on their bicycles, while 4-H members donated their change at the 4-H Horse Show Snack Bar run by Fanny Graham and Janice Johnson. Their combined effort raised nearly $2,000. Upon hearing of these efforts, Leah Leising, member of the Catt-Chaut Chapter of NYS Horse Council, suggested to the Board Members that their scheduled ride in August be in memory of Kathy Calanni with the proceeds going to "Kathy's Club." "The proceeds usually go to building or maintaining trails, but the board and everyone else thought this was a wonderful and very appropriate idea," Leising said. "We hope this might in some way help so that others do not have to lose their life to this disease." A total of $505 was raised for their eight-mile ride. With the success of the Kathy Calanni Memorial Ride and more activities planned for this fall, the board members of the Catt-Chaut chapter of NYS Horse Council, comprised of President Judy Dalton, Vice-president Sharon Attea, Secretary Jim Leisin, Acting Treasurer Ainsley Smith, Cattaraugus County Directors Jim Little and Veronica Barnee-Weber and Chautauqua County Directors Carol Lorenc and Ainsley Smith are already discussing the possibility of making this an annual event. For more information about the Cattaraugus/Chautauqua NYSHC call 532-3357 or 353-4461, or visit the NYSHC Web site: www.nyshc.org For more information about 4H Horse programs in Chautauqua County, contact 664-9502, ext. 212 or your local Cornell Cooperative Extension. For more information about the Ride for Roswell, contact (716) THE-RIDE or RideforRoswell@roswellpark.org

One Month Left to apply for Assistance with Trail Development
	*Application deadline October 2* Parks & Trails New York is offering assistance to communities wishing to develop a new multi-use trail or increase usage on an existing trail as part of its Healthy Trails, Healthy People Program. Five communities will be selected to receive help with technical issues, planning, public outreach, grant writing, fundraising, programming, organizational development and other activities critical to the long-term success of trail projects. Selection will be based on level of community support and commitment to the project, number and nature of partnerships, clarity of project goals and assistance requested, opportunities to increase physical activity levels within the community, and level of need. Preference will be given to communities with a high percentage of low income households. Applications and more information can be found on the Parks & Trails New York website or by emailing or calling Parks & Trails New York at 518-434-1583. Healthy Trails, Healthy People is supported in part by a grant from the Healthy Heart Program of the New York State Department of Health. Potential applicants are encouraged to contact Parks & Trails New York to discuss their projects before the submission deadline. Healthy Trails, Healthy People is supported in part by a grant from the Healthy Heart Program of the New York State Department of Health.

Equine Land Conservation Resource Releases White Paper detailing the access of equestrians to state game lands in three states
	August 6, 2009 -- State game lands can be beautiful places to ride horses. However, riding (along with hiking, biking and other uses) is permitted or restricted by individual state policy. The purchase and maintenance of these lands is generally funded by the sale of licenses and sporting goods purchased by anglers and hunters. If equestrians wish to ride on state wildlife management areas (WMA's), they must understand the priorities for game lands, and develop positive relationships with game land managers. Equine Land Conservation Resource (ELCR) has prepared a white paper detailing the access of equestrians to state game lands in three states. The models presented by Pennsylvania, New Jersey and New Mexico show varying levels of access and regulations for users. Using these models, ELCR was able to develop a set of recommendations for horsemen seeking access in other states. The report addresses the issues of balancing hunting and fishing demands with other recreational uses. In each model, solutions have been reached that comply with a state's demands and allow various users to experience wildlife on state lands. Sensitive issues like the use of Pittman-Robinson funds and the sale of riding permits have been addressed. Cynthia Higgs of Equine Land Conservation Resource spoke with game land managers to determine the scope of the issues of horseback riding on game lands and how horsemen can develop positive relationships with game land managers. Ultimately, all the managers interviewed suggested that horseback riders desiring access to state game lands make an effort to volunteer on those lands as well. Efforts ranging from litter removal to advocating for legislation that is beneficial to wildlife programs will help foster a cooperative relationship. The goal of the report is to help horsemen understand the challenges that non-hunting users present to state fish and wildlife land managers and present solutions to those challenges that are beneficial for all parties involved. To read the full report, visit www.elcr.org/resources/resc_31.pdf

