November 7, 2009

Dear Equine Enthusiast:

Santa Fe County is presently completing its sustainable Development Proposal, for County Commission approval and subsequent voting into laws that will govern county development through 2030.

Many Santa Fe based horse associations and equestrian enthusiasts have put energy and time towards have expanding the trail system in Santa Fe County but have not seen results. This may be for several reasons including:
a)	Need for increased communication among equine enthusiasts,
b)	Ordinance mandates that allow for such equine based recreation/transportation enhancements
c)	Appropriate timing for presentation to the County,
d)	Sufficient support by equine enthusiasts, and
e)	Providing the county with specific information that can help the county asses and address equestrian needs. 

In short, many people have asked for enhanced equestrian trails, however those were not mandated in the last Development proposal so they could not be enacted until a new Development Plan was established. 

We now have a window of opportunity. Alternative transportation, including equine-based transportation is open for consideration as never before and your input now is timely and relevant. 

The purpose of this questionnaire is to demonstrate the level of interest and specific needs of equestrians in Santa Fe County. Please look over the entire questionnaire to see where your comments, interests and attention can be best focused and complete and return it ASAP.  Your response within 36 hours, if possible will be really  helpful.  

This is a lengthy questionnaire, however since equestrians would be asking the County to spend many MILLIONS OF DOLLARS on this project --- your time right now will be well worthwhile. 

Please fill out the questionnaire in such a way that, if necessary, we can present the completed questionnaires to the county. Be positive and if you have concerns that you want to see addressed with the existing trails, or lack thereof, or know of problem areas – please give us the solutions that you want to see enacted along with your concerns. The solutions are what the county needs to know. 

Your input, in specific detail, is invited and essential for inclusion into the plan for future development. Please contact your friends and equestrian groups and forward this to them so they can participate.  If you fill this out as a group, please be sure to list all of the people who participated and support this on the last page, at the end of the questionnaire.

Please also include all names of individuals and organizations that support an expanded equestrian trail system in Santa Fe County. This is how we will demonstrate to the County that there is public support and  mandate for this area of county development. 

Thank you. 
Alicia Nation, president
New Mexico Mustang & Burro Association
www.nmmba.org

PLEAS E MAIL COMPLETED FORMS TO:  nmmustangs@gmail.com  ASAP
Thanks for your interest!

Equestrian Trails – Transportation Questionnaire

Address:

Phone:                                              

Number of people in your household who would use Equestrian Trails or Equestrian Transportation System:

Number of Equine which you ride/own/ supervise:

Do you ride?                                                               Do you drive equine drawn vehicles?

Are you 18 years of age or older?                  Are you over 55?
 
Recreational  Equestrian Trails System

Would you be interested in an expanded recreational equestrian trail system within Santa Fe County?

 
What areas would you like to see developed to include expanded recreational equestrian trails?

Recreational equestrian trails are currently multi-use.  Is this adequate to address equestrian recreational travel and safety?

Please prioritize your preference for Recreational Trail Systems, with  1-5  -- one being most important:

_____Equine transportation only

_____Equine and Pedestrians no dogs

_____Equine, Pedestrian, canine

_____Equine Pedestrian, Canine, Bicycles

_____Multi use-  All recreational uses

Are there specific areas where it is important that trials be restricted to equestrian use only?  If so, please indicate where and why. 

What else can we do to improve equestrian trails safety?

Would a public education program about equestrian safety be helpful?

Would you be willing to volunteer in a public education program regarding equestrian trails safety?

How many day per month to you ride/drive your equine recreationally?

Where are the locations and or key areas and or junctures where you would like to see a safe  containment/corral/hitching post in recreational horse travel?
What areas would you like to see trailer parking?

Please outline the areas where you would like to see the recreational equestrian trail system enlarged/expanded?  Please be specific about areas and routes. Use additional paper if needed. 

Equine Travel as Alternative Transportation

If there was safe point-to-point travel, for equestrians, both riders and drivers, and could safely access rural / local merchants, restaurants, and shopping areas, would you ride/drive your horse instead of taking your car?

Would you ride to downtown Santa Fe instead of taking your car, if there was safe horse transportation routes and a safe horse management “horse parking location” in-town?

From where would you like to begin your ride?

What would be your destination(s)?

Automobile and train travel have dedicated routes system for safety. Do we need dedicated equestrian transportation routes?

How important is it to have dedicated equestrian use transportation routes within the county in addition to recreational trails?

1. urgent for safety    2.Very helpful but not urgent   3. Helpful     4. Not necessary    4. Dumb idea 

Please prioritize your preference for alternative transportation routes. Please number 1-5.  With number 1 being most important:

_____Equine transportation only

_____Equine and Pedestrians no dogs

_____Equine, Pedestrian, canine

_____Equine Pedestrian, Canine, Bicycles

_____Multi use -  All – no restrictions 

Where are the locations and or key areas and or junctures where you would like to see a safe  containment/corral/hitching post in recreational horse travel?

Where would you like to see trailer parking?

