MHC News
February meetings:
The February meeting of MHC will be held February 3, at the MSU Livestock Pavilion, East Lansing, beginning at 7:30 p.m. Coffee and cookies will be served. Please note that the public comment period on the 2009-2019 Strategic Plan for DNR Parks and Recreation Division closes tomorrow, Friday, January 30. See item below for links to this. Discussions will include the TRAM (Trail Riders Alliance of Michigan) organizational meeting on February 7 in Midland. There also will be information on the grant ELCR has received to establish a national trails organization. MHC members who participated in the 2009 Presidential Inaugural Parade will have a report, with photos, from this historic event.MHC Trails Committee meetings will once again follow the regular MHC meetings.
March MHC meeting, and trails committee meeting, will be March 2, same place, same time.
Public Comment Period on the 2009-2019 Strategic Plan for DNR Parks and Recreation Division Closes Tomorrow—Friday, January 30!
The Department of Natural Resources is inviting the public to comment on the new draft 2009-2019 Strategic Plan for its Parks and Recreation Division.
This plan represents the culmination of two and one-half years of extensive outreach effort to the public and other stakeholders who helped define the goals, objectives, and actions identified in the draft plan.
The full draft plan is posted on the DNR Web site at www.michigan.gov/prdstrategicplans.
The draft plan will be available for a 30-day public comment period, and comments may be submitted to DNR-RecreationFeedback@michigan.gov via e-mail, or in writing to: Paul N. Curtis, Park Management Plan Administrator, DNR-Parks and Recreation Division, P.O. Box 30257, Lansing, MI 48909-7757.
The public comment period will close at 5 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 30, 2009.
The DNR is committed to the conservation, protection, management, use and enjoyment of the state’s natural resources for current and future generations.
T.R.A.M. (Trail Riders Alliance of Michigan) will hold an organizational meeting in February.
This meeting is open to any and all interested group leaders or individuals who wish to step up to the plate and join them to continue fighting for the “Right to Ride in Michigan. The goal is to unite diverse groups to protect the “Right to Ride” Michigan’s public land and to help promote the importance of the equine industry in Michigan.
When: Saturday, February 7, 2009
Where: Dow Diamond, Midland, MI (Midland’s baseball stadium), 3rd floor suite lobby
Time: 2:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
For driving directions, go to: www.loons.com (the Midland baseball team website) and click on directions.
Refreshments will be provided. For more information on this meeting, you may contact Dick or Connie Kleinhardt, 989-386-2910 or email them at okcorral@ejourney.com.
From AHC: Prevention of Equine Cruelty Act of 2009 – Not Dead Yet, It Has Been Introduced Again:
On January 14, 2008 Representative John Conyers (D-MI) re-introduced the Prevention of Equine Cruelty Act of 2009 (H.R.504). The bill, which has sixty cosponsors, was referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary. Mr. Conyers is chairman of that committee.
This bill would criminalize the possession, transport, sale, delivery, or receiving in interstate or foreign commerce of a horse or horse meat with the intent that it be used for human consumption. It would thus apply to the transport and sale of horses for slaughter in the U.S. or to a foreign country.
Penalties would include fines and/or one year imprisonment for a first offense or one involving five or fewer horses. Offenses involving more than five horses or repeat offenders would face increased fines and/or up to three years imprisonment.
The bill introduced in the last Congress required that the “Attorney General shall provide for the humane placement or other humane disposition of any horse seized in connection with an offense under this section.” However, the bill introduced this year no longer contains this requirement and makes no provisions for seized horses.
The bill amends Title 18 of the U.S. Criminal Code, which deals with animal cruelty prohibitions.
National Parks Service Awards Grant to Equestrian Land Conservation Resource To Develop a National Equestrian Trails Organization
The National Parks Service Rivers, Trails and Conservation Assistance Program (NPS RTCA) has awarded the Equestrian Land Conservation Resource (ELCR) a technical assistance grant to develop a national equestrian trails organization. The terms of the grant include assigning an NPS RTCA staff person to facilitate of process, identify issues and needs of trail riders nationwide, determine an effective organizational structure to represent horse trail users; and provide a contact point for land managers to communicate with trail riders. The determination of the needs and appropriate organizational structure will be developed by conducting a series of meetings with stakeholders in 2009.
