INDIVIDUAL 2006 COMMITTEE REPORTS
Message from the President
As I write this message in the midst of January, winter seems to have finally arrived. For me, it was a wonderful year to be involved with the horse community. Just last week I was able to skip over to Maine with some friends to gallop up the beach on a beautiful, bright sunny day. This fall I enjoyed some of the best drag hunting in years with the Wentworth, Norfolk and Myopia hunt clubs. I can’t remember when there have been so many riding days so late in the season. I am so thankful for having access to open land, trails and yes even the beaches here in New England. As we now contend with the impending cold, snow, ice and frozen ground, buckets full of ice and turnouts that could second as hockey rinks, we muse about the fun time of last season and think about all the opportunities ahead once the mud dries out.
How will we find this bucolic environment in New Hampshire 10, 20, 50 years from now? If you look around, there are many places still open to equestrian activities and all of the development that goes on around us is not affecting recreational activities. It is easy to convince ourselves that it will always be this way. Anyone who owns a horse, rides a horse, or just enjoys watching these majestic animals knows that this is simply not the case. Pressure is everywhere for access to land for all kinds of recreational activities. The demand for open space to enjoy a recreational activity is constantly under pressure. How do equestrians believe they will continue to have current access or better yet to increase access to private, local municipalities, state and federal lands to enjoy their pastime without being proactive?
For the NHHC 2006 has been somewhat manic. We were successful in working with the US Army Corps of Engineers in opening the Blackwater Dam area to equestrians for recreat-ional use. A run-in shed, paddock and bridges were built to accommodate trail riders as part of a national 2006 Trail Trotters Day. We were involved in a number of opportunities representing and supporting the NH horse community in gaining or improving access to public lands…. The Connecticut Lakes Headwaters Project, Pawtuckaway State Park, White Mountain National Forest, Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan and many other opportunities. The NHHC continues to be involved in safety, education, public health, etc that many seem to take for granted.
As president of the NHHC, I feel we are at crossroads. We continue to support, to educate and to enhance the NHHC for all equestrians; individuals, private, commercial or public entities involved or interested in equine activities, We spend a lot of effort trying to bring new blood into the organization, to increase our membership, and to enhance our capabilities. We will soon be losing some of our most active board members to burnout, retirement or just too much on their plate to continue supporting our organization. I thank them for their dedication over the years. The NHHC is in desperate need of dedicated, energetic volunteers and members. There are so many opportunities for those to become involved… in trails, state legislation, liaison with other organizations, marketing, finance, management, etc. As you make plans for the coming season, pick up your phone, send us an email and take that important step to volunteer in a vital organization dedicated to promoting the interest of the entire equine industry of New Hampshire, to act as a liaison among various horse groups, to disseminate information and to educate both the legislature and the general public, to act as official voice of the state equine industry, and to act as an advisory board to the University of New Hampshire, College of Life Sciences and Agriculture, the New Hampshire Department of Agriculture and the New Hampshire Farm Bureau Horse Advisory Committee regarding the horse industry and related horse activities or programs. Help us make a difference. Be a strong voice.
Bob L’Heureux
President
Website-
The NHHC website has been updated and maintained throughout the year as necessary. The site experienced a brief period of inactivity due to server issues, but now is once again working at full potential. A "Forums" section was added to allow Members & Non-Members alike to post updates and communicate via electronically regarding issues concerning the equine community. We remain an Equine-Site.com affiliate & as of December 30, 2006 the site has had 6728 visitors, 75% being unique and 25% being repeat visitors.
Laurie Weir
NHHC/NH Farm Bureau Equine Committee
I attended all but two of the meetings scheduled for 2006, including one telephone conference call. Issues addressed at the meetings consisted of equine education, emergency management response, implementation of an equine related website to be part of the New Hampshire Farm Bureau website, the National Animal Identification System, policy development and the possible union of the NHHC with the NH Farm Bureau Equine Committee. Concerning equine education, better advertising of events and hosting them in warmer weather at working facilities would generate more interest. Policy development stated the opposition to licensing stables and recognizing to wear a protective helmet during equestrian activities, but to refrain from making it a law. The Equine Committee supported requiring 6-month Coggins test for all public equine in-state events, but this did not pass as a NHFB policy so the current state statute will remain in effect. It was also decided at this time that the NHHC remain as its own entity, but was invited to pursue a merger at any time. The next meeting for 2007 will be announced.
Laurie Weir
Liaison
Monthly Updates- 2006
As Sandy Holbrook has been on hiatus, I submitted the NHHC monthly updates and will continue to do so until she returns. If she does not return, then this will remain part of my responsibilities until further action is taken. Each month an article is submitted to the Equine Journal, The Horsemen’s Yankee Pedlar, The Granite Quill, NH Farm Bureau, All Critters Exchange & Country Folk. These monthly updates provide a resource for our membership to follow what is happening within its Council as well as for upcoming events and attractions within the equine community. All monthly submissions in the year 2006 were submitted and accepted for print.
