Experience Silver Lake on Horseback

horseback riders at Silver Lake SP (photo from the Michigan DNR)

a news release of Michigan DNR

Experience Silver Lake State Park on horseback! As part of an ongoing effort to expand year-round recreation at Silver Lake, a shoreline horseback riding season takes place annually Nov. 1-30 (except Thanksgiving). This is at Silver Lake State Park, Oceana County, Michigan.

Equestrians can ride a predetermined route along Lake Michigan. A staging area, open from 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. is available.

Reservations open Sept. 1 at 8 a.m. at MiDNRReservations.com (use the equestrian tab and staging area filter) or call 1-800-447-2757. The cost is $10 per horse per day, with 125 slots available daily.


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Horses Found to be Gender-Neutral Toward Riders

Team Penning contest in North Dakota (photo by JHY)

excerpted from a news release of the University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria

Scientists at the Vetmeduni in Vienna have analysed how horses are affected by the sex of their riders. Various parameters of stress were determined in horses and their riders when they covered an obstacle course. The results were surprising: the level of stress on a horse is independent of whether a man or a woman is in the saddle. Furthermore, the stress responses of male and female riders are essentially the same. The results have been published in the Journal of Comparative Exercise Physiology.

For centuries, horse riding was largely restricted to males. The previous situation is in stark contrast to the present day, when nearly 80 percent of riders are women. Modern-day equestrian sports are unique in that men and women compete directly against one another at all levels, from beginners in gymkhanas to national champions in the Olympic Games. “For this reason it is interesting to consider whether a theory of riding that was developed exclusively for men can be applied to women,” explains Natascha Ille, the first author of the recent publication.

As Ille notes, “It is often assumed that women are more sensitive towards their horses than men. If this is so, male and female riders should elicit different types of response from their horses”. Ille, Christine Aurich and colleagues from the Vetmeduni Vienna´s Graf Lehndorff Institute tested this notion by examining eight horses and sixteen riders, including eight men and eight women. Each horse had to jump a standard course of obstacles twice, ridden once by a male and once by a female of similar equestrian experience. The scientists monitored the levels of stress in the horses and their riders, checking the amounts of cortisol in the saliva and the heart rates.

In a second experiment, Ille and her colleagues studied the pressure exerted on a horse’s back via the saddle. As she explains, “Depending on the rider’s posture and position, the pattern of pressure on the horse’s back may change dramatically.” A special pad placed directly under the saddle was used to analyse saddle pressure in walk, trot and canter. Because female riders are generally lighter than males, the saddle pressure was lower when horses were ridden by females. However, the distribution of pressure did not differ and there was no evidence of differences in the riding posture between males and females.

See University of Veterinary Medicine for the complete article
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Three Equestrian Campsites to Open in Pigeon River SF

photo from Backcountry Horsemen

based on an article in the Grand Rapids Press

When 15 equestrian campsites in the Pigeon River State Forest were closed three years ago, horseback riders were not pleased. However, the Fish and Wildlife Service stated that the move was necessary because the land had been purchased with fish and game monies, and those needs had to be given priority.

Now, three of the sites are being reopened. These are located on property which was not bought with fish and wildlife funds. They are also sites with no facilities. They simply provide legal places to cam, but have no electricity, water, or bathroom facilities. These sites were opened as a result of the Right to Ride Legislation which was enacted last year, and forced the DNR to develop recommendations for equestrian access.

The only site in the Pigeon River State Forest which had remained open to horse use was the Elk Hill Campsite. The number of sites is now raised to four, total. The reopened sites are near Cheboygan County’s Lost Lake along the northern border of the state forest, near Oxbow Creek Road in southeast Cheboygan County, and off of East Sturgeon Valley Road south of the Elk Hill Campground in Otsego County.

Equestrians are expected to be glad for the shift, but to be less than happy about the small provision for their recreation desires.



See Preserving Our Equine Heritage
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Ionia State Recreation Area Does More to Welcome Equestrians

photo from michigan.gov

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based on a news article in the Grand Rapids Press

Ionia State Recreation Area has plans for the year which should please equestrians. Heading the list is a change of heart concerning transforming half of the horse campsites to regular full-service sites. The original decision was made for purely financial reasons. The horse camp only fills on three weekends a year, but there is a continual demand for traditional campsites.

