"HALTERS FOR RANGERS" AN IDEA IS BORN!
By: Garry Stauber, Vice President, Ohlone Riders
Reprinted with permission by the author from this report in The Backcountry News, Winter 2003


This past August, a group of friends decided to have a picnic and tack swap meet at a local park. The event was advertised on the chat boards of the Bay Area Equestrian Network. At the picnic a local park ranger said "I wish I had a halter in mu truck. I can't tell you how many times I have needed one." Martha McNiel, a member
of the Ohlone Riders and the founder of DreamPower Horsemanship (a non-profit therapeutic horsemanship program that was selling tack at the tack swap), handed her a halter and lead rope form the tack swap. Martha then made the statement, "We should start a used halter drive for all of our local park rangers." And "Halters for Rangers" was born.

The idea has been to collect used but safe horse halters and lead ropes, which will be distributed to rangers in local parks with equestrian usage. This is an attempt to build goodwill and enhance partnerships between equestrians and park officials and rangers. We are focusing our initial efforts on local Bay Area parks with equestrian access. Four members of the Ohlone Riders Board were also present at this picnic: Jan Whitlow (Secretary), Becky Jacobs (Treasurer), Becky DeLaney (President), and Garry Stauber (Vice President).

An initial call was made to local Supervisor of the Santa Clara County Parks Rangers. He expressed great interest and asked if we could also provide training about how to catch and halter loose horses. The Bay Area Equestrian Network was used to solicit equestrians to assist in collecting halters. A flyer was created and collection boxes were placed in tack and feed stores and boarding stables around the Bay Area. In three months over 100 halters and 70 lead ropes were collected.

Local students volunteered their community service hours to clean, inspect and sort the halters, thus beginning the second phase of the program: distribution. The Santa Clara county Parks have requested halters, lead ropes and training for 25 of its rangers. We will be working in conjunction with their mounted unit to provide the training. Other County and State parks have been contacted and plans are being made now for additional distribution. In addition to halters and lead ropes, coaching on the safe catching and handling of loose horses will be provided to Park Rangers, if desired. This coaching would be given upon request as the halters are distributed. A pamphlet with instructions and tips on safe catching and haltering a horse and a small bag of horse cookies will also be provided with each halter and lead rope.

"Halters for Rangers" has provided a great tool for fostering relationships between equestrians and our local park officials and bringing our community of equestrians together for a cause. The Ohlone Riders have had new members enroll due to publicity during the collection phase of our project. We are excited about this new opportunity for service.