EQUINE VETERINARY EDUCATION / AE / MAY 2015


VII


Foundation grant helps level the playing field in assault on horse lands


Loss of available horse lands is a growing concern among horse professionals and enthusiasts, and for good reason. According


to the USDA Forest Service, an estimated 6,000 acres of open space in the United States are lost each day to devel- opment and private restricted purposes.


The issue has crystallized in recent years as the recession and rising hay prices combined to make horse keeping a financial challenge. This has led to more and more devel- opment of private land around growing urban areas, where the majority of horse owners live and work. As available horse lands succumb to development and urban sprawl, the effects will be detrimental to those who depend on the horse for business or pleasure.


“Unfortunately, this continued trend threatens to put the equine experience out of reach for a growing number of people, particularly future generations,” said Holley Groshek, executive director of the Equine Land Conservation Resource (ELCR), a non-profit organization based in Lexington, Ky., that builds awareness of the loss of lands available for horse-related activities and facilitates the protection and preservation of those lands.


Since 2007, the ELCR has assisted with protection of more than 200,000 acres of land and over 1,200 miles of trails. With financial assistance from the AAEP Foundation and others, the organization has been able to accelerate its efforts recently by expanding the Planning for Horses in Your Community section of its website, www.elcr.org, to include new educational resources that help horsemen effect change within their communities, including:


• Seven Steps to Influencing Horse-Friendly Planning for Horsemen


• Seven Steps to Planning for an Equestrian-Friendly Community


• Planning and Zoning Guide for Horse-Friendly Communities


The planning and zoning guide is a thorough resource that provides the tools needed to understand comprehensive planning, land use mapping, zoning ordinances and the effects of each on horse keeping and other horse-related activities within a community. This information, according to Groshek, will help horsemen engage in the planning process, activate local horse enthusiasts and professionals, and educate planners and decision makers on the benefits of horses in their community.


Urban and suburban sprawl poses a significant threat to horsemen.


“We can’t have a vibrant equine industry without the land needed to sustain our horse population,” she said. “It all starts at the local level, and you need horse people and non-horse people alike appreciating the value of horses and wanting to keep them close to where we live and work.”


While development poses the greatest threat to available horse lands, Groshek indicated that other recreational land user groups, including bikers and hikers, have been able to restrict public land access by horsemen simply because they are a much more organized advocacy force. Equine advocates need to develop stronger relationships with these groups and work together to develop multi- purpose trails.


Groshek said equine practitioners, essential partners in the health and welfare of their patients and whose livelihoods are tied to the well-being of the horse industry, have a central role to play within local-level equine advocacy.


“Since the veterinarians are working one-on-one with horse owners and landowners, they often become aware of issues that are occurring at the local level and can help their clients find the resources or information they need to address these problems,” she said.


Fortunately, www.elcr.org is a convenient and comprehen- sive starting point when seeking to retain horse lands in your community. Visit the site and apprise yourself and your clients of the resources available to increase the likelihood of horses being incorporated into your communi- ty’s long-range plans. In addition, ELCR can connect horse owners with experts on specific land use planning issues.


“We appreciate the AAEP Foundation’s recognition of the importance of the land loss issue,” added Groshek. “We look forward to a continued partnership to build awareness and education around the issue and to help get the tools and resources into the hands of horsemen across the country.”


Courtesy of Keith Mountain


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