Welcome!

We are a Michigan based grass-roots organization dedicated to preserving and promoting horseback riding and the use of pack animals on Michigan’s public lands.

We support and promote multi-user trails throughout the state.

We are an official affiliate of Back Country Horsemen of America.

Click here for Inspiration & Celebration!

To Back Country Loyalists:

Connie and I enjoyed a great ride in the Big South Fork the end of April. It made the Pigeon River look like "Kansas". It's land mass is a little bigger than the Pigeon, 125,000 acres. What we found very refreshing is that they welcome horses "big time". Many horse camps on the perimeter of the forest and yet plenty of room and respect for other users was present. The local businesses were very pleased to see many out of state people come to enjoy their area and help support them as well.

While there, we received word from Larry Kleinhardt, one of our board members, who attended the annual meeting of BCHA in Branson, Mo. He proceeded to inform us that Pigeon River & Beyond BCHMI was awarded the "Double Diamond" award for Achievement for 2010! This is the highest award given by BCHA. They felt that our "Right to Ride" legislation was very deserving of this award and thought it a great accomplishment.

As I write this update to you, we are still waiting the appointments of ETAS. The resumes that were submitted to us were forwarded onto the Department for consideration. That happened over 5 weeks ago. We have received word that on June 3rd-next Thursday, the NRC will be holding their monthly meeting and has Pigeon River discussion on their agenda. Please click on the links and read all the information regarding this.

The Agenda is also posted on this site. NRC meeting will be held at the Lansing Center 333 East Michigan, Lansing.

http://www.michigan..gov/dnr/0,1607,7-153-30301_30505_54967-66207--,00.html

http://www.michigan.gov/documents/dnr/EquineAccessForThePRCSF_321274_7.pdf

http://www.michigan.gov/documents/dnr/PRC_Access_321275_7.pdf

They are requesting your comments and suggestions and I urge all that can please call and submit your name for time to publicly speak at this meeting to voice your opinion and then submit written comments on line to the link that they provide. We need to let them know how we feel in this matter. The deadline is June 7th for your written comments. With the holiday weekend-time is very short-I apologize for the late notice on this!

I spoke with Scott Whitcom, present manager of the PRC, before leaving for Tennessee regarding our proposals for consideration in the Pigeon. I stressed the need for all 15 remote sites to be reopened so as to be compliant with the Concept of Management Plan which discourages large congregations of people. I also stressed the importance of the many existing single track trails, not game trails, to the linkages from camp to camp as well as the importance to land owners for access of the Pigeon. This is their "dock in the water" so to speak to be able to enjoy the PRC to be able to get to a two track and ride. Those single tracks are already existing-no new trails would have to be made. With the proposal that has been submitted by the Access Road User Group, it appears that they only want to consider the 4.29 miles(5 broken segments)of single track trails that would be near one of two outcamps that are being proposed. This site is #5 on Sturgeon Valley Road. The other for consideration is Camp #15 off of Clark Bridge road.

I believe that this is totally unacceptable. In reviewing the proposed Equine Access map it appears that we have lots of riding-but keep in mind that the purple lines highlighted are two track roads...this is why the single track trail connectors are important. There have been 2 near tragic accidents that we know of-Safety is paramount!

Due to the lack of funds, the board has decided to disengage Acuitas, our lobbying firm. They did a great job for us and our thanks goes out to them for helping us at a very critical time. It's so hard to put a price tag on the freedom to ride our trails and felt it very necessary to do what we did to accomplish this goal. With this, we are left with several bills that need paying and would appreciate your continued support. We need to look for ways to help us raise money to be able to continue our mission. If anyone has suggestions please contact us.

On a different note: My good friend Norm Seppi, President of UP Trail Riders and is also VP of Pigeon River & Beyond, has contacted us and invited all Back Country members and friends to join them July 9-11th for a ride and fundraiser for Tom Casperson. Please click on the flyer attached for more details. It sounds like a wonderful weekend and a perfect chance to be able to say thanks for what he has done to help us the past couple years. We have also gotten word that Rep. Joel Sheltrown is planning to come and bring his saxophone-(you will be amazed in his talents!) Senator Cameron Brown has also expressed interest in joining us on Saturday evening. What a wonderful time to say thanks! I'm sure there will be several other surprise visitors not yet know that will come as well.....so mark your calendar for this event. Should be a very fun time!

