Are You a Member of Mi Equine or joining TRAM

[Boo]

www.miequine.com/index.htm

I just joined

[bleve]

I think even more importantly, who's getting involved?

Trail Riders Alliance of Michigan:

We will actively pursue “Right to Ride” legislation here in Michigan.

We will hold a meeting on February 7 from 2-5pm at the Dow Diamond in Midland to lay the ground work for ”Trail Riders Alliance of Michigan”(TRAM) and start working on setting up a 501. Through this we will be free of intimidation by the DNR to be able to work to educate our legislators to the many problems relating to equine rights in our state.

Please, don’t misunderstand me, we really need to work together with the DNR; but at this point, until things change, it is difficult.

Stay Tuned!
thingy Kleinhardt, Organizer
Trail Riders Alliance of Michigan (TRAM

[Boo]

I totally agree there are Thousands of us that ride.
But just don't have the time to get physically involved but maybe have the ability to help in other ways.
Actually TRAM is why I joined the other.
It makes me sick that here in Montcalm County we have alot of State land that when I was a kid we rode and camped on and now we can't ride it at all.
Even the Meijer Heartland Trail is of limits to horse's.

And now as I get older I really enjoy a good camping trip and ride more than I ever.

Boo

[horsecrazylady]

Both of those links take you to the same web site

[Boo]

I see that I wonder if what see is saying is wait and join TRAM.

[bleve]

I'm saying that MEP is apparently supporting the formation of a new group called TRAM that would be more focused on recreational trailriding instead of the general equine community that MEP appears to support.

[Boo]

I figured this would generate a lot of chatter.

And it's got over 89 hits but hardly any comments.

[Boo]

Anybody know how the meeting went?

[pasomom]

Were taking care of our friends horses while they went to the meeting. I'll see if I can get them to post and update on here.

[Dawn]

That would be great have been waiting to see an update somewhere on the meeting but haven't seen much yet.

[bleve]

Here's what I posted on another site, I'll just paste it here:


I just got back and I'm fairly tired but I'll try to post a brief synopsis. I have mixed feelings about what happened today but I hope things turn out positive.

First off there was a much larger attendance than I would have predicted, probably 200+ people. There were also half a dozen current or former legislators present that were obviously supportive because they each spoke about five minutes and pledged their support. Three people from MEP spoke and gave some updates about legislation they are pursuing which was very interesting. The key point that the legislators especially made was that we've got to take the power away from the Natural Resources Commission which is not listening to the users but instead listening to the DNR and give it back to the legislators who are responsive to the public (in theory).

On the negative side there was some huge confusion 2 plus hours into the meeting. Unfortunately the speakers kept going off topic and things kept stretching out so there was no break in the 3+ hours of the meeting which I'm sure did not help the mood at the end. I was under the impression that this was a membership drive for a group that would be called Trail Riders Alliance of Michigan that would advocate statewide for land access and responsible trail development and stewardship. The last speaker was a gentleman from Idaho (I think) that was a representative of a natiional group called Back Country Horsemen of America. It was not until near the end that we came to the understanding that they were proposing that this group become an affiliate of the national Back Country group called the Back Country Horsemen Pigeon River & Beyond, Michigan.

Now personally I'm very supportive of trying to open the Pigeon River again, however, I did not drive two hours to support a one trick pony (forgive the expression). I want the Pigeon River to be one point, not the whole point. There was a lot of talk of how things had to be structured and I'll be honest in that I can't reproduce all of the reasoning. Afterward I was able to talk one on one with one of the organizing ladies and I hope I was able to convey my concerns and she seemed to indicate that the intention is to be a statewide voice. Hopefully their future publications will reflect that.

If you have any specific questions I might be able to answer let me know. Or if you were present and had a different take on things, please post your perspective.

And before I forget, here is the website they directed us to:
Michigan Horsemen P.L.U.

[mtra1509]

I was at the meeting and I got a family membership for the Pigeon River & Beyond, part of the Back Country Horsemen. Sounds like BC has been there done that with the fight to keep and perserve trails in the west. They even sued the US Forrest Service and won!!! after being excluded from trails. they went on to a good working relationship with them.

For years I've listened to the Michigan Horse Council talk about trails trails trails. in that time we have continued to have more and more trails taken away from us.

Lots of local groups of started to keep their trails open in the state park near them. Which is to be commended and thank you for your hard work. but that's local.

what we need is a unifying group with the clout to make the DNR listen to the facts that horses are not causing the problems on the state land.

The meeting did go long, no breaks, and at the end it was very confusing about what was happening. We all expected to learn about TRAM and found out these hard working people had gotten a brain storm - why reinvent the wheel? why not hook up with a national organization who has already been fighting this fight for decades. Why not take advantage of their expertise?

Sounds like a plan to me and I'm totally on board with it.

[Boo]

Is there going to be anybody with a booth at the Stallion Expo?

[kzp]

Actually I think TRAM is no longer.. it's now BCHMI www.bchmi.org/index.htm
And they are not only for Pigeon River...they are for all trails in Michigan, they are trying to fight Goose Creek Camp closing next.
I do agree that they might have confused people with the "pigeon river" part of the name..?? and I heard the first meeting was kind confusing..... but I do think they have the right idea and with a national group backing them (BCH) that's a good thing!
If more people join, maybe we can get our voice hear for all of Michigan... They've got the right start, now lets all back them.

The next meeting..... Where: Jay's Sporting Goods store in Clare, Michigan

When: February 28, 2009 at 1:00 p.m.

The public is welcome and bring a friend!

[Boo]

The new group came out of TRAM.
So most have or are joining www.bchmi.org/index.htm