Jan. 21: Cannon Co. Walking Horse Assoc. Annual Meeting

AM not going back to the horse ride in may or sep ever again...To many drunks and peolpe doing drugs thier and its not a family friendly place...and on top of that the $50 a perosn to get in is way to much to pay...i can drive to pigeon forge and stay the weekend for what it now costs to get into the horse ride...and i dont half to put up with the drunks or the drugs and the officers/directors playing favorites to thier friends on the camp sites...the past 2 years we've rope off are camp site 2 weeks b4 the may ride and each time they take the rope down and the directors/officers doesnt do any thign about it because they are friends with them...

Thank you for your concerns. As current CCWHA Secretary, I feel an obligation to respond to your opinions.

We realize in the past some adults have problems governing themselves when it comes to having too much fun; therefore, security has been on the grounds for the past several organized rides. The officers handle out of control drinking/drug situations immediately with arrests, taking them off the grounds and making sure the area is continuously secure for our families who are camping.

In relation to roping off campsites. The rules state 'first come, first serve'. This is a simple rule which means whom ever sits up camp in a camp site first is there. When most of those coming into camp see a roped off area they are neighborly and understand a person has previously been there, cleared the spot, carried in wood etc and plans on camping there. Most move on to another spot. If the first arriving camper chooses to camp in the roped off area that is allowed. The officers and board members working the gate go out of their way to help campers arriving late to find camping spots with large units by escorting them into the camp ground and helping them find locations. I personally apologize if you had problems and if you choose to return please call me for assistance.

As far as $50 fee. Yes that is an increase from previous years. If you will watch the website we do offer discounts up until May 1st usually to help people out. One reason for the increase is to help with security which in turn helps to keep our families safe. Also one small thing to remember is that this $50 is for the whole year membership. I don't think $50 will get you into Pigeon Forge or any other place for the entire year. This fee allows entrance into both rides and use of the campground for the year.

Yes, we are a family facility. We strive for the children and youth to participate. One bad image person will be remembered and it takes 50 people being good to wash away that bad image. There were over 800 in the campground on these two weekends; over 50% of these were young people with families; we work very hard to keep everyone safe and offer activities for all ages. If you are a member you have just as much right to help stop a bad habit as we do as a board member, so please step up and help protect what is yours and join in the battle to keep this a safe place for all of us to enjoy. Happy Trails during 2012.

Cindy Haley
615 904 5356
info@ccwhaoftn.info

I take my kids on the horse ride every year, they look forward to going. As far as drinking goes there is drinking when you go out to eat, bowling, the lake, a ball game, belive it or not even in pigeon forge. I'm not saying that its right, im just saying dont label the CCWHA for drinking and drugs wgen it happens everywhere else just as well. I would not put my kids in any danger or take them anywhere that wasn;t safe.And as for the 50 bucks i doubt you could even go to Logans and eat much less spend the weekend in pigeon forge for that. I hope you rethink this and come to the May ride a help support our future, Because the kids are our future .

I have attend for years and have taken my children with me. They look forward to the weekends there every year as much as I do. I agree with the above comments about the drinking/drugs. You can go just about anywhere and find it if you look hard enough. You can also find the fun and enjoyable things in life too when you look for them. My safety and my family safety are very important to me and I have to say that the officers and board of the CCWHA do everything in their power to make sure that everyone has as safe of a time as possible. I also hope that you rethink your choice about the CCWHA and attend again.