Have you gone over to help him yet?

For more information on how to defend yourself against bureaucratic attacks, read Adventure’s in Legal Land, or visit http://www.MarcStevens.net

Patricia Welsh writes:

Percy Warner is on the National Register of Historic Places, which is part
of the National Park Service. The NPS manages Big South Fork and doesn’t
require liability insurance to ride, only a coggins test!!! Being on the
National Register means they are eligible for federal funding. Does the
park service have the right to charge fees like that if they get money from
the feds? Sounds fishy to me. Horses are an assumed liability, that’s why
the state of TN requires you post the signs! I competed in endurance and
didn’t have to prove my horse was insured. I did have to sign a waiver,
this was East Fork, and all over the mid south and mid west. Much larger
than Percy Warner. If Lynch wants to eliminate riding, he’s going to get
his way.

roberta lehman writes

This is what the parks manual actually says about the fees:

FEES AND CHARGES

4000.9 EQUESTRIAN USAGE FEE

III. TRAILRIDING:

Trailriding is permitted on the bridle paths only, and is strictly
prohibited

on the hiking trails. Organized trailrides of 10 or more riders will
require

a permit, which may be obtained through the Superintendent of Warner

Parks. Organized trailriders will not have exclusive use of bridle paths

Resident Non-Resident

A. Individual daily fee $ 4.00 $ 5.00

B. Annual fee $ 40.00 $ 50.00

B. Organized trailrides:

10 to 25 horses $ 40.00 $ 44.00

26 to 75 horses $ 75.00 $ 82.50

76 horses and over $150.00 $165.00

No mention of liability insurance unless you are conducting an organized
ride.

It seems you are stirring up some things without getting the facts
straight?

Yes, all park users should be charged a use fee, but please, get the facts
right Andy. Can you put updated info. out there. Folks are getting upset
about the insurance issue especially and your post is misleading.

Thanks

Roberta
I will post this but my facts were taken directly from the director of parks. I would expect he knows his facts.
Thanks for writing

Messed Up Dept

Rusty Duck writes:

What I get from your story on this is that horse owners will be required to
pay $30.00 to be able to show the paper work that proves their horse is
healthy.

A Coggins test, the blood test for Equine Infectious Anemia, costs a horse
owner between $50.00 and one hundred dollars.

A more fair resolution would be to fine those that do not have proof of a
negative Coggins test. It is the law that you must carry your current
“Coggins Papers” any time you take your horse anywhere.

This is a blatant case of taxation without representation.

At least that is what Rusty thinks.

roberta lehman writes:

I am not able to find confirmation of these rider fees or the complete
proposal. Can you post a link to that information. And a link of where we
can voice concerns to the metro council?

There is already a state law requiring horse owners to carry a current
negative coggins test whenever the travel anywhere with their horse. Why
should we pay a fee to the park for them to enforce checking this
paperwork? Furthermore, you have to visually see the horse and the coggins
at the same time to verify the horse is in fact the same horse the blood
was drawn from for the coggins. Mailing in forms won’t ensure that people
are complying with the law.
Furthermore, why do we need to show proof of liability insurance?
Homeowners covers it for everyday riders, only those running a business
with their horses need liability insurance.

Why aren’t they asking dog owners to pay a fee and show proof of rabies
vaccines, and liability insurance?

If they need money, just charge all park users a use fee or offer a
seasonal pass for frequent users.

It is messed up to single out one type of park user. Horse riders are not
the only ones using the horse trails. Walkers, joggers, dogs not on
leashes–all of them are on the horse trails, even though the trails are
marked “horses only.” Now that, to me, is really messed up. We don’t ride
on their “hiking” trails.

For the love!

Christina Wright

Thank you Andy for airing this story. It is truely messed up! I don’t think
these type of fees are what Percy and Edwin had in mind when they donated
the land to be a public park. The use of the park, especially the horse
trails, has always be free and should remain so. It would seem that park
officials are trying to make these parks user UNFRIENDLY!

Thanks for you attention to this matter.

Sincerely,

Upset park user

jim hatch writes

please check the document transferring the park land from
Edwin and percy warner to Metro or Davidison county; I think the donors
expected the park to be free to all users.
this tax could be in violation of the original trust transfer.

Beverly Goodwin writes:

Horses and dogs should be treated the same.
If dogs get to come free, then horses should also be free.
I personally have been frightened by a loose dog coming up to me at Percy
Warner Park. However, if a horse does get loose (and this is highly
unlikely) the horse will probably just go eat grass.
Dog walkers let their dogs off leash frequently and intentionally.

riverhorse@blomand.net writes:

First and foremost, thank you for making this issue public.

On your segment Ann Holt relayed that the permit would make sure the
horses were free of diseases and be sure the horse owner had proper
insurance. I consider this the Park blowing smoke!

The State of Tennessee requires anyone hauling their horse to have with
them a negative coggins test which is done yearly to rule out the horse
having Equine Infectious Anemia. If the horses are brought in from
out-of-state, they must also have a health certificate. These are the
only legal requirements of the state. I don’t see the park being able to
require anything further on the health issue. Does the park require
dogs to have more than the state mandated rabies vaccination?

On the insurance front, most horse owners like most dog owners, do not
carry personal liability insurance on their horses. One, it is not
readily available unless you are a member of a national horse
organization. Two, the main risk is to the rider themselves. This is
covered by the Tennessee Equine Liability Act which protects the park
from any risk. You are more likely to be bit by a dog in the park than
being injured by someone else’s horse!

It will be interesting to see if the horses in the Iroquois have to pay
this same “use tax” that the property owners of Davidson County will be
paying.

Karen writes:

That is ridiculus….if someone falls of a bike it can fly and hit someone,
not to meniton the bikers & rollerbladers who have no regard to ohters and
are just as happy to run you over if you get in their way…also what about
dogs…most horses are nicer than dogs, horses are gentle creatures but get
a bad rep b/c they are so big…if a runner falls they can drop a leash as
easy as a rider can drop the reigns…dogs bite while most horses avoid
hurting people. (form an equine major)

Samuel wrote:
“This is called big brother .they know whats best for you.they want more money to stick in there back pockets.”

Jim wrote:
“Man … that is gonna leave a mark …..”

Connie Murphree commented on your note “Horseback riding fees in Davidson Co.”.

Connie wrote:
“it will be stapled to the riders back, lol”

Darla Hines commented on your note “Horseback riding fees in Davidson Co.”.

Darla wrote:
“Why all these ridiculous laws?? Might as well stay home and behind closed doors. Geez!!!”

Jim Lowry commented on your note “Horseback riding fees in Davidson Co.”.

Jim wrote:
“Hey Andy … where are they putting the permit on the horse ??????

Connie Murphree commented on your note “Horseback riding fees in Davidson Co.”.

Connie wrote:
“that’s messed up”