Happy New Year and Looking Ahead to 2017
Thank you for your support in 2016. In keeping with tradition, Santa Fe County Horse Coalition would like to share our 2016 highlights with you. As we move into 2017 with new projects and some new faces, our prime directive remains to raise public awareness of the positive impact of horses on the economy and quality of life in Santa Fe County, and to protect and promote the extraordinary equine culture of Northern New Mexico. This year we have made new alliances, continued our advocacy for horses in Santa Fe County, and remain committed to keeping Santa Fe equestrians informed and connected.
Santa Fe County Horse Coalition was recognized by American Horse Council, Back Country Horsemen of New Mexico and New Mexico Horse Council for our work in 2015. In 2016 we have broadened our efforts, continuing our work with these groups and are proud to have made new alliances with Back Country Horsemen of Santa Fe, The Horse Shelter, Rio Grande Mule and Donkey Association and American Endurance Ride Conference. We have also reached out to horse communities countywide from Arroyo Seco to Eldorado to Edgewood. This year we have met with Santa Fe National Forest, New Mexico Wilderness Alliance, and represented equestrian users in the GUTS Initiative (Grand Unified Trails System). We have built trails and assisted in fundraising for Galisteo Basin Preserve. For the Thornton Ranch Open Space Master Plan, we have advocated for and secured multi-use trails and horse trailer parking. Reaching out to the broader community, the Horse Coalition has worked in cooperation with Santa Fe Fat Tire Society on multi-use trails and educational events for mountain bikers and equestrians.
I would like to give special thanks to past President Cat Parks and former VP Julia Jarvis for their service and vision during the founding years of Santa Fe County Horse Coalition: your dedication and countless hours of service have yielded great and enduring benefit to the Santa Fe horse community. Thank you, Treasurer Richard Beal and our Emeritus Board Members for your continued support, expert advice and showing up to represent equestrians when needed most. Also, a heartfelt thanks to our unnamed heroes…
Finally, a huge thank you to our members. Our greatest reward in 2016 has been you: Santa Fe County horsemen participating and working together to ensure that horses are welcome in our neighborhoods, on our trails and in our future.
Be sure to check out our Year in Review below for in depth look at SFCHC’s many accomplishments in 2016. Look for our letter next month announcing plans and events for 2017. Meanwhile, for latest news, please visit SantaFeHorse Facebook and SantaFeHorse.com. And don’t miss our our co-sponsored event with Northern New Mexico Horsemen’s Association on Jan 25: Racing Across Mongolia with Marcia Hefker.
For the Horse,
Piar Marks
President
Santa Fe County Horse Coalition
2016 Year in Review
February and Ongoing
Santa Fe County Horse Coalition board serve on the GUTS (Grand Unified Trail System) steering committee. The Horse Coalition ensured that equestrians are represented in the official GUTS resolution July 16, 2016: City of Santa Fe Resolution in Support of Grand Unified Trail System
May
Advocate for horses with Santa Fe National Forest Representatives. Santa Fe Horse Coalition rallied horsemen to write letters and attend Santa Fe National Forest meetings to champion multi-use trails in national forest and protect designated wilderness SF National Forest – Protect Wilderness and Your Right to Ride. The forest plan is still in process and meetings for public input continue through 2017. Learn more here: SFNF Plan Revision. Trail access in Nation Forests remains an ongoing area of interest.
June
Supported Santa Fe County to recognize the Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Posse for their 75th Anniversary Resolution. It was passed, approved and adopted on June 14, 2016.
August
Santa Fe County Horse Coalition was proud co-sponser of the EQUUS Film Festival August 18-20, 2016
September
Santa Fe County Trails Plan Meetings: Santa Fe County Horse Coalition got the word out, attended and represented equestrian users in the county planning process.
Trail building day with REI at Galisteo Basin Preserve : Equestrians and mountain bikers worked together to install new user signs to mark Galsiteo Basin Trails.
October
Santa Fe County Horse Coalition names new President, Piar Marks
Share the Trails Ride at Galisteo Basin Preserve: Santa Fe County Horse Coalition helped promote and participate this epic event with Fat Tire Society as bikers and horseback riders got together for a fun and educational ride.
American Quarter Horse Association awards $2500 STEP grant to GBP for trail building : Santa Fe County Horse Coalition initiated the 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.
Attention Horse Organizations in Santa Fe – COLTPAC Presentation 10/11/2016: supported and promoted this meeting to educate Santa Fe equestrians on upcoming Santa Fe open space planning.
Call to Action: Keep trails open to horses in Thornton Ranch. Thursday 10/20 rallied an impressive attendance and represented equestrian users at this crucial meeting to secure multi-use trails and horse trailer parking in the Thornton Ranch Open Space Master Plan.
National Parks Service Centennial celebration and Retracement of the El CaminoReal Trail: SFCHC was there representing equestrians to celebrate the National Parks Service Centennial, AND promote the re-establishment of the El Camino Real Trail through Santa Fe.
November
SFCHC continues to Endorse 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 committee and strive to have more members in place in 2017.
Thornton Ranch Open Space Trails update – Great news and a big win for horses: All trails multi-use and horse trailer parking are included in the final Thornton Ranch Master Plan Map. The master plan will be voted on by the Bureau of County Commissioners in 2017 after further discussions with tribal groups regarding archaeological sites within the acreage.
Trish Hug Named Vice President Media of Santa Fe County Horse Coalition
Julie Lombard Belt Named Vice President Trails Advocacy of Santa Fe County Horse Coalition
December
Stanley Cyclone Center BCC meeting regarding proposed rates for use: Santa Fe Horse Coalition reached out to membership to provide support for low usage rates for the Cyclone center.Many letters were written by our members and we presented to the BCC on December 13. Lower fees were approved by the BCC!
Year end fundraising challenge to match Fat Tire Society to benefit Galisteo Basin Preserve: We made our goal! Culminating multiple fundraising efforts, the SFCHC has raised over $17,000 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.
Archive: 2015
Received state and national recognition in 2015 from American Horse Council, Back Country Horsemen of New Mexico and New Mexico Horse Council for equine advocacy.
Equine Culture Resolution – endorsed by SFCHC and passed in February 2015, acknowledges and protects the culture of the horse as a vital part of Santa Fe County’s history and contemporary identity. We are proud to report that the Santa Fe County Equine Culture Resolution was shared at the American Horse Council annual meeting in Washington DC.
Valles Caldera National Park – SFCHC attended meetings, wrote letters and advocated continued and expanded access for equestrians. It was granted.
Grand Unified Trails System – The SFCHC supports and provides volunteer efforts for the Santa Fe Conservation Trust trails project
Three Trails Conference – SFCHC attended this landmark conference in September 2015
Winsor Trail Building – joint effort with the Fat Tire Society to repair one of Santa Fe’s most popular trails
Galisteo Basin Preserve Trail Building – Volunteers helped build a new multi-use trail open to the public in October 2015. It was made possible by funds raised by SFCHC in 2014
Galisteo Basin Preserve SFCHC Benefit Ride – Many thanks to our participants for generous donations for new multi-use trails and signage.
Stanley Cyclone Center – groundbreaking ceremony for new equestrian events arena
Santa Fe National Forest Usage Plan– SFCHC attended meetings and initiated community outreach in support of multi-use trails on public lands
Santa Fe County Sustainable Land and Development Code – was passed on December 8th, 2015. Horse legislation recommended by SFCHC was kept in place. Horses/stables are a permitted use for any personal owners or commercial properties up to 12 horses. Commercial properties with greater than 12horses are subject to conditional zoning approval, etc. based on property size.