San Martin Horsemen's Association

Save the Horse Camps in Tuolumne Meadows 3/2/07

If you have ever been to Tuolumne Meadows inYosemite National Park, you know what a special place this is. If you haven’t been there, you have probably heard the stories and seen the pictures of the gorgeous scenery, and beautiful trails. YOUR HELP is needed to ensure that horse camping continues to be allowed in this area.

With the passage of the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act, the National Park Service (NPS) is working on the Tuolumne River and Tuolumne Meadows Plans that will determine the types of facilities and activities which will be allowed in the river corridor. A number of workshops and public scoping meetings have been held since June, 2006.

Letters, faxes, and e-mails are being accepted and all comments are posted on their web site as well as the Public Scoping report at www.nps.gov/archive/yose/planning/trp/scopingreport.htm. There are a lot of interesting comments, and your input and support is needed!

Over the years the number of horse camps in the Valley as well as Tuolumne Meadows has dwindled. There are now only 4 sites in TM and they are booked months in advance. Please help ensure that our kids and grandchildren have a place to camp with their horses and ride the trails. For a good article on riding in Yosemite, see Trail Rider Jan/feb 2007 issue. To sign up for the Yosemite newsletter, go to www.nps.gov/yose/home.htm. You can write to Yosemite Planning, Yosemite National Park, P.O. Box 577, Yosemite, CA 95389. Phone (209) 379-1365. email yose_planning@nps.gov web site: www.nps.gov/yose/planning.

SMHA Trail Position Paper

Attention: Strategic Plan Steering Committee

The following was submitted to SC Co Parks and Rec. on August 27, 2001 by Joan Throgmorton in a continuing effort to keep them informed of the SMHA's commitment to acquisition, development, maintenance and use of the parks in SC County.

Organization Name: San Martin Horsemen (SMHA) organized in 1968
Approximate Membership: 400 with events open to non-members.
Parks Used: Mt. Madonna, Calero, Henry Coe, Almaden Quicksilver.

Mission Statement: SMHA is a family association formed for the purpose of sponsoring, cultivating and fostering an interest in horses and horsemanship. We assist and encourage every type of activity concerning horses...trail riding, gymkhanas, parades, poker rides, horseshows, horse camping, competitive trail riding (NATRC), etc.

Further, we support park acquisitions and volunteer for trail building and maintenance. We stay alert to favorable legislation that relates to horses and are vigilant with respect to adverse legislation. We promote education to all horsemen by providing clinics, guest speakers, newsletters and sponsor educational events aimed at safety for horse and rider.

Meaning of Parks & Recreation: Our members treasure access to public lands as a valuable resource for recreation, education, exercise for horse and rider, enjoyment of the beauty of the flora and fauna etc., whether on horseback or on foot. We do not take parks for granted and have actively volunteered our support since our clubs inception. Point in fact, our members initiated the volunteer program and continue to do so as active volunteers to date.

SMHA'S Vision: As active participants for the past 35 years in park planning, we feel you can best serve the entire populace in the following ways ·

Actively advertise and promote volunteer programs (use the media).
All future acquisitions should work toward combining with existing parks and consideration given to multiple accesses in order to reduce impact and provide expanding parking.
Expedite the opening of new acquisitions. Include multi-use trail.
Work with other agencies towards purchase · i.e.; Nature Conservancy, Open Space, etc.
Don't allow park funds to used for the General Fund.
Institute Trail Advisory Committees with members familiar with a given park. This works very well at Henry Coe (where I have been a member since 1983).
Provide the Camp Host Program at Parks and or have staff living on property. All too many times we taxpayers have observed suitable homes demolished or allowed to decay and this does not set well in the eyes of the beholder.

SMHA's needs - Current and Future (and past) : At the top of our list is Little Arthur where all horsemen remain extremely disappointed and frustrated that in well over 20 years it has not come to fruition and has been radically scaled down. Currently, we are able to hold far less events than in the past when we had the kind cooperation of private land owners. Promises made but unkept do not set well.

Provide horsemen with a Horse Camp using Little Arthur's original plan as a guide. As well, use Jack Brooks Horse Camp (San Mateo Co.) as an example.
Plan ahead to provide safe access and large parking areas · i.e.; Calero.
Keep all costs down.
Open may hiking only trails to horses. They are compatible!
Do not allow existing trails to remain closed due to lack of maintenance.
Expand existing trails and develop new trails with better grade thus reducing erosion.
Maintain and develop all water sources.
Plan for allowing Boarding Stables in and near Parks.
Open to the public any park new acquisition or addition in an expeditious manner. Needless delays and studies develop mistrust, i.e.; Carolyn Neilson, Bear/Mendoza and of course to the point of extreme - Little Arthur.

Respectfully Submitted,
Joan Throgmorton, Trails Chairman SMHA

To continue to receive updated information and dates of important meetings concerning our county parks and recreation areas contact Elish Ryan, Park Planner and ask to be placed on their permanent mailing list.
408-358-3741 ext. 147
298 Garden Hill Drive
Los Gatos CA 95032
email: elish.ryan@mail.prk.co.santa-clara.ca.us
Parks website: http://parkhere.org
Visit website for current meeting schedule.

Santa Clara County Parks

Contact, Information and Mailing List
Contact: Elish Ryan, Park Planner
408-358-3741 ext. 147
298 Garden Hill Drive
Los Gatos CA 95032
email: elish.ryan@mail.prk.co.santa-clara.ca.us
Parks website: http://.parkhere.org
Visit website for current meeting schedule.

New Regulations Regarding Beach Riding In Monterey County

These new regulations are mandated by the Federal Government and are now being enforced at our local beaches. WADDELL STATE BEACH (in Santa Cruz County) is closed entirely to equestrians. ZMUDOWSKI, MOSS LANDING and SALINAS RIVER STATE BEACHES ....Horses are permitted to access the beach only by the designated route and to ride only on the wet sandy portion of the beach below the high tide line to protect bird nesting areas and vegetation. Horses are not permitted in any of the dunes except the designated equestrian trail at Salinas River State Beach. In parking lots, owners are required to clean up after their animals including the removal of horse manure. Horse manure should be shoveled back into the trailer or receptacles marked for that purpose. Horse manure or straw shall not be thrown into the dunes where it will damage native plants. ANDREW MOLERA STATE PARK...Horses are permitted only on trails designated for horses, and only on the wet sandy portion of the beach below the high tide line. Same requirements for manure cleanup apply.

Be also be aware that dogs and fires have been banned from all of these beaches. If equestrians do not comply with the new regulations, we will almost certainly lose the privilege of riding on the beaches. Therefore ... CHECK THE TIDE BEFORE YOU RIDE!

Editor's Note: Riders should remove manure at any staging area. For Santa Clara county parks there is an ordinance for owners to remove manure from all parking areas. This is a major concern for all new and current staging areas. It is the major stumbling block for the 25 year attempt to make the Little Arthur a reality.