Trail Grants Awarded
June 25, 2009 Buffalo News article Four trail-related projects in Erie, Chautauqua and Cattaraugus counties have been awarded grants by the state as part of the federal Recreational Trails Program. The state Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation administers the federal matching grants, which will be used to create and improve trails, provide connections and purchase equipment for the projects. In Erie County, the Western New York Snowmobile Club of Boston was awarded $129,658 to purchase snowmobile trail-grooming equipment, and Grand Island will receive $86,963 to construct a 1,460-foot pathway connecting the Island Meadows subdivision to the existing paved trail system in Veterans Park. The project aims to increase accessibility for handicapped residents. In Chautauqua County, the nonprofit Ellery Sno-Cruisers was awarded $136,000 to buy grooming equipment to build and maintain trails in the towns of Ellery, Stockton, Gerry and Ellicott, which are part of the state-funded trail system. The Cattaraugus/Chautauqua Chapter of the New York Horse Council will receive $28,000 to add two small parking areas along an existing trail that may be expanded and to maintain the current trail. In Cattaraugus County, the Village and Town of Franklinville are slated to share $59,467 to create a motorized and nonmotorized trail linking the village and Case Lake Park. The grants were part of $3.3 million in federal funds re-awarded for 32 trail-related projects across the state.

Surface Transportation Authorization Act of 2009 includes Recreational Trails Program
	June 24, 2009 Introduction The House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure this week released the Committee Print (draft language) of the next surface transportation authorization bill. This working draft of the bill would re-authorize the Recreational Trails Program. The law authorizing the Federal Highway Administration’s Recreational Trails Program (RTP) that provides money for state and local trail projects will expire this year. If RTP is not re-authorized these fund will no longer be available to recreational riders. Please see the May 5^th AHC Washington Update concerning RTP for further details. The Surface Transportation Authorization Act of 2009 This working draft would re-authorize the RTP for the next six years. Additionally, this bill would create a new Office of Livability that would be responsible for administering the program. The draft bill does not specify a dollar amount for RTP at this time. The AHC in conjunction with a broad coalition of recreational users is requesting that RTP funding be set at $690 million over the six year period of the bill (the original request of $550 million was for a five year period). This is an important step in preserving the RTP. However, it remains vital that the recreational riding community continue let members Congress know that this program is important to them and needs to be retained and adequately funded in the final version of this bill. Status The House Subcommittee on Highways and Transit will begin mark up of the Committee Print of this bill on Wednesday, June 24. A completed bill will be introduced at a later date. If you have any questions please contact the AHC.

AHC Seeks to Document Equestrian Access Issues on Public Land
	The American Horse Council has launched a new effort to collect information on access issues equestrians are experiencing on federal lands. July 24, 2009 -- The American Horse Council has launched a new effort to collect information on access issues equestrians are experiencing on federal lands. The center piece of this effort is an online form equestrians can use to report their personal experiences regarding trails and federal lands that have been closed to them or other access issues. Americans who use horses and pack stock enjoy a unique experience when they ride on trails and public lands. It is an experience that ties them to the “pioneer” era and provides not only a way to connect with America ’s vast and unique natural resources but a link with America ’s history and traditions. It is an experience that cannot be enjoyed without a trail system, trailhead access and areas for camping. It is an experience that Americans enjoyed even before there was a national park system and an experience they want to continue. Unfortunately, equestrians are seeing an increasing loss of access through trail restrictions, trail closures, and use restrictions. Riders and stock users are being excluded from areas that they have historically traveled through and indeed first opened up. It is a loss of opportunities for riders, families, persons with disabilities, school groups and others. There seems to be a management environment less open to these traditional forms of use. Sometimes restrictions on equestrian use are done intentionally through management plans that reduce, restrict or eliminate horses, horse facilities, camping or grazing restrictions, cross-country travel restrictions or closures. Sometimes the restrictions are indirect though a lack of trail maintenance, or over regulation, or lack of services to the public like facilities that provide saddle and pack animals or parking for horse trailers. In order to better combat this disturbing trend the AHC is asking equestrians to document examples of trails or entire areas that have been closed to equestrians on federal land (National Forest Service, National Parks Service, and Bureau of Land Management, etc). The AHC is seeking all relevant information concerning these closures such as the reason for the loss of access, details concerning any public process that was involved and the history of equestrian use on the closed trail or area. The AHC is also interested in examples of attempts to bar equestrian access that have been defeated. “The reduction of trails, trail heads and the closure of public lands to horses and pack animals is a continuing problem for equestrians. However, there is no centralized, comprehensive database that documents any loss of access and even fewer specific examples,” said AHC President Jay Hickey. “We hope by giving equestrians a place to report their experiences we can get a better picture of the problem and use that information to fix it.” The AHC is asking all recreational riders to visit the AHC website and report any access issues they have had using this electronic form www.horsecouncil.org/survey.php. This will be a permanent feature of the AHC website.

