Introduction

What is Advocacy

Identifying the Issue

Making a Case

Effective Communication Skills

Do Your Research

Find Your Contacts

Build Your Network

Strategies

Resources

Community Advocacy Toolkit

Introduction

You may have found your way to this toolkit due to a concern or incident you had while out on the road or trail with your horse. There are many scenarios that may impact the ability to use and enjoy trails and roadways. It may be that a trail network you ride or drive in is slated to be revamped, parking for trailers may be removed or downsized or you’ve had a near miss or worse a road accident. The intent of this informative toolkit is to help you navigate the complexities of advocating for a cause and offer suggestions for you to create a case for positive change.

What is Advocacy

Webster’s dictionary defines advocacy as: the act or process of supporting a cause or proposal. On a personal level you are working to make a change to improve an area of your life or on another person’s behalf.

Trails

Horse Council BC (HCBC) is a member of the Outdoor Recreation Council of BC (ORC) and we are grateful of the work they do to help establish relationships within the different provincial ministries that are relevant to the outdoor recreation sector. The ORC is a nonprofit organization that supports all outdoor recreation pursuits in BC through advocacy and by promoting safe, enjoyable outdoor experiences for all. HCBC staff and volunteers participate in monthly meetings to work collectively on issues with other trail user groups and are able to take advantage of meetings with government officials.

Roads

HCBC works with the BC’s Ministry of Transportation to advocate for equestrians using roadways. In some situations, HCBC will liaise with municipal or regional governments for right of access, signage or safety. But local volunteers have a more impactful presence and a better chance at making change in their community.

Horse Council BC generally advocates at a provincial level and this tool kit will help to enable you to advocate on a local level with your municipality or regional district.

Identifying the Issue

Problem

What is the main impact of this issue? How are most trail riders impacted by this issue?

Have your problem summarized in a key message. Be clear and concise and try to keep it to 35 words or less.

Solution

What would solve this issue for trail riders?

What positive impact would the solution have?

Goal Setting

How can you measure the success of your solutions?

Create a SMART goal. The acronym SMART stands for specific, measurable, achievable, relevant and time-based. Check out the resource section to find a SMART goals planning template.

Call to Action

What can you do to inspire other people to get involved in your cause?

  • Letter writing campaign
  • Signing a petition

What is Your Story

Make it personal and tell them who you are and why riding or driving is important to you.

Making a Case

Trail

Horse Council BC believes it is important to preserve trail access and enhance trail safety for equestrians. Numerous studies show the benefits of mental health with the ability to access nature and equestrians having access to trails and nature are no exception. Historically horses have transported us to and from where we needed to go and trail networks and roadways were built for travel by foot, horseback and carriage. Today our use of horses has changed but the desire of many riders and carriage drivers is to adventure beyond the arena and hit the trails. Trail access is not only beneficial for the riders but also increases horse welfare by providing adequate exercise for their horses. Equestrian access to trails is essential as well as ensuring safety of all users.

As the population of BC rises and more people see the benefits of recreating outdoors the busier our trail networks have become. We all share the same goal and that is to have an enjoyable time while doing our activity out in nature but with more users out on the trail it increases the chance for potential conflict to happen. It’s important for multi-user trails to be wide to allow for safe passing distances and for vegetation on the side of the trail not to be overgrown to allow for good sightlines. A suitable trail surface for horses should be considered and should be non-slip. A gravel surface for instance is suitable versus an asphalt surface that horses can easily slip on. The grade and features of the trail should be taken into account especially when sharing with cyclists. The safety of horse and rider and the mountain bike rider is at risk if both are sharing a downhill trail especially if the trail has features such as drops or jumps. Some communities within BC that have mountain bikers and horseback riders who share a trail network and they have done trail planning to develop a trail strategy that helps keep all users safe. Trail networks can be divided into equestrian trails, shared trails and mountain bike trails. A common solution can be to have mountain bike trails in the middle and longer equestrian loops around the outside of the trail network. We hosted a webinar with the City of Maple Ridge and they shared with us the trail master plan they did in their community. You can watch the recording on our YouTube page: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1t0O1dDKUag&t=18s. It is very important for you to be involved with your municipality or regional district so that you can have a voice for equestrians when trail network planning is taking place. If your part of a local horse club you may be able to get involved as a stakeholder and at the very least it is important for you to participate in the public engagement sessions as an individual.

Another important aspect of trail network planning can be a staging area for equestrians. A staging area considers a parking area for trucks and trailers and may have other amenities such as a hitching post, mounting block and an area for manure disposal. When hauling your horse to a busy trail network one challenge can be the initial problem with finding parking and a secondary issue can be having enough room to access your trailer to load your horses to go home. Helping to make your case for trailer parking at a staging area can be to use boat launches as a comparison. Although horse trailers need more room then a boat trailer boat launches are a good example of a place where trailer parking is respected at a recreational site. Asking for increased signage and being friendly and respectful to your fellow trail users can go along way.

