Saving Land For Horses “Horses Make Good Neighbors” by Nancy Brannon Losing rural land and open space for riding and keeping horses is a growing concern for equestrians nationwide. The Equestrian Land Conservation Resource (ELCR) believes this loss of open land is the “greatest threat to the future of all equestrian sport, recreation, and industry.” The organization works to educate horse people and “encourage partnerships with conservationists and other user groups at the local level to work for land access and protection.” The ELCR has published a booklet entitled “Horses Make Good Neighbors” to educate people about the value of conserving land for horses and land use planning for this purpose. Land use planning that includes preservation of agricultural land and pastureland for horses is a solution.Deb Balliet, CEO of ELCR, has written “A Land Use Planning Primer for Equestrians,” which emphasizes the importance of representation of equestrians at comprehensive planning meetings. Deb Balliet said, “It came about because we hear repeatedly from our constituents that communities (land use planners n professional, elected and appointed, neighbors, neighborhood associations) often do not see a reason to value horses in their communities. The full-color booklet is designed to help horse lovers educate people who are not familiar with horses about the important ways in which horses contribute to their local communities. These contributions are in areas such as: jobs/economic development, open space protection (water quality protection, air quality, wildlife habitat, food production), scenic views, human health and wellness, family activities, U.S. history and heritage with horses, knowledge and skill development on a variety of topics including soil science, safety, health care, hygiene, composting, leadership, and art. The American Farmland Trust has researched the cost of community services like roads and their maintenance, sewers, trash pick up, fire protection and most of the basic public services that a community requires. These costs are then related to how much tax revenue is typically generated. Preserving agricultural land, rural land, green space, forested areas, wetlands, ground water recharge areas, etc. are all beneficial to a community not only for the amenities and ecosystems services they provide, but also for the fiscal viability of a municipal government. These are lands that generate property tax revenues, but do not require the broad gamut of costly services and revenue outlays that urbanized areas require. See the Community Guide to Development Impact Analysis by Mary Edwards: http://www.lic.wisc.edu/shapingdane/facilitation/all_resources/impacts/analysis_cost.htm The American Farmland Trust web site: http://www.farmland.org/ has additional information about preserving farmland in urbanizing areas: "Sustaining Agriculture in Urbanizing Counties" http://www.farmland.org/resources/reports/Sustaining-Agriculture-in-Urbanizing-Counties/default.asp The Equestrian Land Conservation Resource is located at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington KY. Visit their web site at http://www.elcr.org/