The District of Lake Country香蕉视频直播檚 decision to ban horses from the Okanagan Rail Trail is not sitting well with some riders.
A petition is circulating in the municipality aimed at having the district council rescind the ban it imposed earlier this month.
The two women behind the petition, Deborah Battrum and Jo-Ann Furneaux said they would like to gather 1,000 signatures over the next few weeks before presenting the petition to council.
香蕉视频直播淚 think the trail should be open to everybody,香蕉视频直播� said Furneaux, who added she loves the rail trail and currently uses it to walk her dog, who she keeps on leash. 香蕉视频直播淭o take it away from (horse riders) is really unfair.香蕉视频直播�
But she said she has seen unleashed dog running on the trail and that could be a problem not only for horses, but for pedestrial, cyclists and other dogs. She said she did not think that there would be any conflicts between horses and other trail users if all dog owners obeyed the rules, kept their animals on leash and picked up after them.
Battrum, who operates the Old Friends Canada horse rescue in Lake Country agreed.
She said most people like to see horses on local trails. And she said responsible riders will dismount to deal with any droppings from their animals. She said basing the argument against horses because of manure 香蕉视频直播渋gnorant.香蕉视频直播�
Battrum came up with the idea for the petition because the district did not consult the public about the horse ban prior to approving it earlier this month.
香蕉视频直播淚香蕉视频直播檓 very angry with the local government,香蕉视频直播� she said.
She pointed to Mission Creek in Kelowna as an example of a local trail that allows horses without any problems.
And the issue has generated plenty of debate on social media.
香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 sad that domestic animals aren香蕉视频直播檛 allowed pretty much outdoors anymore 香蕉视频直播� is (that) what it香蕉视频直播檚 coming to香蕉视频直播ot just here but everywhere,香蕉视频直播� wrote Candace Dawn Breeze on Facebook. 香蕉视频直播淟ike the petition says, Mission Creek (Greenway) still allows horses. Why not out here?香蕉视频直播�
But while opening the trail to horses has its supporters, opponents are also speaking out.
香蕉视频直播淎fter all the thousands (of dollars) and time spent compacting and smoothing the trail, I would think that the shod horses would quickly break it up,香蕉视频直播� wrote Evelyn Harding. 香蕉视频直播淎lso, know how many use the trail with bikes and dogs (sometimes loose). The last place I would want to ride would be on that trail.香蕉视频直播�
Earlier this month, Lake Country council voted to ban horses from its portion of the trail and also to require all dogs using it be on leash.
The horse ban was not unanimously supported by councillors.
Mayor James Baker said he would like to see horses allowed on sections but felt the risk of conflict with cyclists and pedestrians outweighed the benefits of that option.
Much of the debate over allowing horses on the Okanagan Rail Trail appeared to centre on the animals defecating on it.
Some said if horses are allowed, they should have to wear 香蕉视频直播減arade香蕉视频直播� bags to catch any droppings.
Rider, Odette Baumgartner said she would love to be able to ride on the trail.
香蕉视频直播淲e don香蕉视频直播檛 need to leave piles. We can use the shoulder,香蕉视频直播� she wrote. 香蕉视频直播淗orses only need a one-foot wide path to walk on. We are super happy (and) considerate of trails wherever we ride.香蕉视频直播�
Others expressed concern about the surface of the trail.
香蕉视频直播淚 think their horseshoes will tear up the trail especially when there has been a good dumping of rain,香蕉视频直播� wrote Donna Wood. 香蕉视频直播淚 love living here and seeing horses walking around but they don香蕉视频直播檛 belong on the rail trail.香蕉视频直播�
The petition, circulated last week, is currently at a number of location throughout Lake Country, including the Woodsdale Store, Ace Hardware, a bicycle store, the farmer香蕉视频直播檚 market and a hardware store. Both businesses are located near the Rail Trail. An employee at the Woodsdale store said Monday the petition there already had many signatures on it.
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