If your horse leaves manure on the trail we encourage you to clean up after them when it is safe to do so. To the average person manure can have a major ick factor but to a horse person it is a comforting sign. If it feels safe to do so dismount and kick the manure into the bush. Practicing dismounting and mounting is an important skill to have on the trail. Using a log, boulder or moving your horse to the down side of a slope are some strategies to remount. If there is no place to dispose of manure at the trail staging area be sure to Moving horse manure off the trail can go a long way to improve relationships with fellow trail users.

Road

Horse Council of BC believes roadway access for equestrians is important as it prevents barriers for riders and drivers in accessing trail heads or arenas. Equitable access increases horse welfare ensuring that equestrians are able to provide adequate exercise for their horses. Allowing safe opportunities for equestrians to use roadways cuts down on pollution from riders and drivers trailering their horses to and from riding/ driving areas. Preserving road access and enhancing road safety for equestrians is essential.

Ideally the safest method to protect vulnerable road users is to separate the user from traffic. This can be done with physical barriers as part of the roadway or a separated path off  the roadway. Gravel surfaces are best for horses to go on as pavement is much easier for horses to slip on.

If your horse leaves manure on the road we encourage you to clean up after them when it is safe to do so. To the average person manure can have a major ick factor but to a horse person it is a comforting sign. Carry a fork and bucket in the box of your truck and pull over and clean it up when your running errands and driving past. Your safety is of utmost importance but if it feels safe to do so dismount and kick the manure into the bush. Live in integrity and show equestrians in a positive light by being respectful to your neighbors.

Effective Communication Skills

Communication Styles

There are four different communication styles, and learning about the different styles can help bring awareness to how you communicate with others.

Passive

Communicating in a passive manner shows up as being non-confrontational and supportive of the other parties needs. It could also be withholding your own viewpoint or not speaking up for your own needs. Your body language may be shown as closed off, crossing your arms and not making eye contact.

Aggressive

An aggressive communication style is the opposite of being passive and can show up as confidently expressing a viewpoint with only the consideration of your own needs. You could interject with statements that put other people down and cause people to not want to work with you. Your nonverbal communication can show up as having strong eye contact and a dominating stance.

Passive-Aggressive

Using a passive-aggressive communication style can happen when you don’t feel comfortable saying what you mean. This could show up as using sarcasm, indirect communication or avoiding the conflict entirely. There is also a mismatch in your verbal and nonverbal communication like saying that your excited for the other person but presenting with slumped shoulders, avoiding eye contact.

Assertive

Communicating in an assertive manner you will be able to communicate your needs confidently but in a way that is respectful to the other party. You will be able to listen to the feelings, ideas and needs of others and engage in a healthy dialogue that considers your own needs. Nonverbally you may use hand gestures, have good posture and have a calm or joyful facial expressions.

Being Assertive

Cultivating the ability to be assertive will enhance your ability to advocate for your cause. Being clear on your needs in a respectful manner will strengthen your relationships and help to build your network.

Building Resiliency

Taking on an advocacy role can make you face adversity over long periods of time. You likely took on this role as there was no quick fix that was able to be implemented to address the problem. Being an advocate takes persistence and the ability to be resilient when faced with challenges. It is great to push towards your advocacy goals but also important to take care of yourself to prevent burnout.

Telling Your Story

Telling your story effectively whether that is through a letter or public speaking it is an opportunity to engage your audience in way that will leave an emotional impact. The goal of your story is to motivate your audience to bring around positive change.

Do Your Research

Whether your advocacy efforts are targeted towards riding on the road or the trail it is important to do your research. In this section we will cover some exploratory questions you may not have thought of and some tools to help advance your research.

A Research Tool: iMapBC

The province of BC offers a free online tool that allows you to access digital maps with information that will help in your advocacy work. iMapBC takes some time to get used to it but for using it as reference tool it is not overly complicated. If you want to dive into the intricacies of using iMapBC there is the training manual in the resources section. Otherwise, we will walk you through the steps to determine the designation of the land, trail or road you are riding on.

How do I find out who owns the land that I am riding on?

Here is the step by step guide:

  1. Use the following link and click on Launch iMapBC

https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/data/geographic-data-services/web-based-mapping/imapbc

  1. Once iMapBC is launched use the map on the right hand side of the screen to zoom in on your riding area. Use the plus minus in the left top hand corner of the map to zoom in and out or hover over the map and use the scroll wheel on the mouse to zoom in and out. To reposition the map click on the map and drag it to the desired position.
  2. On the top left hand side of the screen click on the button I want to… and the window Add/ Remove Map Information will pop up. In the following list click on Land Ownership and Status to expand the group and scroll down and click on ParcelMap BC Parcel Fabric Cadastre – By Owner Type. Use the check box beside the PMBC Parcel Cadastre and check off everyone in the list. Once finished click OK.
  3. On the left hand side of the screen there should be side bar that says Home Welcome to iMapBC. If you don’t see this click the arrow to the left of the I want to… button. In the bottom left corner of the sidebar select the layers tab and it will bring up a legend that corresponds to the colours on the map. This will give you information if you are riding on crown land, private land, crown agency (such as BC Hydro), untitled provincial land (such as a provincial park), federal land (such as a national park), First Nations, or municipal land.

