ACTHA's Newest Partner...The Equine Land Conservation Resource!

10/9/2013

No one is more dependent upon having lands to ride on than us trail riders. The pool of public and private land has is dwindling dramatically...6,000 acres per day! ACTHA has proudly partnered with The Equine Land Conservation Resource, who is here to insure our  juniors  have  the  privileges  and  beautiful  trails we have enjoyed.

Working Together to Save Our Horse Lands

American history is imprinted with hoofprints. From the Native American ponies to the horses that pulled the Conestogas across the prairie to the pleasure and competition mounts of today horses have been an integral part of our economy and our identity.

Unfortunately, our equine heritage is now at risk. With over 6,000 acres of open land disappearing each day to poorly planned development and sprawl, we may lose the ability to support our equestrian population in as little as 15 years.

Good Neighbors

Privately owned land is the most at-risk component of our equestrian landscape.  Boarding barns, competition venues, trails, hunt fixtures and hayfields are being lost every day as a result of development, misunderstanding of liability issues by new owners of land, and rising demand for land around urbanizing areas.  ELCR offers talking points for explaining liability issues to landowners; liability management tools; guidelines for fostering positive relationships with landowners; model rules of usage and other protections for landowners who wish to open their land to horse usage; and information about the benefits of ensuring that horses stay in your community.

Bringing Horses to the Conversation

Planning and zoning decisions can affect how land is taxed, what it may be used for, and which standards and regulations are applied to it.  These regulations determine not only whether individuals may keep horses on their own property, but also whether horses have access to community parks and trails. ELCR offers users the tools they need to understand land use planning, zoning ordinances, and their implications for horses and horse-related activities.  In this section you will find a primer on terms and processes, sample letters, and tools to support involvement in planning and zoning in your community.  Our website also provides tools for community planners to help them understand how to include horses and horse-related activities in their planning efforts.