Best Regards,

Dick Kleinhardt

President-PR&B-BCHMI

LANSING, Mich. (Map) -

Right to Ride Passes

PR Newswire

LANSING, Mich., March 25, 2010

LANSING, Mich., March 25 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Today the Michigan legislature saddled up and passed a compromise version of the Right to Ride legislation. With concurrence, the measure now gallops to Governor Granholm. SB 578 and HB 4610 are tie-barred legislation to protect public access, use and enjoyment of state owned land in Michigan. The bills received overwhelming bi-partisan support in both the Michigan House of Representatives and State Senate. "Riders come from all over to enjoy Michigan's scenic trails," Senator Brown said. "This is no time to turn away tourists, or to turn our backs on years of tradition in which people of all ages explore our wondrous public lands on horseback. This legislation will bring much-needed transparency and accountability to trail access decision making."

Together, Senate Bill 578, sponsored by Senator Cameron Brown (R-Fawn River Twp.), and House Bill 4610 sponsored by Representative Tim Moore (R-Farwell), give the equestrians a deserved voice through the Equine Trailways Advisory Sub-committee (ETAS). This new advisor group created within the legislation will work with the new Department of Natural Resources and Environment (DNRE) to develop a comprehensive statewide trail network for all recreational trail use, which will increase ridership and tourism spending in Michigan. Representative Moore stated that "Tourism and recreation are a strong part of our local economy and Michigan can't afford to chase that business away. Â We should be working to expand these types of opportunities in our state, not limit them."

"As President of the Back Country Horsemen of Michigan (BCHM) - Pigeon River & Beyond chapter, the hard work over the past two years and tremendous bi-partisan support has made me humble and proud to stand alongside my members and team up to pass this legislation," says Dick Kleinhardt. "The loss of trail access in recent years is a travesty for Michigan," added Kleinhardt. BCHM represents 330 members and supports the interests of an estimated 80,000 recreational horseback riders in the state of Michigan.

The legislation lays out a timeline for the Department of Natural Resources and Environment to review specific access restrictions by pack and saddle animals previously imposed by the DNR in State Forests. The process begins with a review of the controversial restriction of trail access to riders in the Pigeon River Country State Forest imposed by the DNR in May of 2008.

CONTACT: Dick Kleinhardt, President PR&B-BCH,MI

(BCHMI.org)

Click here for current updates to HB 4610

Click here for current updates to SB 578

SB578 Update!

Just received word from Lansing that SB 578 was voted out of committee unanimously to go to the House! Next will be HB 4610.... There is a possible vote next week. Check back here or go to our FaceBook page for more information! Click here for the MIRS Report regarding SB578

The above is just a few of the fantastic 43 bchmi

members that showed up in Lansing on Feb. 4, 2010.

Kevin and Melanie

Note: Quarterly Meeting / Click here for more info.

SB 578 update

Dear Friends/ Members & Supporters

What a great day at our State Capitol! (December 17, 2009)

"A GIANT STEP WAS TAKEN", as our lobbyist Kevin Korpi stated to us, in getting the process of our "Right to Ride" legislation passed. It is far from over but, what a great way to end the year! With an ALMOST unanimous decision to pass this bill sends a clear message to the Governor and to the people of this state. The final vote was 35 yes to 2 no votes-with one absent! Grassroots can work-and they are listening to We The People! We will continue to stay focused till our mission is accomplished! A huge thank you goes out to everyone who wrote or called their legislators! It does work-we are proving it one day and one step at a time! Real Teamwork!

Now this bill will be sent back to the House. HB 4610 will remain, at this time, on the floor of the Senate for a few adjustments...both bills will need to pass both House and Senate before our bill will become law... We will soon give a step by step update with what will happen next so everyone can understand the process. Please-we must remember to stay tuned and stay focused-good things are happening for the state of Michigan for the Equine Industry!!!

We want to apologize for not being able to send out the alert in time for everyone to get to Lansing for this day-but, did the best we could for representation! When the log jam broke things happened at the speed of light! Guess that's how government works! We are getting a real education with this process.

Pictured below are as follows from left to right: Kendra Everett-Senator Brown's Legislative assistant Dick Kleinhardt-Pres. PR & B-BCHMI Senator Cameron Brown Gordon Davis-Director Kathy Lawless-Treasurer Norma Laine-Director Connie Kleinhardt-Secretary

Not pictured but present this day were: Mike Stinson, Virginia Franklin, Pat Galloup and Kim Emmons. All members! Thank you so much for taking the time to spend the day with us!

For Immediate Release 				Contact: Matt Sweeney

Dec. 17, 2009 (517) 373-5932

Sen. Brown’s ‘Right to Ride’ legislation approved by Senate

LANSING — Legislation introduced by Sen. Cameron S. Brown that will
protect the rights of horse riders on state land was approved Thursday
by the Michigan Senate.

Brown introduced Senate Bill 578 at the request of constituents from
Hillsdale County and other riders from across the sate after the
Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) closed trails to horses
on state land – including the popular Pigeon River Country State
Forest.

