A newly formed committee has taken up the cause of opening the horse trails in Mobbly Bayou Preserve to the public. So far, city officials are dead set against the idea. But that hasn’t deterred the group.
The issue of whether to allow horseback riding on public trails in Oldsmar’s Mobbly Bayou Preserve has been simmering for months, ever since a large group of supporters of local nonprofit Horsepower For Kids packed the council chambers to draw attention to the subject in March.
Following that contentious meeting, a committee called Horse Trails for Mobbly Bayou Preserve took up the reins of the cause, appearing twice before the council to ask them to reopen the trails at the preserve, or at the very least, place the issue on an official agenda.
But after providing a detailed list of reasons why the council should at least consider the committee’s proposal, including refuting an old study about the effects of horse manure on the environment, committee spokesperson Scott Gengler was told in no uncertain terms where the city came down on the issue.
“My position is, the City of Oldsmar has no intention whatsoever of providing horse trails within the Mobbly Bayou Wilderness Preserve,” City Manager Bruce Haddock said during the May 3 meeting.
“And the reason is, it’s counter to the reasons that property was purchased and the preserve was created. It’s in the name—Mobbly Bayou Wilderness Preserve. Preserve means, for the most part, to remain in its natural state.”
Gengler, a military veteran with a passion for horses and strong ties to the area’s tightknit riding community, was unbowed by Haddock’s position, rebutting the city manager’s points with counterpoints in volley that had the feel of a title fight.
“Do you realize on a national standpoint, horses are not near as high impact, such as hiking trails, canoeing, things where man touches the ground,” Gengler said, with a not-so-subtle nod to the preserve’s incoming zipline adventure park.
“Horses are naturally indigenous to this land, and they do not transplant the Brazilian pepper,” he added. “Therefore, horses are natural to that preserve and could actually help maintain that preserve by creating natural burnways.”
Despite Gengler’s protests, Haddock remained firm, reiterating, “We have no interest in horse trails in the Mobbly Bayou Preserve.”
The council members unanimously supported his position, to an extent.
“We all agree that if you make a park (with public trails), you have to make it available to everybody,” Mayor Doug Bevis said. “And that area down there does not have the ability to make it available to everybody. There’s not adequate parking for cars with trailers. It’s not compatible with the area.”
“I’ll tell you right up front: I love horses, I grew up in the mountains…but I will never vote to put horses on that preserve,” Jerry Beverland said.
While Beverland and Gabby McGee said there might be other locations in the city for trails, anther council member gave Gengler and the committee hope for the future, along with some constructive advice.
“I don’t know if it helps your case at this time to be put on the agenda. Because I don’t believe you would have the support, based on where you are right now,” Vice Mayor Eric Seidel said.
“I would suggest before you try to get on the agenda, that you go and have some viable plan to present for when you get on the agenda, and hopefully change some minds.”
Following the meeting, Gengler and fellow committee member Diane Sachs told Oldsmar Connect that’s exactly what they plan to do.
“The meeting spurred us to move forward as a group,” Gengler said on a sunny Friday afternoon at the preserve.
“Eric gave us an idea of where to go from here—to get more support.”
He said in addition to starting a Change.org petition, the committee will host an open house at Horsepower For Kids on Saturday in order to draw attention to, and support for, their cause.
“This Saturday, from 12:00-5:00, we will be hosting an Oldsmar Day at 8005 Racetrack Road for all residents of Oldsmar, to reach (out to) them about the trails and get them to show support,” Gengler said.
“Predominantly, we would like to see the horse trails opened in the preserve, with a long-term goal of allowing horses in the City of Oldsmar.”
Sachs, a longtime environmentalist and outdoors advocate, said contrary to the city’s position, horse trails are good for the preserve and the community as a whole.
“The State of Florida came up with an initiative to get people to do outdoor activities, and on the program is a picture of a horseback rider on a beach,” she said of the state’s SCORP program.
“So, environmentally, it the argument that horses are harmful to the environment makes no sense.”
Gengler and Sachs also said despite the latest setback, the committee remains undaunted.
“It’s my hope if we bring enough attention to this, they have to find it in their system to make it happen,” Sachs said.
“Oldsmar was originally a farming community, and when you’re talking farms, you’re talking horses,” Gengler said. “So to say horses aren’t a big part of this community is false. Horses are a big part of Oldsmar’s history.”
“Maybe we can’t rewrite history, but we can change the future.”
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