Other Comments

• What is going on at Acadia National Park? We understand that the barn is not taking reservations because of a law suit? We drive carriages there every year. Maine equine interests cannot lose this wonderful place.

• The availability of land for trail riding is decreasing. The availability of good horse hay is also decreasing and the price rising. More farmers are putting hay into large bales suited for cattle.

• I think it's wonderful to have 100s of acres for horses. But I also think it's okay to keep them on small lots as long as they are well managed and cleaned regularly. You should always consider your neighbors when keeping horses on small acreage. It means constant upkeep on the owners part. You must be extremely dedicated to your animals to make this work in a community.

• I'd love to see this area boom. After living in Kentucky for the last two years I have seen a lot of things I wish maine would develop. Perhaps after college I will move back and help revive the industry here.

• we live on 400 acres. So a lot of your questions don't apply to us

• places to go to pleasure/trail ride are far and few in the state. As I do not show, by choice, I find that there is little offered for the trail/pleasure rider.
• I wish that more could be done for people like me. For years past, I have ridden on the road. I no longer do that because of today's heavier traffic and the complete lack of respect for the horse & rider on the road

• Referring to question #12: It is my understanding that you can not spread manure from December 1st to March 17th.

• Those of us in the "horse world" can never know it all and are always looking at ways to obtain and share more knowledge. Thank you for your interest in us.

• NONE

• I think there should be more 4-h groups around, there's not enough and I think that they should be teaching grooming care, worming, shot schedules, how to prevent abuse and report abuse, I think that children should be taught from the ground up, not to just get on a horse and ride, they need to know everything from picking the hooves before and after and the grooming aspects that go along with riding. Care/owning

• I am really looking forward to attending UMO, but I would greatly like to see their equine field open up more. I would really like to get into riding instruction, but not many places offer that. I think that more people than we think are interested in that. Thank you for your time, I really hope you look into starting that educational program. Thanks again

• Raising horses is kind of unique because although you are farming, you are not raising a food crop. This puts breeders in a unique category.

• I would love to see the results of your survey, when it is completed. :>)

• Do you have a service to analyze hay/feed to determine if supplements are appropriate or necessary?

• more events, and activities are needed for the novice it would be nice if there could be a statewide activity group

• I've estimated the amount that we spend on feed, and it may seem low but, as I said we grow our own hay so I don't figure that cost. The estimate is on grain and supplements. We aren't heavy grain feeders, so that may seem low to some too.

• I often think how beneficial it would be to horse and owner if people would take a few minutes to write down a horse's likes and dislikes, good and bad habits and what past training and uses the animal has had before selling. It's unfair to the animal if it has been trained for something that a new owner does not know about, then punishes it in one way or another for something someone else trained it to do. A brief log of such info could be really helpful.

• Needs of the draft horse people should be included. The horse pullers and 'showers' need to be included with the saddle horse industry. I think Donna Lamb will agree.
• Thanks for asking. I read about this survey in the local Farm Bureau paper.
• There are a limited number of equine vets in our area. It makes it difficult to efficiently operate a breeding program. With rising cost of liability insurance it is impossible to maintain a profitable boarding and training facility in Maine.