News Items

Hi everyone! I am writing to clear up a misconception about the article in the June/July newsletter on page 31, "My daughter turns 16". I DID NOT write this. I received it by e-mail and sent it in for all of you to enjoy. I do not know who the author is or I would have sent in her or his name. I do have a daughter who turned 16 twenty two years ago that this article could have been written about. It fits her to the tee, with the exception about the getting dirty part. I thought that many of us could relate to this, and realize that all the time and money spent was well worth it. We have daughters and sons that we can be very proud of and a relationship with them that we might not have had if not for the horses. I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did. It brought back many wonderful memories. Carolle St. Jean

Horse Trail Pass The Minnesota Horse Trail Pass became effective January 1, 2007. Minnesota Trail Riders Association supported the Trail Pass Legislation contingent that 100% of the fees would be appropriated to the DNR for trail acquisition, trail and facility development and maintenance, enforcement and rehabilitation of horse trails or trails designated for horse use. There are over 1,000 miles of horse trails in state parks and forests. Limited funding to maintain them or develop new facilities has been a concern for our group. We are hopeful that the trail pass will provide the resources to maintain our current facilities and the development of new trails and campgrounds. We are hopeful that the funds from the Trail Pass will be matched by grant money – that means that every $20 annual trail pass purchased will generate $40 for trail and campground maintenance and improvements. There are many details such as self-registration to be worked out during this first year of the Horse Trail Pass implementation. The Trail Pass can be purchased online or from any deputy registrar's office (car and truck license vendors) or any electronic license vendor who sells hunting and fishing licenses. DNR Representatives will be having a booth at the Central MN Winter Horse Fair April 1st and 2nd at the St. Cloud Civic Center to answer questions and address concerns that users may have. They will also have a booth at the Minnesota Horse Expo in St. Paul and have planned a question and answer presentation. Passes will not be sold at these expos. A Horse Trail Pass Advisory Committee similar to the Ski Pass committee has been organized. The five members, users and trail and riders, have been working closely with the State Administrators and will continue to meet and work with them. Trail Pass Information is published on the DNR Web site. MTRA will continue to apply for Grants and distribute the funds to public horse facilities in the State just as we have been doing since 1997. There will always be a need for the improvement and development projects such as trail maintenance and campground improvements that we have funded in the past.

More Horse Trail Pass Information Click here to view an informative PDF. Click here to jump to the Minnesota DNR page regarding the new Horse Trail Pass.

Horse Trail Pass is signed by the Governor The Trail Pass was signed into law during the 2006 Session and will become effective January 1, 2007. We had reported in our June Trail Report that it was going to be attached to a Budget Bill and we didn't expect that it was going to be acted on this year. But at the last minute it was approved by the House and Senate and signed by the Governor (HF 3199, SF2999). Our organization has been in support of trail passes for many years to support equestrian facilities on state-owned lands. Minnesota Trail Riders and Minnesota Horse Council supported this legislation contingent that 100% of the fees be used on equestrian trails. The Trail Pass Legislation requires that any person 16 years of age or over shall carry and have in their possession a valid horse trail pass while riding, driving or leading a horse on horse trails in state parks, state recreation areas and state forests. The fee for the annual pass is $20, or $4 for a daily pass, plus the $1 issuing fee per pass. The fees collected (except the issuing fee) will be deposited in the state treasury and credited to the horse trail account in the natural resources fund. Except for the electronic licensing system commission, the fees are appropriated to the commissioner of natural resources for trail acquisition, trail and facility development, and maintenance, enforcement and rehabilitation of horse trails or trails authorized for horse use, whether for riding, leading or driving on state trails. Managers are excited about the funds that The Horse Pass will generate and the projects that it will fund. Please help spread the word among trail riders during the rest of this season. We'll all benefit from the new funds available for state trails starting in 2007!