Laurie Weir
Product/Sales - 2006.
Mail order product sales were slow on a month-to-month basis this past year. Every sale, however, brought continued awareness of the NHHC and its importance to the equine community. Interest and sale of story books, sweatshirts and vests are greater at the various events NHHC participates at throughout the year.
Bess-Arden Parks
2006 Trails Report-
Issues we have had to get equestrian interests turned on about
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State wide comprehensive outdoor recreation plano
Connecticut Lakes Headwaters trail issueso
Berlin ATV parko
AHC "Right to Ride Legislation"o
NE Greenways Solutions (VT) - Lamoille Valley Rail Trailo
EEE education, real problem in NH, not transmitted by horseso
Forest Society, no horse policyo
National I.D. Issueo
State Parks system revisal responseso
Trail Building workshop offered by Student Conservation Assoc.
Issues on which we provided input
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Design concerns at Potter Place in Canaan Centero
Opportunity to have brochures on display in NH Welcome centerso
Kensington Trail Walk in Mayo
ATV seminar in Julyo
175th Allenstown Celebration paradeo
Property owner issues concerning town planningo
Monadnock Pathways & Trails Initiativeo
Public use of possible conservation land in Richmond NH
Highlights of the year!
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Trail Trotters 2006 project completed at Blackwater Damo
Photo shoot with Monadnock Happy Trails group ride on rail trail in Keene & Swanzeyo
NH Dept. of Environmental Services site- www.des.state.nh.us/Beaches/horses.htm to schedule a ride on a beach
Complaints that we responded to:
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Riders riding 3,side by side on a public roado
Riders using trails not allocated to horses in Pisgah Parko
Riders not being allowed on a road that was used by horses in the past- change of accepted useo
Bridge safety for horseso
Out-of-state rider seeking lodging around Center Harboro
Road rage involving young driver attacking horse riders
Advice/ insight given for future thought: We might have averted dissention with SPACE and Fish &Game regarding our past current use Legislation requesting equestrian inclusion on properties which take the recreational exemption if we had consulted with their people prior to legislating.
Gayle Beaudoin
Trails
Equestrian Land Conservation Resource (ELCR) - 2006
Deb Kelly, ELCR Program Assistant, sent info re several possible funding sources for recreational projects including trails from the Office of Greenways & Trails, Dept. of Environmental Protection.
NHHC sent a letter of support for ELCR.
Kandee Haertel, ELCR Director, inquired as to the status of the equestrian-condo-village planned for Bow, NH. No further info available at the time. (I have checked into this and to my knowledge, it has still not been resolved/approved. There are many issues. For more info, go to www.bow-nh.com/planningboard and read the minutes from 8/3, 9/7, 10/5 and 11/2. The decision was last continued to 12/7 and minutes are not yet available.)
Rhonda Hooker, ELCR Administration Assistant, requested that NHHC as an Equestrian Partner, help promote the Trail Trotters program on our website and invited us to participate in Trail Trotters Day on June 3, 2006.
Received information from Deb Kelly about the Recreational Trails Program (RTP), "which provides funds to develop and maintain trails and trail-related facilities for many user groups, including equestrians."
ELCR’s The Resource publication had articles about matching equestrian and conservation interests, defining what is a good neighbor by the president of the Masters of Foxhounds Association re easements, and an article entitled "Signs Could Save Horses, Riders" re a 2004 law in New Jersey requiring motorists to slow to 25 mph when passing a horse and rider on the road. Good food for thought for reuse here in NH.
Exchanged ideas/info with Kandee on the position of the Society for the Protection of NH Forests on horse use of its properties (horses are prohibited). While Kandee did agree that horse hooves can cause erosion (as does foot traffic), she felt it was good to keep the doors of communication open by educating large landowners. Kandee also informed me that the current term has changed from "multi-use" to "shared use" for trails. Kandee suggested testing trail use/damage by horses on logging roads (if they are available in the area). Start with a small tract and try self-policing to keep riders on the allowed trail only. There might need to be an appointed group to police/enforce allowed use only. Try a 2-yr. test case with annual or seasonal review. If it's muddy, obviously, stay off. She also suggested the possibility of bridle tags for allowed users with possibly a nominal fee to go into a maintenance fund for the trail (Essex County Trail (MA) Association does this.). As we all know, it only takes a few miscreants to ruin the fun for responsible riders. Kandee also suggested the possibility of gates across trails to limit illegal use.
Along with an invoice for NHHC Equestrian Partnership with ELCR for 2006, we received Assumptions, Accomplishments, and Goals for 2006 from ELCR. Much has been accomplished and yet there is much left to accomplish in preserving land for equestrian use.
