Conference noted::equitation

    All I can add to this is most beaches (ocean) to my knowledge, are only
    open to horses and dogs pre and post season, before Memorial Day and
    after Labor.  I certainly don't blame a beach goer from not wanting
    horse droppings on their beach.  But for conservation land, my opinion
    is that people with horses have as much right on them as people
    walking...dogs on the other hand, should be leashed.  
    
    Good luck

I'd have to agree with the last reply re: beaches.  I don't think
it's appropriate for horses to be on public beaches during the
'on' season (May - Sept).  Aside from the droppings being a 
problem for beach goers, I can only imagine what a hassle it
would be for the horse and rider .... kids everywhere, running
up and wanting to pat the horse, coming up behind you ... the
potential hassles, and lawsuits, are endless.  Even if it were 
allowed, I'd stay as far away as possible.   

As far as conservation land (ie: woods, etc), I am all for
horses being allowed, and for horse owners who use the trails
to contribute to trail maintenance, etc, as do the snowmobile
and fishing (etc) associations.  I actually read something
recently about NH considering a per horse tax for exactly
that.   I don't know any details about it, however.
  

    Thanks for you replies, and I feel the same way as public beaches.
    
    I guess I didn't state everything in the first note.  This beach is on
    conservation land and Harvard has a public beach where they have
    lessons, canoe rentals, parking, etc., for the people of Harvard only
    and NO dogs or horses are allowed on that beach.  
    
    This beach is on conservation land that is thru the woods/trails, you
    can not park right at it, they don't have a life guard, etc., so only a
    few people do use this.
    
    I am very considering of everyone while I ride.  I have gone down to
    this beach to water my horse and dog after trail riding for about 4
    hours and left before entering entirely due to there was a hand ful of
    people.  So I and many others due take into consideration the people
    there.  I like to go there, but usually its when no one else is around.
    
    As far as the dogs go, there is no leash law in Harvard so you will get
    stray dogs probably going in there to get water, refresh themselves.
    
    There has been a few of us checking the area for droppings and have
    found may 2 the most at a time.  We have found more goose droppings
    than anything else.
    
    We made a suggestion to the conservation of several things.
    
    	1) We will supply a pitch fork to help keep the area clean, and 
    	stated that we couldn't pick up immediately sometimes, due to the 
    	horse not letting you get back on, but that we would be back to
    	clean up
    
    	2) That we could use the beach at certain times of the day, etc. 
    	like some ocean beaches do.
    
    We are very willing to make both parties happy with the situation.  We
    are just afraid that if they ban us from this particular area of
    conservation land that they may start to ban us from others and then
    where do we do our trail riding.
    
    Thanks again for any and all reponses.
    
    Brenda
    

    
    	This is a good topic. I ride through some property that belongs to
    the hotel in Boxborough. I sometimes hold my breath hoping my horse
    does not decide to dump. I usually stay well away from the front of the
    building, but wouldn't you know the one time I cut thru in front of the
    hotel she dumped..... well besides being totally embarressed. I was
    also worried that I would be told that I couldn't ride there at all,
    and it's the only way to get to some great trails. So I hurried back,
    cutting my ride short, and came back with a shovel and bucket to pick
    up the mess. I hoped that other riders would do the same. I vowed that
    I would pick up anytime she dumped anywhere in there parking lot or road
    area. I don't think they care if it's in the woods!!!
    We must respect other property and conservation land. Some conservation
    land is used for hay, so we have to be careful not to damage the hay
    too.
    
    	Becky

One compromise position might be that you:

        Ride after hours - say after 5:30 to dusk or something

                        and

        Provide a muck bucket, pitchfork and a sign asking anyone having an
        animal (equine or canine) that poops on the beach to please pick it up
        and dispose of it in the muck bucket.

Be prepared to take turns with others disposing of the contents. Not everyone
finds horse doo-doo as harmless and unoffensive as us horse types - so agreeing
to *remove* it from the beach area altogether - rather than just tossing it into
the woods around the perimeter might be the clincher the gets the rule changed.

I grew up in Acton as a kid, and rode my various ponies and horses all over
town - to trails to Carlisle and Concord. Well now there are alot of
high-falootin' neighborhoods in the way of the access routes to trails and
conservation land. People get very fired up when they see your horse leaving a
doody in front of their $500K house with the $100.00/week landscape job ;-)

        Good Luck with your cause!
[

I agree with the last reply, about taking turns going back and
removing the contents of the bucket.  In addition to that, I'd
give thought to removing your stipulation that you may not pick
up immediately ... while horse people may understand you not
being able to dismount because the horse won't let you get back
on, non-horse people probably wont' be so understanding.  Not
to be blunt, but that is a training problem with the horse, and
rightfully should not be the problem of the fellow beach-users.

Have you made any progress with the town yet?

    
    I agree w/the last replies as well.  I put together a trail ride around
    the Hudson/Berlin res' and we put in writing that we would clean up any
    and all mess left by the horses. They were more then willing to allow
    us the use of the grounds.
    
    I'm sure if you do some of the same things as stated in the last notes,
    they'd let you use the grounds on a trail basis.  
    
    Keep us posted
    
    Louisa

    Thanks for the comments, I've printed them all and have shared them
    with the rest of the horse people that have been working this issue in
    Harvard.
    
    We did mention that we would supply a pitch fork to pick up after our
    horses and put it in the compose pile that is there, that someone has
    started.
    
    We meet with the Conservation committee and the people that have showed
    some concern this Thursday, the 15th at 7:30 p.m. to air everyone's
    concerns openly and discuss what options we all have.
    
    I also agree with the previous comments, we are very willing to help
    out and clean up after ourselves.  We have also contacted dog owners in
    town that are willing to come to the meeting and few their opinions
    also.
    
    So, again, thanks for all the comments/suggestions/etc.  Keep them
    coming and I'll write after our meeting.
    
    Thanks
    Brenda
    

    Well, We have had our meeting, and not one person showed up that was
    against the animals.  But the Harvard Board of Health and the Harvard
    Pond Commission showed up to view their concerns not only of the
    animals but humans also.
    
    They are concerned about all wastes, animals, humans, etc.
    
    There was no conclusion to the meeting, except a committee has been
    assigned with 2 members of the animal society, 1 member from the
    conservation and 1 abbutter to the beach.
    
    And of course, I volunteered to be on the committee.
    
    We are suppose to get together and strategize a reasonable solution
    that will be accepted by all.
    
    There were some comments about letting this beach go back to its
    natural habitat.  Posting signs no swimming allowed at all, etc.
    
    So, that's were we are up to date.
    
    I'll keep you posted.  And if anyone has suggestions, please forward
    them on to me.  We can use all the help we can.
    
    Thanks
    Brenda
    

    
    sounds like your doing a good job, keep up the good work.  It's best to
    work with everyone then against them - so your doing well.
    
    Louisa