October 14, 2016
Dear Santa Fe Horse Community,
It has been an honor to serve as your President for the past two years. Since our inception three
short years ago, we have accomplished an amazing number of objectives to protect and preserve
horse owners and horse trails in Santa Fe County. Please take a moment to reflect on our list of
accomplishments on the next page.
Thank you to my officers, board, and our 800+ members for your support. Without you, this
would not have been possible.
Please join me in welcoming our new President Piar Marks; it is with complete confidence that I
hand her the reins. It has been a good ride.
Cat Parks
Santa Fe County Horse Coalition President (2014- 2016)
Santa Fe County Horse Coalition List of Accomplishments 2014-2016
1. Successfully lobbied an amendment to the Santa Fe County Sustainable Land and Development Code, that protected private horse owners and commercial stables from limiting horse numbers, granted horse owners industry-acceptable manure management practices, and laid a pathway for trail advocacy for horses on multi-use trails in Santa Fe County. Hundreds of members attended these meetings.
2. Worked with Santa Fe County Commissioners to pass an Equine Culture Resolution, that recognized the historic, cultural and economic importance of horses within Santa Fe County. Passed, approved, and adopted on February 24, 2015.
3. Met with National Parks and Forest Service representatives to advocate opening Valles Caldera National Preserve trails to horses. Our riders now enjoy these trails.
4. Provided public support for the Stanley Cycle Cyclone Equestrian Center, a major event center in the southern part of Santa Fe County. Three million dollars of funding was granted to this project by the Santa Fe Board of County Commissioners, the construction is nearing completion.
5. Through multiple fundraising efforts, the SFCHC raised over $15,000 to promote the importance of multi-use trails in the Galisteo Basin Preserve and fund additional trail blazing. Equestrians have done extensive trail building volunteer work at GBP.
6. Received state and national recognition from the Back County Horsemen of New Mexico, the New Mexico Horse Council, and the American Horse Council for equine advocacy in the year 2015.
7. Advocated multi-use trails within Wilderness areas with Santa Fe National Forest Representatives. Trail access in Nation Forests remains an ongoing area of interest.
8. Performed community outreach with the mountian biking community through trail building exercises and providing an educational workshop on trail sharing hosted in conjunction with the Santa Fe mountain biking community.
9. Endorsed horse community members for Santa Fe County’s major trail committees: COLTPAC (County Open Lands, Trails, and Parks Advisory Committee) and the GUTS (Grand Unified Trail System). We now have representation on each commitee.
10. Initiated application for the AQHA Stewardship for Trails, Education, and Partnership Grant for the Galisteo Basin Preserve through sponsorship by 501(c)(3) member organizations: Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Posse and the Back Country Horsemen of New Mexico. The American Quarter Horse Association awareded a $2500 STEP grant for trail building.
11. Lobbied Santa Fe County to recognize the Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Posse for their 75th anniversary. Resolution passed, approved and was adopted on October 11, 2016.