Confusion over the enforcement of a Bandera ordinance barring horses from leaving designated trails in the city park has sparked concern among local equestrians and business owners, leading to the formation of a new nonprofit aimed at preserving horse access in the Cowboy Capital of the World.
Concerns emerged last month when Bandera residents noticed increased enforcement of City Ordinance 333, which prohibits horses from going off trail in the city park, including Heritage Park when referenced specifically.
The issue was initially raised by former City Administrator Stan Farmer, with City Secretary Jill Shelton saying the concern was tied to safety.
“It was a safety concern for the horses in Heritage Park when tourists are there,” Shelton said. “The staff has been actively working with local horse companies to create a committee so that we can all work together and have a safe horse-friendly community.”
Harriet Cederlof, owner of Bandera Historical Rides, said she and other riders were caught off guard by the abrupt enforcement.
“It happened suddenly in August,” Cederlof said. “All riders started being pushed out of the park. We got the marshal from 1 called on us. It was very confusing.”
Initially, Cederlof believed the issue may have been horse waste left behind by other riders.
“But we raised our voices and created a petition,” she said. “I wanted to solve the problem.”
Cederlof said Farmer was difficult to reach for clarification. However, she and other locals recently formed The Bandera Equine Posse, a nonprofit that will help the city maintain horse trails and advocate for horse-friendly policies.
“We let the city know that we were doing this,” Cederlof said. “We feel that we got a positive response from the city, and I think we are now getting everything cleared up.”
Bandera resident Roxanne Yoder said she welcomed more discussion around the ordinance but remains uncertain about what prompted the recent enforcement.
“I can’t speak on the Heritage Park issue, but as far as the trail at City Park, I guess for a long time, they have been riding up to the dam,” Yoder said. “People would take pictures in the water. But apparently, they are stopping that. I don’t know what happened. All of a sudden, we were getting letters on our cars from the city.”
Yoder said the restrictions limit community engagement.
“In regard to safety concerns, most riders are professional and responsible,” she said. “We are all still pretty confused by all this, but we all want to be good stewards of the land. We thought we were. Bandera is special and we want to keep it that way.”
Last month, the Bulletin contacted Mayor Denise Griffin, who referred all questions to Public Works Director Terry Wells.
Shelton, a city employee, then informed the Bulletin that it is against city policy for city employees to speak to the press.
She shared the following policy with the Bulletin:
Chapter 40. Public Statements and Social Media Policy • A. News Media Inquiries to the City. The news media performs an important service for the public, which should be clearly understood by all City employees. It is the function of the news media to keep the public informed on matters of public interest, including the activities of the various departments and the employees of the City. Therefore, it is essential that information provided to the media be accurate, released only by the appropriate person or official, and handled in a professional manner. If there is a media inquiry in question relates to an issue of public safety, then the Marshal may also handle the media inquiry.
• B. Media Statements by the City. Media statement initiated by the City shall be handled by the Mayor or by the City Administrator as approved by the Mayor. No other officer or employee shall affirmatively make media statements on behalf of the City. If there should arise a public safety issue as to which a media statement by the City is warranted, then that media statement may be handled by the Marshal, with the approval of the Mayor.
• C. Media Statements by Employees. City employees shall not seek to air or to resolve grievances or complaints about the City by making unilateral media statements. Employees who have grievances or complaints, about either their own personnel issues, or about other city operations, shall use the grievance and complaint procedures provided for in this Manual instead.
Marshal Earl Heidelberg and City Councilmember Lynn Palmer did not respond to multiple requests for comment. Shelton also shared the city’s ordinance regarding horses with the Bulletin.
City Ordinance 333 (Adopted May 22, 2017): • The city park equestrian trail is designated as shown in Exhibit A of the ordinance.
• Horses must stay on designated trails.
• No bareback riding; saddles are required.
• Single riders only.
• No motorized vehicles or bicycles on trails.
• Negative Coggins required.
• Riders must respect wildlife and habitat.
• No picking wildflowers or dumping trash (Leave No Trace).
• No alcohol or glass containers.
• No reckless riding.
• Horses have the rightof- way but riders must be respectful to hikers.
• No horse trailers allowed in the park.
• Horses must be controlled and restrained at all times.
• No open fires outside designated BBQ pits.
• Trail rules and Civil Practice and Remedies Code Chapter 87 must be posted.
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