However, after communicating with the Michigan Horse Council and Ionia Horse Trails Association the state has decided to back off and re-consider the plan.

Other changes for the year include:

• A new bridge within the equestrian trail system.
• Creating an exclusively equestrian group campground
• Building and designating a 1 1/2-mile horse and cart trail.
• Improving some equestrian campsites.

Ionia State Recreation Area has 15 miles of horse trail, a 3.5-mile hiking trail and a nine-mile mountain biking trail.

See Ionia State Recreation Area
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Equestrian Trail Access Bill Passes MI Senate

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based on a news article in the Spinal Column

If House Bill 4610 passes, it would be the last step in a process which will require the state Department of Natural Resources and Environment (DNRE) to restore access for horse riding to all state owned land that was open to that use on May 7, 2008. Existing trails must be kept open and accessible.

There has been a lot of question about how this will affect $25 million of federal funding. As originally written the federal wildlife and sportfish restoration funds would have been withheld from Michigan after passage. Language which includes management control standards must be added to the bill.

Compromise language which would accomplish this has been created by the Michigan United Conservation Clubs. Nine revisions of the bill were necessary before an acceptable version was found.

Spinal Column concludes, "As it stands now, the bills outline a process for trail closures by the DNRE and create an Equine Trail Advisory Council to help the DNRE identify additional trails that should be opened for access to equestrian trail riders."

The bill remains extremely controversial. Bicycle trail groups have expressed concern that trails they have built may be opened to horseback use, and some foot paths may be similarly affected.

See MUCC policy letter (a pdf)
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Legislature to Override DNR on Pigeon River Use?

(photo by Hamilton Conservation Authority

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based on a news article in the Lansing State Journal

A heated debate is taking place concerning the access for equestrians in the Pigeon River State Forest. Pigeon River is located in Cheboygan, Otsego and Montmorency Counties. The 118,000-acre woodland is home to the state elk herd, and is managed by the Michigan DNR. Over the past few years, the DNR has reduced the number of trails that are open for horseback riders. And therein is the problem.

Horse lovers do not like being restricted to a few trails and gravel roads. Sportsmen say that horses are causing environmental damage and erosion. When quotas for horse use were imposed last year the Pigeon River and Beyond Back Country Horsemen of Michigan decided to take the issue to the legislature.

Bills have been introduced in both houses of the legislature which would override the DNRs decisions and reopen the trails to horses. The opposition is led by the Michigan United Conservation Clubs, who point out that taking authority to manage the forest away from the DNR could jeopardize $25 million in federal funds.

Equestrians say that the closures were not based on any sound science, while the sportsmen maintain that the land was purchased largely with hunter money and must be managed with that use as a priority.

The debate is one which generates plenty of heat. Following the original article are many comments on both sides of the issue.

See Legislature debates horse access in forests
See Pigeon River Country
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Let Your Horse Out!

(photo by JHY)

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from the United States Equestrian Federation

Let your horse out! Show off your best friend by entering your horse's profile at Club Equestrian. Sign up for free, and add your horse to the growing list of horse profiles.

Enter information about your animal's registry, gender, age, name and location. You can upload a picture of your special equine. Choose favorites to keep in a file of "my horses."

Club Equestrian is the web site of the United States Equestrian Federation. The USEF is "dedicated to uniting the equestrian community, honoring achievement, and serving as guardians of equestrian sport." The Federation aims to promote excellence for both horses and humans in equestrian sports. They fund the United States Equestrian Team in international competitions, and license events in this country.

The Federation headquarters are located in the Kentucky Horse Park, Lexington, Kentucky

See Club Equestrian horse profiles
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Submit Your Funny Horse Photos

What are You Laughing At? (photo from Club Equestrian)

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a news release of Club Equestrian

Submit your best funny horse photos by October 20, to Club Equestrian. Voting by members for their favorites will begin on October 22.

