Horse Keeping & the HPOZ

First it is important to state that an HPOZ does not in any way address horse keeping rights either for or against. The existing zoning and uses will not change. The HPOZ designation is added onto the existing zoning designation. We have the K overlay already in place and it’s not likely to be eliminated any time soon.

The relationship of HPOZ to horse property is an indirect one. Horse owners in Shadow Hills know all too well the history of other equestrian areas in the valley and elsewhere in LA County. Laws were not changed over night and….poof… no horses. The process was a gradual one. First developers moved in and began to purchase the wonderful old ranchos. The large land parcels were divided up; then mcmansions and multi-family units were squeezed onto these subdivisions. As the ambiance of the neighborhoods changed horse owners found themselves fighting for their way of life. In most cases they lost.

The HPOZ can not guarantee that this would never happen to us and our way of life BUT it does greatly reduce the possibility. An HPOZ makes our community an unattractive site for developers. The same little items that may or may not be a small annoyance to us (i.e. going before the board for review of plans) would be a major and costly stumbling block for developers.

We as Shadow Hills horse owners can take our future in our own hands. We have an opportunity. First…license your horses. The City of Los Angeles will make zoning /building choices based on the number of horses they have recorded in the area. Second…let’s work together to create barriers around our lifestyle. Otherwise, we can fight among ourselves while the developers rob us of it.

Don’t take my word for it ….don’t listen to those who try to spread fear with lies and nonsense…… DO Your Homework!!! What did happen to all the horse property in Sylmar? Chatsworth? El Monte? Valencia? Malibu? For that matter drive around Sun Valley & Sunland…Do you see things changing?? Our neighborhood is going to change. Either we will be the directors of that change or the developers will gladly do it for us….you decide!!

REMEMBER TO LICENSE YOUR HORSE(S)!!! APPLICATIONS ARE AVAILABLE AT EAST VALLEY FEED OR ONLINE AT: http://www.laanimalservices.com/PDF/license/equinelicenses.pdf