An organizing meeting was held in 2008 at the National Trails Conference. In 2009, a series of in-person and conference call meetings are planned. The plans also call for an on-line bulletin board to post the meeting agendas and notes. The on-line forum will also provide an opportunity for trail users and trail organization representatives to share their comments. In addition to ELCR and NPS RTCA representatives, representatives from the following organizations participated in the process: American Horse Council, Back Country Horsemen of America, Southeast Equestrian Trails Conference, Ohio Valley Equestrian Trails Symposium, Pennsylvania Equine Council, US Forest Service, and the US Department of Transportation Recreational Trails Program.
The project goals are to increase to the number of trails open to horses, promote good stewardship of the trails, enhance communication with land managers, develop positive relationships with other trail users groups, and serve in an advocacy role on the above issues and other issues identified during the grant process.
If your organization would like to join our national efforts to save land and trails for horses, visit www.elcr.org, or call (859) 455-8383 for more information.
About Equestrian Land Conservation Resource (ELCR):
ELCR, the only national not-for-profit organization assisting in the conservation of land for horses and horse-related activity, serves as a clearinghouse and educational resource for land and horse owners on issues related to conserving land, preserving horse access on public and private lands, equine economic development, community land use planning and zoning and good land stewardship.
MHC to establish Show Committee:
A new ad hoc committee of Michigan Horse Council was established at the December MHC meeting on December 2nd. This is a show committee, and has been formed to address concerns of the horse show community in Michigan. First order for this committee is to define areas of concern, then devise methods of addressing and/or solving these concerns. Anyone with issues regarding shows that they feel need be addresses by this committee, or anyone interested in serving on this committee, should contact any MHC officer (refer to website for contact info).
Michigan Multi Jurisdictional Mounted Police Drill Team and Color Guard
The trip to Washington, DC, to participate in the 56th Presidential Inauguration, and the 2009 Inaugural Parade was fantastic. Twenty-two members of this group rode in the parade, were cheered by Detroit Police Officers serving as crowd control near the presidential viewing stand, and all report it as a one-in-a-life-time experience. This group did a tremendous job of representing Michigan and the Michigan horse community on a national basis, and each deserve a big “Thank You” from everyone. Mounted officers participating in the Inaugural Parade were: Eaton County Sheriff’s Mounted Division: Karen Hathon, Commander, Sue Boyles, John Boyles, Lorenzo Veal II and Fran Rasool-Veal; from Macomb County Sheriff’s Mounted Divison: Paula Keena, Leslie LaVerdiere; and Tony Spiteri; from Oakland County Sheriff’s Department Mounted Division: Larry Bireta; Muskegon County Sheriff’s Department Mount Division: Matt Kempf, John Spaans, Laura Jean Johnston and Phillip Monroy; from Manistee County Sheriff’s Mounted Search and Rescue: Renia Kuenzer; Kyle Kuenzer; Wendy Olson and Judy Hallan; from the Augusta Township Mounted Patrol: Connie Maynard; Sally Altenbernt and Bill Beach; from the Toronto Metro Police Mounted Division: Jeff Dale and Rob Graham. Side walkers for the group were MHC president Mike Foote; and Executive Board member Bob Clogg. Visit the MHC website, then go to the Michigan Multi Jurisdictional Mounted Police Drill Team and Color Guard page, visit the blog for complete day-by-day story of the trip and photos!
2009 MHC Horse Expo
The 2009 MHC Horse Expo, scheduled for March 13, 14, 15, at the MSU Livestock Pavilion in East Lansing, Michigan, is fast approaching. Much information is already on the website about the Expo, watch for continuing updates on clinicians and demonstrations, as well as an exhibitor list, stallion list and trails area participants. Remember that we are hosting an elementary group from Lansing Christian Schools on Friday—from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Senior youth and adult volunteers are needed as group guides for this program. Anyone interested should contact either the Volunteer chairpersons (Jean Ligon or Ida Glassbrook), or Marilyn Graff.
The committee is very excited about all the new and innovative programs that are being included in this year’s Expo….and we hope that all will attend. Remember the MHC Horse Expo is the major source of funding for all MHC projects: scholarships, philanthropic grants, trails grants, and much more!
We hope to see all of you at the meeting next Tuesday, February 3, 7:30 p.m., MSU Livestock Pavilion, East Lansing.
Educate Oakland County governmental units and citizens about equestrian concerns in our county.