“For decades, horse riders have responsibly shared the trails of
Michigan’s beautiful state parks with hunters, hikers and campers,”
said Brown, R-Fawn River Township. “The decision by the DNR to
suddenly and severely limit this access is yet another disappointing
example of government overstepping its boundaries.”

Brown’s SB 578 will require the DNR to make decisions affecting state
trail access in a public forum and based on sound science and public
safety considerations. The bill will also establish a statewide network
of public trails for all users.

“Riders come from all over to enjoy Michigan’s scenic trails,”
Brown said. “This is no time to turn away tourists, nor to turn our
backs on years of tradition in which people of all ages explore our
wondrous public lands on horseback. This legislation will bring
much-needed transparency and accountability to trail access decision
making.”

###

Click here for Bill Parker's Outdoor Michigan News & the response from Marieta Davis published Nov. 20, 2009.

Dear Back Country Horsemen members and friends,

I would like to thank all of you for your never-ending support for “right to ride” legislation. We just made it over the first hurdle (very successfully, I might add!)

A vote of 76 for and 26 against, sent a clear message to the DNR, the Senate as well as to all user groups who love our “great outdoors”. A special thanks to all our legislators who got our message! Where would we be without the great bi-partisan support from former Rep. Tom Casperson, Rep. Joel Sheltrown, Rep. Tim Moore and Senator Cameron Brown? These people are “warriors” on our behalf.

We don’t want to celebrate prematurely, however. We will be holding our elected officials accountable. I’ve told all of them that we’re making a list and checking it twice. Please see if your hard work paid off with your respective legislators. We now have to keep pressure on our senators and the Governor.

We need to take our State back and put it in the hands of “We the People.” By doing this we will in fact help our struggling state’s budget woes and unemployment numbers.

Thanks again and God Bless,

Dick Kleinhardt

President, PR&B BCHMI

Check below to see how your State Representative voted:

House Bill No. 4610, entitled

A bill to amend 1994 PA 451, entitled “Natural resources and environmental protection act,” by amending section 72101 (MCL 324.72101), as amended by 1997 PA 129, and by adding section 72114.

Was read a third time and passed, a majority of the members serving voting therefor, by yeas and nays, as follows:

Roll Call No. 531

Yeas—76

Agema Durhal Kowall Pavlov

Amash Elsenheimer Kurtz Pearce

Ball Espinoza LeBlanc Polidori

Bolger Geiss Leland Proos

Booher Genetski Lemmons Rocca

Brown, T. Green Liss Rogers

Calley Griffin Lori Schmidt, R.

Caul Haines Lund Schmidt, W.

Clemente Hansen Mayes Schuitmaker

Constan Haugh McMillin Scott, B.

Corriveau Haveman Meekhof Scott, P.

Coulouris Hildenbrand Melton Sheltrown

Crawford Horn Meltzer Slezak

Daley Huckleberry Miller Spade

Dean Jackson Moore Stamas

Denby Johnson Moss Stanley

DeShazor Jones, Rick Nathan Tyler

Dillon Jones, Robert Neumann Walsh

Donigan Knollenberg Opsommer Womack

Nays—26

Angerer Ebli Lahti Segal

Barnett Gonzales Lindberg Slavens

Bauer Gregory Lipton Smith

Bledsoe Haase Meadows Switalski

Brown, L. Hammel Roberts Warren

Byrnes Kandrevas Scripps Young

Byrum Kennedy

In The Chair: Byrnes

The question being on agreeing to the title of the bill,

Rep. Angerer moved to amend the title to read as follows:

A bill to amend 1994 PA 451, entitled “Natural resources and environmental protection act,” by amending sections 72101, 72102, and 72110 (MCL 324.72101, 324.72102, and 324.72110), section 72101 as amended by 1997 PA 129 and sections 72102 and 72110 as added by 1995 PA 58, and by adding sections 72114 and 72115.

The motion prevailed.

The House agreed to the title as amended.

Rep. Angerer moved that the bill be given immediate effect.

The motion prevailed, 2/3 of the members serving voting therefor.

Co-sponsors of this bill:

Reps. Bolger, Booher, Terry Brown, Calley, Caul, Crawford, Daley, DeShazor, Espinoza, Green, Hansen, Haveman, Horn, Huckleberry, Rick Jones, Robert Jones, Kowall, Lemmons, Mayes, Meekhof, Meltzer, Neumann, Opsommer, Pearce, Proos, Roy Schmidt, Schuitmaker, Paul Scott, Spade and Tyler

Thank you to all that worked so hard to accomplish this!

Please take some time to thank all those that helped get us to this point!

Click here to view video (comments may also be left here).

The passage of this bill in the House is a testament to how much power the people hold when they work together, rally together and contact their legislators! Please continue to be diligent in contacting your legislators!