edward
06-22-2011, 11:36 AM
Hello,
The Arizona Horse Council represents the interests and rights of all horse owners in the state of Arizona. Our current membership is 14,000 and we have been designated as the Horse Industry's Official Representative for Arizona.
With that is background; it is truly unimaginable that horsemen could be singled out as an unacceptable class of users in any National Park, or Forest or portion thereof. There is no place in any National Park Plan or National Forest Plan or Rule that stipulates that an entire class of user does not, or will not have equal access. It is likewise inexcusable that we have been specifically excluded from any communication regarding this planning process.
Evidently, we have been discriminated against since "manure on trails is unsightly" and we must be not the only, but the worst "source of weeds" in the Park.
Both arguments make no sense. For the record, Horse Manure is as natural and green as it gets. It is used to grow organic vegetables for discerning consumers and chefs. Left on the trail it becomes part of the soil. It is used for dust abatement and in 1000 years has never been known or reported to cause any serious disease. It is absent of ECOLI and many other serious diseases found in other animals. The newest best scientific studies have verified this to be true.
The formation of weeds is not only a concern in our National Lands but to all responsible horse owners. Horsemen do not feed Hay with weeds in it for several reasons. One, many weeds are toxic to horses, some are deadly. Even some species of Beetles are deadly to horses. Hay growers knowing this cannot afford to grow hay that will be returned for full refunds if found to have weeds.
Second, the recent best science has demonstrated that horses are not a source of weeds. In fact, humans and their modes of transportation are the primary source of weeds on National lands in addition to wildlife, especially birds.
If we really want to get serious about weeds and manure on our lands then we will have to destroy birds and many of the other creature inhabitants. The amount of manure they dump is thousands of times greater than all the horses that could possibly use the National Parks and Forests. Birds are also major disease carriers that transmit all kinds of serious human and animal disease. Among the more deadly are neurological that can and do affect horses and us humans.
We also agree and support the Back Country Horseman’s Association position on this issue along with that of all other horse owners and organizations in this state
We are green users and taxpayers. We have a right to use it the same as any other group that also has access.
Truth be known, horses and riders are the most natural of all user categories.
Regards.
Edward J O'Brien
President, Arizona Horse Council
The Arizona Horse Council represents the interests and rights of all horse owners in the state of Arizona. Our current membership is 14,000 and we have been designated as the Horse Industry's Official Representative for Arizona.
With that is background; it is truly unimaginable that horsemen could be singled out as an unacceptable class of users in any National Park, or Forest or portion thereof. There is no place in any National Park Plan or National Forest Plan or Rule that stipulates that an entire class of user does not, or will not have equal access. It is likewise inexcusable that we have been specifically excluded from any communication regarding this planning process.
Evidently, we have been discriminated against since "manure on trails is unsightly" and we must be not the only, but the worst "source of weeds" in the Park.
Both arguments make no sense. For the record, Horse Manure is as natural and green as it gets. It is used to grow organic vegetables for discerning consumers and chefs. Left on the trail it becomes part of the soil. It is used for dust abatement and in 1000 years has never been known or reported to cause any serious disease. It is absent of ECOLI and many other serious diseases found in other animals. The newest best scientific studies have verified this to be true.
The formation of weeds is not only a concern in our National Lands but to all responsible horse owners. Horsemen do not feed Hay with weeds in it for several reasons. One, many weeds are toxic to horses, some are deadly. Even some species of Beetles are deadly to horses. Hay growers knowing this cannot afford to grow hay that will be returned for full refunds if found to have weeds.
Second, the recent best science has demonstrated that horses are not a source of weeds. In fact, humans and their modes of transportation are the primary source of weeds on National lands in addition to wildlife, especially birds.
If we really want to get serious about weeds and manure on our lands then we will have to destroy birds and many of the other creature inhabitants. The amount of manure they dump is thousands of times greater than all the horses that could possibly use the National Parks and Forests. Birds are also major disease carriers that transmit all kinds of serious human and animal disease. Among the more deadly are neurological that can and do affect horses and us humans.
We also agree and support the Back Country Horseman’s Association position on this issue along with that of all other horse owners and organizations in this state
We are green users and taxpayers. We have a right to use it the same as any other group that also has access.
Truth be known, horses and riders are the most natural of all user categories.
Regards.
Edward J O'Brien
President, Arizona Horse Council