Is the road I am riding on under the jurisdiction of the municipality or the province?

  1. Use the following link and click on Launch iMapBC

https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/data/geographic-data-services/web-based-mapping/imapbc

  1. Once iMapBC is launched use the map on the right hand side of the screen to zoom in on your riding area. Use the plus minus in the left top hand corner of the map to zoom in and out or hover over the map and use the scroll wheel on the mouse to zoom in and out. To reposition the map click on the map and drag it to the desired position.
  2. On the top left hand side of the screen click on the button I want to… and the window Add/ Remove Map Information will pop up. In the following list click on Administrative Boundaries to expand the group and scroll down and click on ABMS – Municipalities. Use the check boxes to check off every item listed under ABMS – Municipalities. Once finished click OK.
  3. If the road your riding on falls within the Municipality boundary you will go through the municipal government if not go to step 5 to find what region of the Ministry of Transportation your road would fall under.
  4. On the top left hand side of the screen click on the button I want to… and the window Add/ Remove Map Information will pop up. Go back to your initial selection and uncheck the ABMS – Municipalities list. Click on Administrative Boundaries again to collapse the group and scroll down the list of the main group. Click on Transportation to expand the group and click on District Boundaries – Ministry of Transportation. Use the check boxes to check off every item listed under District Boundaries – Ministry of Transportation. Once finished click OK.
  5. If the road you riding falls outside of the municipality boundary you will need to work with the Ministry of Transportation through the provincial government.

Exploratory Questions

How do I protect the trails that I ride on?
The best way to protect the land you ride on is by developing a relationship with the land manager. Sometimes it may seem you have opposing views with these land managers, but many times common ground can be found. It is important to be courteous and positive when interacting with your land manager.

Are your trails registered?
Are your trails recognized with your municipality or regional district? If they are on crown land are they registered with the Forest and Range Practices Act (section 56). Some regional districts or municipalities have a trails masterplan. Find out when the trails masterplan was created and if they are looking to update it in the near future.

If you’re using registered trails, do you have a relationship with your land manager?
Speak with your land manager to increase messaging about sharing the trails and using proper trail etiquette. Inquire about trail maintenance and brush trails to improve sightlines. If sight lines can’t be improved with brushing inquire about widening the trail or rerouting.

Unregistered trails on Crown Land?
Look to your multi-use trail organization or local Back Country Horsemen Chapter to see how you can get involved to support these trails that you love. Either of these two groups will most likely have a good working relationship with their Rec Sites and Trails BC (RSTBC) Officer. If not it is good to find out who your RSTBC Officer is and develop a relationship with them. Want a trail that is specific to your needs? Consider putting in a section 56 application to create a new trail that will fit the bill on what you want to ride.

Who else is riding your trails?
Safety is paramount when we are out riding the trails and knowing what other user groups are out there is important. We advocate for multi-user trails when it is safe to do so, and we believe in educating other user groups on how to safely interact with horses on the trail. For example, having horses and downhill mountain bikers share a black descent trail doesn’t make sense as it would end poorly for both parties if they were to meet on the trail. We all have to share the same sandbox, and we must work together to set each other up for safe and enjoyable experiences. At the end of the day, we are all out there to enjoy the activity we love and be in nature.

Find examples:

What have other communities done to allow for multi-use trails that include the needs of horses.

Gather Data

When your working with government officials it will be important to have data to show the impact that horse riders have on the economy. You can gather data from Horse Council BC’s Equine Industry Economic Impact Study and on a smaller scale you can use data that is available from your local horse association or club. Some data points might be the number of volunteer hours your club puts in on trail maintenance or the number of events your club puts on.

Find Your Contacts

The avenue to tell your story
Land Managers

Who is your land manager?

Land managers come in many different forms and some examples of managers HCBC clubs have worked with in the past are: the province (Rec Sites & Trails BC), Regional Districts, Municipality, First Nations, BC Hydro, Logging companies, mining companies, nature conservancy organizations, private land owner.

Municipal, Regional District & First Nation Directories

https://www.civicinfo.bc.ca/directories

Recreation Sites and Trails BC Directory

https://dir.gov.bc.ca/gtds.cgi?show=Branch&organizationCode=ENV&organizationalUnitCode=RSTBC

Who has jurisdiction over your roadway?

Ministry of Transportation

https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/transportation/transportation-reports-and-reference/regional-district-contacts

Municipalities

https://www.civicinfo.bc.ca/municipalities

Build Your Network

When thinking of advocacy, it’s important to find other groups and individuals that have similar interests and therefor advocating towards a shared goal. The ORC is a great resource for networking with other outdoor recreation groups

Having conversations with other user groups builds relationships and gives you allies to help keep trails in your area open.

Strategies

Once you have completed your research and found your contacts it is a good idea to put together a strategy on how you will do your advocacy work. Using as many of the strategies below as you see fit will facilitate a way for your voice to be heard.

Letter Writing

Meetings

Presentations

Petitions

Resources

General Advocacy

  • Letter writing guide
  • Email writing guide
  • Powerpoint writing guide
  • Speech Planning Worksheet
  • Smart Goals Worksheet

Trail

Road