Letters to the editor

They say do what you love. We are fortunate to run Red Horse Riding School in Redmond where our day job combines our love of horses and the outdoors. We take pleasure and pride in introducing new friends to our personable horses who will then explore the woods, canyons, and waters of Central and Western Oregon.

Our amazing landscapes are a big part of the draw for our customers but, like almost every business during the pandemic, we have had to adjust to new realities and have had to significantly scale back out trail rides.

It is a stark reminder about how much we depend on access to our beautiful wilderness, and we miss it every day. We need to preserve these areas in their natural state for continued use and enjoyment which is why I am supporting Sens. Ron Wyden’s and Jeff Merkley’s River Democracy Act.

The River Democracy Act would designate more then 4,000 miles of waterways as wild and scenic which will protect these rivers and streams for future generations while preserving access for Oregonian’s use and enjoyment.

This is an important bill for our business and other area business that rely on the outdoors. We are fortunate to live in a high desert paradise and this is a bill that will help that paradise retain its unique magic.

— Autumn Kushner, owner, Red Horse Riding School, Redmond