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Oldsmar City Council to take up horse issue

 
Published July 14, 2016

OLDSMAR — After horse advocates have made repeated requests in the last several months for the City Council to consider changing regulations geared toward keeping horses out of Mobbly Bayou Wilderness Preserve, the subject will be discussed when the council meets Tuesday. Vice Mayor Eric Seidel on July 5 asked that it be put on the agenda. The council heard from many residents concerned with how development in the Racetrack Road corridor has made it difficult for equestrians to find available land to exercise their horses. In June, the council received a petition from a newly formed equestrian community group with more than 300 signatures supporting public horse trails.

However, the discussion comes too late for Horsepower for Kids Inc., a nonprofit organization that has been at odds with the city on the issue for many years. Although Horsepower for Kids will continue operating its small farm with rescued animals, the group announced in a July 8 Facebook post that as of Aug. 5, it will no longer offer horseback riding. The post stated: "The neighborhood is getting all built up by developers and our animals' homes are being replaced by concrete; therefore we no longer have a place to ride (trails). Oldsmar/Pinellas County has over 200 acres across the street , but the Oldsmar Council refuses to let us use it. Please remember when voting time comes around, make sure you vote for candidates who will serve the residents and not make decisions based on what they feel is right or wrong.''

The city council meets at 7 p.m. Tuesday inside City Council Chambers, 101 State St. W.