No purchase of any kind is necessary. You simply need to register at ClubEquestrian.com and sign in. Complete Rules linked below.

The prize is a US Equestrian Federation gift pack. It's value will not exceed $500.00.

See Club Equestrian Photo Contest
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Horse Soccer Comes to Lake County

horse soccer game (photo by from Narrow Gate Youth Ranch)

a news release of Narrow Gate Youth Ranch

Horse soccer is one of the newest ways for beginners to advanced riders to have lots of fun on horseback! It is fun and easy to learn for all ages, can be played outdoors, or inside indoor arenas. It is played with a ball 40-50 inches in diameter.

Narrow Gate Youth Ranch in Chase, Michigan, is hosting a 3-on-3 horse soccer tournament fundraiser on September 19th at 10AM at their ranch (9241 South Bonney Road, Chase, MI). Narrow Gate opened its doors last year and has touched the lives of many children through their free programs in which they pair hurting children with rescued horses. Together, the child, horse, and volunteer form an ever lasting bond. The funds raised with this event will help pay for the hay for the "Equine Counselors".

They will also be raffling off a 40" Equine Soccer Balls with a smiley face.

Horse soccer leagues and training are springing up all over the country.

Please call the ranch at (231) 832-4806 or (231) 250-6975 for more information.

See HorseSoccer.com
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Mountain Bikers vs. Equestrians

(photo by Hamilton Conservation Authority

based on a news article in the Detroit Examiner, "Trail conflicts between mountain bikers and equestrians," by Diane Ursu, July 1, 2009

Conflicts between trail users have always existed, but recently the mountain bikers and horseback riders have been facing off in the Fort Custer Recreation Area near Battle Creek, Michigan.

User groups with different levels of technology generally prefer their own trails. With diminishing resources, management authorities have sought to combine user groups on multi-use trails.

Recently, equestrians in the Lower Peninsula have proposed legislation to allow riding access on all public trails that have any history of equestrian use. If this bill passes, it would override any recommendations by the DNR concerning environmental impact.

At Fort Custer, the land manager has allowed horseback riders access to all of the mountain biking trails. Serious erosion problems have arisen from the added impact of the horses hooves. The Michigan Mountain Biking Association asserts that the trails were built by bikers, for biking. They point to the fact that many public lands have specific "friends" groups who maintain and fund facilities for certain activities. These groups feel betrayed and frustrated when other users impose their recreational desires on these facilities.

It is interesting to note that hikers feel many of these same frustrations when trails historically used for hiking are opened to bicyclists.

Read the full story at the Detroit Examiner
See Sharing Our Trails- A Guide to Trail Etiquette
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Tell Us A Horse Story

from Club Equestrian

Club Equestrian, with High Line Outfitters is sponsoring a video contest. Horse lovers may submit one or two videos. Each must be no longer than two (2) minutes in length and the video file size must not exceed 50 MB.

The prizes include a $100 High Line Outfitters gift certificate, and a prize package from the United States Equestrian Federation.

Winners will be determined by vote of the on-line members of Club Equestrian. Entries may be submitted till midnight, EDT, April 20, 2009. USEF will select finalists from the entries. Voting on these finalists will begin on April 22, 2009, and conclude at 5:00:00 p.m. EDT on April 30.

See Club Equestrian for complete details.
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2007 Equine Survey - Horse Population Surges

Results from the 2007 Michigan Equine Survey have been compiled. The survey was conducted last summer by the USDA, NASS, Michigan Field Office.

The estimate of equine in Michigan on June 1, 2007, was 155,000. That compared with 130,000 on June 1, 1996, the last time an inventory of equine was done in Michigan. The four most numerous breeds, in order, were American Quarter Horse, American Paint, Arabian, and Standardbred. They accounted for over half the total inventory.

Locally, Mason County has a listed horse count of 750. Manistee shows 600, Lake 550 and Oceana County with 1500 horses.

There were 35,000 equine operations in 2007, up from 28,700 in 1991. Almost two-thirds of the inventory was located on places with fewer than 10 equine. About 63 percent of the equine operations were on land zoned agricultural; the remainder was in areas zoned residential or other. Equine were more geographically dispersed than other livestock breeds; they were located in significant numbers in virtually every county.