AHC Washington Update: Bill Concerning Equestrian Access to Wilderness Introduced
	June 11, 2009 Introduction On June 10, 2009 Representative Lamborn (R-CO) introduced “a Bill to Amend the Wilderness Act to Allow Recreation Organizations to Cross Wilderness Areas on Established Trails, and for Other Purposes” (H.R. 2809). H.R.2809 This bill would allow hikers and horseback riders who are members of a recreation organization to cross wilderness areas on established trails regardless of group size. Such trips across wilderness must be completed in one day and without “unreasonable delay.” Groups are restricted to 10 wildernesses crossing annually Currently, wilderness areas usually have group size restrictions, often “25 heartbeats,” a number which includes pack and saddle stock. The bill defines a recreational group as an organization of hikers or horseback riders whose purposes include one or more of the following: to promote the development and preservation of trails throughout Federal lands; education of the public about conservation; gathers information regarding the use and enjoyment of wilderness areas and other Federal land; and who has been in existence for 10 or more years. Status This bill has been referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources. If you have any questions contact the AHC: 1616 H Street NW 7th Floor, Washington, DC 20006 Office: 202-296-4031, Fax: 202-296-1970 ahc@horsecouncil.org www.horsecouncil.org

HIPPA Legislation for Recreational Riders Introduced in Congress
	March 7, 2007 Legislation Representatives Bart Stupak (D-MI) and Michael C. Burgess (R-TX) recently introduced "The HIPAA Recreational Injury Technical Correction Act" (H.R. 1076). This bill would bar employers from discriminating against those who take part in legal recreational activities such as horseback riding, motorcycling, ATV riding and snowmobiling in the health-insurance programs they offer their workers. Senators Susan Collins (R-ME) and Russ Feingold (D-WI) introduced identical legislation (S. 616) in the Senate. Specifically, the bill provides that: a group health plan, or a health insurance issuer offering group health insurance coverage in connection with a group health plan, may not deny benefits otherwise provided under the plan or coverage for the treatment of an injury solely because such injury was sustained while engaged in any particular mode of transportation specified in the plan consisting of the use of a motorcycle, snowmobile, all-terrain vehicle, or other similar recreational vehicle or horseback riding. The Senate passed identical legislation in the 108th Congress. AHC Position The American Horse Council supports this legislation and will work with a coalition of other recreational groups for its passage. Email: AHC@horsecouncil.org . Web Address: http://www.horsecouncil.org

Bill to Preserve Equestrian Access to Public Land Introduced in Senate
	by: Edited Press Release November 07 2007, Article # 10774 http://www.thehorse.com/ViewArticle.aspx?ID=10774 Senator Mike Crapo (R-ID) introduced Nov. 1 the Preserving our Equine Heritage on Public Lands Act (S. 2238). This bill is similar to the so-called "Right-to-Ride" bill that Crapo introduced in the last Congress. "Senator Crapo has been a champion of preserving riders' access to public lands," said American Horse Council (AHC) President Jay Hickey. "He has retooled the bill he introduced in the last Congress and we appreciate his steadfastness in introducing the legislation again. Equestrians are going to have to let Congress know that they are concerned about access to trails and public lands and that they support this bill if we hope to get it passed." The bill directs the Secretaries of Interior and Agriculture to manage the federal lands under their jurisdiction "in a manner that preserves and facilitates the continued use and access of pack and saddle stock animals" on lands on which "there is a historical tradition" of use. The bill provides that such lands "shall remain open and accessible to the use of pack and saddle stock animals" where there is such a tradition. The bill applies to the management of the National Park System, BLM lands, National Wildlife Refuge System land, and National Forest System land. The bill does not limit the federal agencies' ultimate authority to restrict such use, provided the agencies perform the review required under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969. The bill would also impose additional specific and designated procedures to be followed by agencies before any land closures. These procedures include advance notice of any proposed reduction in use to allow public comment, convening a public meeting near the area involved, and collaboration with various users during the process. Those who enjoy riding on public lands have expressed concern about the reduction of trails and public lands available to horses and pack stock.