Kandee provided information on the final status of Back Country Horsemen of America/Forest Service Trails Classification Lawsuit for our info. Some of the issues argued can keep us from reinventing the wheel in similar situations.
In addition to a letter reminding NHHC that our membership in ELCR was up for renewal, a fact sheet was included with some very interesting statistics, i.e. the fact that 197 acres were lost to development every hour for the past 20 years! We have to turn this around!
NHHC participated in ELCR's Trail Trotters Program. See Gayle's trail report.
ELCR's The Resource included articles on a "Michigan township which re-invents itself as the state's first designated equestrian community" as well as a show grounds used for 65 yrs. which was lost to development. There was also info on the Land Trust Alliance rally to be held in Oct. '06 and the Right-to-Ride bills progressed thru the legislature.
ELCR sent its Annual Report, which highlighted its progress for '05 including "over 7,000 contacts with people who sought advice/assistance with land protection projects."
Informed Kandee that the Bow Equestrian Village proposed development went before the Bow Planning Board on Aug. 3 for final approval. The minutes had not yet been released.
E-mail from Deb Kelly re a funding source in the Neil and Louise Tillotson Fund established for a special grant program to benefit the North Country (NH) and including the website info.
E-mail from Kandee forwarding a copy of Northeast Greenway Solutions which she receives regularly. There was info on the Mass Central Rail Trail - southern New England's most significant rail trail project. The website is www.masscentralrailtrail.org. This trail will be 104 miles long when complete. There were also articles on the Windham, NH Rail Trail and a short blurb on "The ATV invasion is being welcomed in this New Hampshire city." re Berlin, NH.
The Resource had a very interesting article entitled "Where Will Our Hay Come From?" One eye-opening quote from the article is "Baby Boomers (Americans born between 1946 and 1964) may constitute the last generation of Americans who share an intimate, familial attachment to the land and water." I found that very disturbing. This issue also stated results from an ELCR Advisory Board gathering whose "intent was to take the foundation of achievements from the past nine years and forge a dynamic vision for ELCR's next ten years." One of several significant decisions is to move ELCR headquarters to the Kentucky Horse Park, headquarters to over 20 national horse organizations. Unfortunately, Kandee will not be moving with the organization, but she fully supports the move and the organization she has worked for so diligently over the years. Other articles of interest were "Legislative Victory for Land Conservation" re new land conservation tax benefits for family farmers and ranchers signed into law and Pennsylvania's successful farmland preservation program providing affordable land for horse operations. These are just a few highlights from this very informative publication.
As an individual member of ELCR, I received a fundraising letter with more startling facts. "The Land Trust Alliance has reported that the next 10 years are our last chance to protect land for equestrian use. In 2026, it will be too late..." "The good news is that horse people are getting engaged in land protection; the bad news is that we're not moving fast enough to accomplish what must be done."
Hour-long conference call with Kandee, Gayle and myself at ELCR's request to discuss what ELCR can do to better serve NHHC, means to raise awareness among our members re land loss and how to get Equestrian Partners communicating with one another. Specifics discussed were previously shared with the Board in an e-mail dated 12/9/06.
Joan Ganotis
NHHC/ELCR Liaison
2006 Report for Blackwater Dam Equestrian Recreation
After looking through our visitation numbers for Cogswell Site, the info is as follows:
Our raw number for visitation this past year was 1186 at that particular Site and of that 216 were equestrians. That means that about 20% of our visitation at that site was equestrian related. Hunters usually take the cake for visitation but after looking at the numbers, they averaged out to be 30% of the visitors this year. That says a lot for the equestrian folks out there.
Let's keep it up and get a few rides together for next year.
Jen Rockett
Blackwater Dam
J.Rockett@nae02.usace.army.mil
2006 Membership Report
Champions 98
Grand Champion 21
Pegasus 1
Total 120
New Membership 30
Renewals 90
Nonrenewals 72**
**(52 Champions, 18 Grand Champions, 2 Juniors)
Susan Donnelly,
Memberships/Secretary
2006 Annual Treasurer's Report
Comparative Balance Sheet and Income Statement are attached to this summary report
Primary source of revenue remains membership reflecting nearly 62% of revenue versus 54% last year. Another 22% of revenues were from a restricted grant and registration for the Beginning Equine Education Series.
Total income for the year was $7,244, an increase of $1,141 from last year due entirely to restricted grant funds.
Total expenses were $8,220, an increase of $2,858 from last year reflecting expenditures of the restricted funds and increased costs of trade show and conference participation.
For the year, NHHC reports a loss of $1,066 reflecting declining membership, declining fundraising sales and increased expenses. Net surplus funds at the end of 2006 were $6,674, reflecting current assets in their entirety with no outstanding liabilities.
Cash flow was sufficient to permit investment in two Certificates of Deposit
Tom Grinley
Treasurer