THIS CENSUS IS VITAL TO THE EQUESTRIAN INDUSTRY IN ALAMEDA COUNTY

The Alameda County Agricultural Commissioner's office recently tried to conduct a census of the number of horses in Alameda County. They met with resistance and stonewalling from the representatives of the horse facilities they contacted.

IT IS OF GREAT IMPORTANCE THAT THE EQUESTRIAN COMMUNITY IN ALAMEDA COUNTY BE COUNTED. All horses need to be counted, in all types of facilities or pasture, permitted or not. This includes "back-yard" horses.

The Alameda County Agriculture Advisory Committee completed a streamlined procedure for granting PERMANENT permits to horse facilities. This was adopted by the Board of Supervisors over 1 year ago. To date not one facility has received this permit, even though the procedure calls for grandfathering in existing facilities. On the contrary, it appears that the process has become even more arduous, to the point of impossibility, for facilities trying to renew their permits.

THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS NEEDS TO KNOW THE ECONOMIC IMPACT OF THE EQUINE INDUSTRY IN ALAMEDA COUNTY.

IF WE ARE NOT COUNTED, WE WILL NOT COUNT.

PLEASE, if you were not contacted, or did not respond to the survey, or undercounted your horses, email me at kmillie9@aol.com or call me at 925-862-2529 with the following information:

• Number of horses on your property. Their use - competition - working - pleasure - other

The survey that was done counted only 299 horses used for competition. I would appreciate your address so we can be sure we are not double counting, but it is not necessary.

We are meeting in one week to finalize the census, and we will be using the numbers we are able to count.

Thank you,