Horse lovers hoping for a new trail in Southold could get the okay today to saddle up in the months ahead.
At today’s town board work session, a discussion was held along with John Sepenoski on the proposal for a trail on the Forestbrook property, located off the North Bayview Extension, in the area known as Hog’s Neck.
The plan was first discussed in September as Southold Town Supervisor Scott Russell met with town staffers and local horse enthusiasts near the 25-acre parcel.
Two weeks ago, Russell held off on a vote until the matter was discussed by the town’s land preservation committee.
Today, Russell said he thought the meeting went well; the group issued bullet points with suggestions and concerns, including manure. Town code already mandates that horse manure be picked up by equestrians, he said.
The board discussed working out a schedule for horse riding and hikers, with different days and times of day possible.
Sepenoski suggested for now, the board just vote to get the trail approved and since no riding would be allowed until February 1, anyway, the town could then take time to address the management plan and a schedule for hikers.
Justice Louisa Evans said she wanted to assure that the trail would not be permanently just for horses; hikers would be included down the line, too, she said.
Sepenoski said all those details could be worked out, but it was imperative to begin work while the weather is still good and there are fewer ticks.
Russell said the parcel is “substantial” and the details can be worked out in the coming months.
The land was purchased by the town in 2004 for just under $1 million, Russell said. “It’s been there for 11 years and it’s not usable by the public in its current state,” he said.
After a recent issue with Suffolk County putting the brakes on horseback riding at Cedar Beach, Russell said this plan was brought to his attention.
Recently, Russell said he met with horse owners to determine the feasibility of the project; the original intent of the purchase was to preserve the land for open space and passive use.
Sepenoski said he felt with “enough governance and controls,” a horse trail would be consistent with passive use.
The idea would be to allow for one or two parking spaces and a pre-determined number of horses allowed on the trail at one time.
Councilwoman Jill Doherty asked how the town could ensure that a crowd wasn’t parking and that a large group of horse owners didn’t head for the trail at the same time.
She suggested horse owners might register with the town and said signage could be erected, listing the rules.
Russell said a kiosk might also be created to dispense information about the trail.
Sepenoski said for him, the “wild card” was that the trail had already been created in 2007; work stopped when it was determined that a management plan for the parcel was needed first.
All that’s needed to do is to clean up some felled trees and branches, he said. Evans asked if the town’s DPW would care for the property; Sepenoski said they would.
Standish said the land preservation committee had called for the management plan to be in place before the completion of the trail.
Resident Jill Franke, he said, has been advocating for the trail for years. Recently, she and fellow horse owner Cindy Hilary called to see if the trail idea could be revived.
“I would like to see it become a horse trail,” he said, adding that most people who would bring horses would walk them directly from their nearby homes, with no trailers involved.
“The property is just sitting there,” Russell said. “Taxpayers paid $1 million for it to sit for 11 years unused.” The land is now overgrown, he said; the purpose of the land was to create passive use for the public.
Russell said a schedule could be created and if problems did pop up, the town could revisit the issue and say they wouldn’t allow for horses in the future.
Councilman Jim Dinizio said on Cedar Beach, horse owners all thought the Pony Swim was a great idea and all had fun, “but it was not allowed. We need to set the rules.”
Russell said he believes most horse owners from western Suffolk have trails, whereas in Southold, there are none. “It’s a huge difference.”
Most riders, extended the privilege of a trail, will self-police, Russell said.
The trail would be the first and only horse trail in town; although there have been trails in years’ past, currently, none exist.
The project would be completed at no cost to the town, Standish said.
Sepenoski said the plan would be just for a horse trail, with no jumps, no races, and no mountain biking allowed.
The area would be used for hunting for four months per year and as a horse trail for the rest, he said.
For Franke, who began working on the idea 10 years ago, pitching the proposal to former DPW director McMahon, the forward movement is exhilarating. “I’m ecstatic,” she said. “It’s been a long time. We’re just so happy to possibly have it.”
Hilary agreed. “I’m really excited about it,” she said, adding that she recently rescued a baby horse from slaughter; the trail would provide a therapeutic place for training. “It would be great for him.”
Both Franke and Hilary agreed the trail would be a godsend for local horse enthusiasts who have nowhere in town to ride, especially since a spike in traffic has made traversing the roads treacherous.
“This is a dream come true for us,” Hilary said.
Franke said she believes the trail should be for Southold residents only and dedicated solely to those riding horses. As it stands, she said, “There is nothing in town for horses.”
She agreed horse owners would self-police. “We don’t want to lose the only place that will be ours.We are so grateful to finally have this.”
Russell has said he thought the trail was a good idea. “It’s a wonderful opportunity to provide a place for horse owners to enjoy,” he said, adding that opportunities in town have long been limited and no trails are currently in existence. “We have our preserves for this very purpose,” he said.
The vote is scheduled for today’s town board meeting at 4:30 p.m.