This story was in the making for a long time. The bill took a while to make its way through, which (I learned a long time ago) is pretty normal for any state legislature. Just a short piece about horseback riding rights. When I was a reporter on Mackinac Island, I learned all about the horseback riding industry, and I thought it was interesting that it’s still prevalent and well-advocated in Illinois.

Horseback riding has long been a part of Illinois history, but the state’s equestrians want to ensure their right to ride the trails at state parks, nature preserves and recreation areas.

Though many commercial equestrian camps go back 40 or 50 years, horseback riders could still be denied access to public lands, since there is no current provision that guarantees their right to ride.

“Horses have been around since before Illinois was even a state,” says Frank Bowman, president of the board of directors for the Horsemen’s Council of Illinois. “As we were developing laws and statutes for the state, nobody ever included horses.”

For the full story, click here.