Michigan Horsemen P.L.U

THE RIGHT TO RIDE

NRC/DNR force Horsemen into the roads

The new NRC/DNR concept of management Plan 2008;
Forcing "Men, Women, and Children" of Michigan Out into the roads on horseback!

(V) To ride or lead a horse, pack animal, or other riding animal, or any animal driven vehicles on any area, EXCEPT on ROADS that are open to the use of MOTOR VEHICLES!!

A  $500.00 fine for Recreational Trespassing, a State Civil
Infraction if you get off the road's of the Pigeon River State Forest!
I can not express to you all the DANGERS of such a ridiculous ruling and the liabilities that will stem from such a law.

Sharing the roads with log trucks, campers, trailers and cars while on horseback with our children and grandchildren, let alone an adult, is outright DANGEROUS!!

We teach our children from an early age not to play in the roads...Now the NRC/DNR is telling us they must...and will be ticketed if we do not!

The Governor's ...no child left inside days has now turned into
"Lead your child into the Road days"!
 
Our family history in the Pigeon River State Forest area dates back to the early 1900's.
This land was settled by my husband's father and his forefathers and I would like to add it was in fact settled on the back of a horse!
We have bred and raised horses all of our lives..its our heritage and our history, our children and grand children are raised on the backs of our horses.

 

                                        Two year old grandson and his horse:

 

 

 

 

 

 

For they are our future and we are the teachers.  We teach them to respect the land, to explore and learn about nature and what God has created for us all to enjoy...to listen to a whippoorwill sing just before dark, to teach them how to hunt and fish.

The horsemen & women, and children of Michigan have been blamed with false statements from the NRC/DNR from one end of the spectrum to the other.   Such as the impact on the land, budget cuts for the closing of 15 maintenance free off site camps, noxious weeds, chasing elk out of the PRC.   All of which are False statements with no documentation or scientific evidence!

The horse industry in Michigan is an 8 billion dollar industry.   Can Michigan afford to turn away horsemen & women, children and the money they distribute in this state?  Each trip a horsemen makes to the PRC they spend on average $140.00 in gas to get there, $200.00 in supplies while camping, camping fees, plus the cost of filling up to get back home.  The local area businesses, who are holding on by a thread, will feel the effects of the new concept of management!

 This is why we need the "Right To Ride" bill passed

now and for future generations to come!