Trail building equestrians of New Mexico

[Sabine Shurter <sabine AT tektrail.com>]

At this point, it is important for the equestrian community to express 
interest in equestrian activities at the VC ...  whether as a paying 
visitor, volunteer or participant in public meetings etc. ... if we 
would like to see any type of horseback activities at this location.

Having 2 or 3 paying riders per day does not even pay for the variable 
cost of the VC staff manning the hut and the gate from 9.00 am to 4.00 
pm as paying rec staff is not a fixed cost. These people are mostly paid 
by the hour and are not on a fixed salary. The fixed cost for the 
equestrian program are rather  insignificant  at this point. The the VC 
would be better off financially not to open its gates to equestrians if 
the numbers don't jive. Plus, from past experience I know that income 
generated by a program determines to a certain extent whether a program 
may be deemed viable and worthwhile or not.

Camping is not available and still in the planning stage. The few 
camping sessions that were available were restricted to the Banco Bonito 
staging area.

Sabine

Una Smith wrote:

> Valles Caldera National Preserve is nowhere close to breaking even, and
> some people claim the largest losses are in the cattle grazing program.
>
> VCNP's equestrian program is growing, which is very good news, and as
> far as I can work it out VCNP's costs of that program are more or less
> fixed.  The new interim camping program should help the equestrian
> program to grow.  I am waiting to hear from someone who has camped, to
> learn how it works.
>
>         Una
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