Other notes:

Trail/road Conditions for point to point equestrian travel Alternate Transportation routes: 

What footing would you prefer:

Preferred Road/trail width:  (travel will be open to horse drawn vehicles)

Distance from roadways vehicular traffic (except intersections):

Rural -- far away not to hear any road noise, 

Road shoulder is ok, 

Number of feet from vehicular traffic

Other comments

What would you like to see at vehicular intersections to insure equestrian crossing safety?
Ie/ stop signs, lights, bridges/overpasses, etc.

Is it EVER ok for equestrians to travel on paved roads with motorized vehicles?

Is special footing, such as rubberized or abraded surfaces needed at junctures where horses cross paved roads?

What safety measures would you want to see at intersections?

What will help educate the public about equestrian safety?

How can equestrian groups in our areas participate in promoting equine based travel and equine based travel education?

Other comments:

Rails To Trails System

Do you use the rails to trail system now?

How often have you used it or why have you not used it?

Do you see any safety issues with Rails to Trails and what would you like to do to resolve those safety issues?  Please be specific about location and solution. 

Where are the locations and or key areas and or junctures where you would like to see a safe  containment/corral/hitching post in recreational horse travel?

What are there areas where you would like to see designated trailer parking?

What else could improve the Rails to Trail System for Equestrian use?

Development of Equine Based Transportation Routes in Santa Fe County

Equestrians have indicated that equine transportation routes throughout the county are needed in the following areas. Please review this and add areas that you would like to see included:

1.  Old Las Vegas Highway Areas:

·      Old Las Vegas Highway, to Canoncito

       Old Las Vegas Highway to Old Pecos Trail

       Old Las Vegas Highway to Old Santa Fe Trail

·      Old Santa  Fe Trail to Old Pecos Trail

       Old Santa Fe Trail to Canada de los Alamos

 2. Galisteo, Lamy, Eldorado,

Galisteo to Hwy 14 / San Marcos

Galisteo Rodeo to Galisteo Village

Galisteo to Edgewood

Galisteo to Lamy

Galisteo to Eldorado Shopping Center

Lamy to Eldorado Shopping Center

Eldorado Shopping Center to Eldorado  Community Center

Eldorado Shopping Center to Eldorado Wilderness

Eldorado Shopping Center to Old Las Vegas Highway

3.  Hwy 14

Hwy 14- Turquoise Trail/ San Marcos

San Marcos to Galisteo

Hwy 14   to Cerillos 

Cerillos to Madrid

Hwy 14 to Cerillos Hills
 
Other Area:
Designate Point to point travel destinations in this area and indicate locations for horse parking (HP) and trailer parking (TP).

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Other Area:
Designate Point to point travel destinations in this area and indicate locations for horse parking (HP) and trailer parking (TP).
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Other Area:
Designate Point to point travel destinations in this area and indicate locations for horse parking (HP) and trailer parking (TP).
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Other Area:
Designate Point to point travel destinations in this area and indicate locations for horse parking (HP) and trailer parking (TP).
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Are you available to volunteer your time if needed to assist in an enhanced trail system in Santa Fe County?

Other comments:

What in county and in town locations for Horse “Parking” would interest you?
Please check (x) those that interest :
a)	Grocery store on St. Francis  ______________________

b)	Railrunner stations ________________________

c)	Museum Hill

d)	Library

e)	Plaza

f)	San Marcos Feed

g)	Harry’s Road House

h)	Lamy train Station

i)	Local High Schools

j)	The Hospital. . .

Where else?   Please list your own ideas and requests:

In town: ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

In the county:
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Other comments:

General

Would you be interested in special event designated days/events throughout the year where roads or areas of the county (or city) are closed to vehicular traffic and open only to equestrian and pedestrian transportation?

Should the county have regularly scheduled equestrian travel days during tourist season in which streets in an area are closed to vehicles for special horse days?

In what ways would equestrian transportation benefit Santa Fe County?

 
What would your level of interest be in accessing the rail runner station and have a livery installed nearby to house the horses all day long?

If you could ride your horse to work on safe routes, and had a safe location for your horse during the day, how often would you do so?

Would it be helpful for our community to encourage horse transportation to high schools and the community college so students can ride instead of drive to school?

In what ways can you see Santa Fe being enhanced by increased equestrian travel/transportation?
Examples:  Tourism -- Horse bed and breakfasts  - Horse Days in Santa- Museum Hill Historical Events-- 

Comments:

Other comments or things you would like the county to know:

People And Organizations In  Support 
of 
Expanded Equestrian Recreational Trails and 
Development of Equestrian Alternative Transportation Routes 
within Santa Fe County

We, the undersigned, are residents of Santa Fe County and desire to enhance our experience of living in Santa Fe county and our opportunities for community, economic, cultural and energy resource enrichment by development of Alternative Transportation Routes for equestrians and equine driven vehicles in Santa Fe County and expansion of the recreational equestrian trails system.  

We have considered the issues relevant to equestrian transportation and recreational activities in Santa Fe county and believe that equestrian activities are a rich source of enhancement for tourism, economic development, historical enrichment, youth and family resources and for recreation by providing access to wilderness and rural areas via recreational trails. 

We support the enhancement and expansion of recreational trails, the formation of dedicated equestrian use equestrian trails, and of equine alternative transportation routes throughout the county.  We believe that such development is in the long-term best interest of the county and its residents.

Name:                                                                            Phone or E-mail:
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