Since most equine were on small or medium-sized operations, most equine-related labor was performed on an unpaid basis by 79,000 operators, partners, and family members. Nevertheless, equine operators spent $25 million on 4,300 hired workers in 2006. That was a fraction of the large number of workers who were supported by the equine industry but were not employed directly by equine operations: veterinarians, farriers, tack store operators, trainers, jockeys, etc.

Excluding wages and salaries to hired workers, operators and owners incurred $805 million of equine-related expenditures in 2006. These included costs for feed, fuel, health care, transportation, equipment, tack, boarding, bedding, breeding, show and race entry fees, and taxes. This amounted to a substantial contribution to the economy of the State.

from the USDA, "2007 Equine Survey Summary," Jan 15, 2008
also see an article in the Romeo Observer, "2007 Equine Survey Shows Biggest Use is Recreation", Jan 30, 2008
also see an article from the Lansing State Journal, "Equine aficionados enjoy surge in horse population", Jan 10, 2008
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A Horse is a Horse, of Course, of Course

The following is an excerpt from a story which we believe is worthy of reading, but would lose too much of its charm if it were re-written for presentation on this blog. Please link through for the rest of the story, but hurry back! ... Editor

by Marcia Steffens

"Every girl's dream is to someday own a horse. At least it was mine and my daughter's.

Today she bemoans the fact our neighbor and her best friend's home is now owned by someone who actually is giving little girl's riding lessons. How she would have loved that.

But our dream never happened, for the most part because we were not knowledgeable about the animal, the expense of upkeep and the need for land and shelter.

Sometimes I think now we were too practical in our decision... "

finish the story at the Niles Daily Star - see FAIR USE notice.
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Preserving Our Equine Heritage On Public Lands Act

Introduction
Many who enjoy recreational riding on public lands are concerned about the reduction of trails, trail heads and the closure of public lands to horses and pack animals. Access to areas to ride is one of the most important issues facing riders. To prevent further closures, recreational riders are working closely with their federal, state and local land managers and also looking for federal legislative solutions.

Senate Legislation
On November 1, 2007, Senator Mike Crapo (R-ID) introduced the Preserving our Equine Heritage on Public Lands Act (S. 2283). Senator Crapo introduced similar legislation in the last Congress.

This 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.

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 applies to the management of the National Park System, BLM lands, National Wildlife Refuge System land, and National Forest System land.

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. The bill would also impose additional specific and designated procedures to be followed by agencies before any land closures to horses. 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.

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.

Congressional Action
The bill was referred to the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.

Editorial Comment: There may be two side to this issue in eastern forests where the public land units are smaller. Horse trails, bicycle trails, and foot trails are not necessarily compatible. It could be argued that any area of North America has a tradition of use by pack and saddle horses, and that equestrians therefore should be allowed on any trail. Although this bill provides for the right of the land management agencies to restrict horse use, under this wording it may impose a new burden of review and paperwork.

from the American Horse Council
Read the text of S 2283, Preserving our Equine Heritage on Public Land Act
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Manistee Riders Take National Honors

Shelby Shockley, age 13, and Cassie Solberg, age 8, competed in the Morgan Grand National and World Championship Horse Show, October 6-13.

More than 1250 horses and riders from 45 states and four countries vied for honors in Oklahoma City. Competition included Western and English pleasure riding, dressage, carriage driving, reining, jumping, and parade horse.

Shockley, on "Bing" brought home the World Champion Hunter Pleasure in the 13 and under class. She also earned third place in Hunter Pleasure and Hunter Pleasure Equitation for 13-year-olds. Bing's full name is LCS Strategically Speaking.

Solberg earned Reserve Grand National Title, and World Champion Hunt Seat Equitation for 8 and 9-year-olds.

Both girls train under Bre Schultz, trainer and owner of Northern Winds Stable, Freesoil Michigan.

Schultz commended the girls for their consistent hard work.

from an article in the Ludington Daily News, October 27, 2007
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