Update on Legislation Important to Horse Owners
	by: Kimberly S. Brown, Editor November 11 2007, Article # 10788 http://www.thehorse.com/ViewArticle.aspx?ID=10788&nID=13 During the Nov. 2 American Horse Council (AHC) Issues Forum held in Lexington, Ky., AHC President Jay Hickey reviewed legislation and regulations pending at the federal level that could affect the horse industry. Riding on Public Lands Sen. Mike Crapo (R-ID) introduced Preserving our Equine Heritage on Public Lands Act (S. 2238) on Nov. 1. Senator Crapo introduced similar legislation in the last Congress. That legislation was known as the Right to Ride bill. The new bill "recognizes the importance of saddle and pack stock in the settling, exploration, and recreation of our country by ensuring that the horse's historic and traditional use is recognized as our public lands are managed by the National Park Service, the Bureau of Land Management, the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, and the Forest Service," noted a press release from AHC. Hickey said the bill requires the Secretaries of Interior and Agriculture to manage the federal lands under their jurisdiction "in a manner that preserves and facilitates the continued use and access of pack and saddle stock animals" on lands on which "there is a historical tradition" of use. The bill applies to the management of the National Park System, BLM lands, National Wildlife Refuge System land, and National Forest System land. The AHC statement noted that the bill provides that such lands "shall remain open and accessible to the use of pack and saddle stock animals" where there is a tradition of use, but does not limit the federal agencies' ultimate authority to restrict such use, provided the agencies perform the review required under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969. Hickey said the bill would impose specific procedures that agencies must follow before any land is closed to use by horses. These procedures include advance notice of any proposed reduction in use in order to allow public comment, convening a public meeting near the area involved, and collaboration with various users during the process. The bill directs the Secretaries of the Interior and Agriculture to issue a policy within 180 days of enactment that defines the meaning of "historical tradition of the use of pack and saddle stock animals" on federal lands. The bill was referred to the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Hickey said the AHC supports this legislation and asks all recreational riders to contact their Senators and encourage them to act on it. Equine Center KIMBERLY S. BROWN AHC President James J. Hickey, Jr., spoke on federal changes affecting the horse industry. Equine Equity Act This bill addresses depreciation on horses under federal tax law. According to the AHC, horses "must be held longer than other business assets to be subject to capital gains. Racehorse owners are required to make a decision regarding when to begin depreciating their racehorses that is not based on the expected racing life of the animals." This bill was re-introduced on May 1 by Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY), Jim Bunning (R-KY), and Blanche Lincoln (D-AR) as S.1251. This type of legislation has been introduced before. According to the AHC, this bill will end the "disparate treatment" of horse industry investments versus other businesses under the federal tax code. Specifically the legislation would 1) make horses eligible for capital gains treatment after 12 months, similar to other business assets; and 2) place all racehorses in the three-year category for depreciation purposes. Private Quarantine The operation of permanent private quarantine facilities under strict USDA regulation was proposed four years ago, Hickey said. There are only three import facilities in the United States, which all foreign animals, including horses, have to go through for import. The AHC and other groups have been calling for USDA to republish the rule proposal in order to allow the establishment and operation of permanent, privately owned quarantine facilities for horses entering the country permanently. These facilities would have to be approved by the USDA's Animal and Plant Inspection Service (APHIS) and would maintain the same level of biological security standards as current permanent facilities operated by APHIS. Although the facility would be privately owned, at least one APHIS representative would be at the facility to oversee the care of horses during normal working hours. This will be particularly important when hundreds of horses will be coming from around the world for the 2010 World Equestrian Games.