Horse lovers from both Nassau and Suffolk Counties attended a dinner and lecture designed to educate them on what strategies there are for the preservation of land for riding. The evening was organized by local resident, Kathleen Kleinman, president of the Muttontown HorsemenÕs Association. She explained the theme of the evening: ÒWhy are we here? The ever shrinking green space and efforts to preserve that greenspace,Ó she said.

To that end, she had invited the MHA, the Nassau Suffolk Horsemen's Association, the Lloyd Harbor Equine Association and the Old Westbury Horsemen's Association. In addition, there were members of the Smithtown Hunt, the Islip Horsemen's Association and the Pomanoc Driving Club attending. Also attending were people who were not riders, but who like horse trails in their area.

Elected officials were there at the Hay Barn in Planting Fields, too: New York State Senator Carl Marcellino; Muttontown Mayor Richard Murcott and Suffolk Country Legislator William Holtz, Nassau County Legislator Edward Mangano and Rosemary Murphy, who represented County Executive Tom Gulotta.

The guest speaker was John Halsey of the Peconic Land Trust. He explained how his organization helps preserve space by working with individuals who have large parcels of land who are faced with the decision of what to do when pressed between developers offering money; real estate inheritance taxes; the desire to preserve a family space; and a love of open land.

His solution is a combination of conservation easement and limited development which results in lower inheritance taxes and lower real estate taxes as well as lower legal fees. Since municipalities are usually more willing to push through a deal involving conservation and limited development rather than follow a long development plan process that can take a long time in the courts with the resulting large legal fees.

The Peconic Land Trust method involves offering part of a large parcel to a land trust while retaining a portion for living space and a portion for future development making it possible for a person to benefit now and in the future. When part of a parcel becomes a land trust or preserve - the tax rate is lowered on the undeveloped property of the parcel. When the owner wants to get a return on their land, they can develop the set-aside unused land which then returns it to the tax rolls as it raises in value. There are also tax benefits that result from the arrangements of donating land to preservation.

Most importantly, it can save open spaces.

Mr. Halsey created the Peconic Land Trust and has been working with it for the past 16 years. He has 21 people on his staff working on 40 active projects in five towns and four villages in Suffolk County - all helping to acquire open land. The work he said is challenging, creative and complicated. He called it tough - gratifying work.

He said, ÒYour trails are disappearing. The farms and buildings are all going and you have to work hard, but it can be done and I can teach you by example. There is no silver bullet, but if you are patient and persistent you can protect some of what is left.Ó

He said landowners, as they get older, often see only two choices - to sell land to developers and leave town or to leave the land to their kids to fight for - but sometimes the expected money doesnÕt turn up. People can get caught up paying out profits in capital gains, real estate commissions and legal fees. ÒBy the time itÕs done, they get just a fraction of the equity of the land,Ó said Mr. Halsey. ÒThe key is to understand the goal of the landowner. You have to engage and educate the landowner that their land is an asset. One of the tools is limited development. We enable the landowner to keep control and yet realize the equity in the land.Ó A most important part of the process he said it to be sure and involve the whole family in the planning.

Another key is to know the land itself. The land will show what parts should be protected and what would be well to develop.

Mr. Halsey said he started the Peconic Land Trust with his first check for $10,000. The donor said he had six weeks to match the funds. He went to his board and a mailing went out which brought in $12,000 - the donor matched that figure!

As Mr. Halsey finished giving several interesting examples of how the process works, Lloyd Zuckerberg, a Manhattan real estate entrepreneur complimented Kathleen Kleinman on organizing the night.

Mr. Zuckerberg said ÒThe time is now! Elected officials should pay close attention. This issue will define the next era. Stop the suburban sprawl.

ÒThere is finite land and time. The best way is to pick a project and do it,Ó he said.

With so many areas experiencing difficulty with keeping trails open, one village has the solution.

John Shalam, president of the Old Westbury HorsemenÕs Association said the horse trails in his village receive strong support from the mayor and trustees. There is a recommendation given to all estates being developed to do so with a perimeter of 10 feet as an easement on all sides. The easements are turned over to the OWHA.

ÒWe keep the trails in good condition. The relationship is based on sensitivity to the requirements of the trails and the home owners.Ó

When there are complaints about the use of the trails, Mr. Shalam visits the home owner and explains what the group is doing and why it is important. In 90 percent of the cases by using tact, diplomacy and good sense they work things out. ÒWe try never to get embroiled legally,Ó he said.