Why we should continue the culture and heritage of at 37 Lone Oak Trail

Presented to : 37 Lone Oak ad hoc committee Presented by: the Conservation Rangers November 19, 2007 The culture of horses

• -keeping encompasses a variety of activities from weekend trail riding and rodeo events to some of the most prestigious sports including racing, polo and the breeding and showing of horses. • We count among our citizens award winning riders in several disciplines of equestrian sports, from barrel racing and roping to hunter and jumper and dressage. We also have numerous pleasure riders.

History of horses and Sunset Valley

• In the City published book, An Informal History of Sunset Valley, Texas, it states that in 1963, “the populations of Sunset Valley had increased to 280 men, women and children, along with eighty horses, and some cattle, rabbits and chickens”. • In the early years of Sunset Valley, revenues were raised through youth rodeos; there was a youth horse drill team that was renowned around the state. • Many master planned communities provide greenspace and trails. What makes Sunset Valley unique is the commitment to its rural integrity as the metropolitan area of Austin grew around it. • 37 Lone Oak is the last large horse property left in the city, and the only one that can accommodate lessons or training with an arena. • Currently in our city, there are approximately 21 horses and donkeys and other chickens, llamas, goats. Students ride for report cards June, 1955 Queen and Mascot Sunset Valley Youth Drill Team New uniforms Youth Drill Team Youth Drill Team 1961 & 1962 Rodeos money raised for the City Sunset Valley Mounted Conservation Rangers Who we are: • The Mounted Conservation Rangers are a group of horse owners and riders who live in the City. We want to complement our love of horses with our love of the City. We have all been certified through the Conservation Ranger course offered by the City. We are particularly aware of the unique opportunity for City service from horseback. This service includes:

•Monitoring trails and greenspaces for both public works department and the police department

•Assisting in lost child/adult or pet searches

•Providing opportunities for neighborhood children to discover the grace and beauty of large animals that most city kids have no access to.

•The CSV Mounted Conservation Rangers also maintain a liaison with the City to insure that should any issue arise concerning our horse community, that any and all of us would be available to respond. Benefits of an equestrian community

• Adds to the property value-many properties are being developed that mirror SSV but they are great distances from Austin. Large pieces of acreage that share trails and are an anomaly. • Many new master planned communities offer golf courses and equestrian facilities. • The presence of large animals in a neighborhood teaches children respect and responsibility for the well being of all life, whether the animals belong to the children or they share in the care. California: Assessment of Horse Riding and Equestrian Properties Residential Activities The regulation also specifies that land used to provide horse trail rides or horse riding lessons to the public are to be classified as residential. These activities are rural recreational in nature, and are now to be treated similar to other land intensive, rural recreational activities, such as golf courses and ski hills. Community's project takes form via a private-public partnership ...County master planned community of Sienna Plantation...hiking, biking and equestrian trails, community gardens...application to the Texas Parks and Wildlife...... Houston Business Journal by Casey Wooten on July 20, 2007 Hill Country becoming residential target for Californians ...access to a community pool and tennis...Coast, communities with equestrian accommodations can be...or recreational purposes. Texas is part of...... San Antonio Business Journal by Chris Hill on November 14, 2005 KGBTexas lassos the Cordillera Ranch account ...master planned residential community in the Texas Hill Country. Katie...club, tennis, swimming, equestrian center, a social...... San Antonio Business Journal by Michele Krier on October 25, 2004 Sort by Most Recent First | Most Relevant First Community's project takes form via a private-public partnership ...County master planned community of Sienna Plantation...hiking, biking and equestrian trails, community gardens...application to the Texas Parks and Wildlife...... Houston Business Journal by Casey Wooten on July 20, 2007 Area parks get $3M in state and federal grants ...The Texas Parks and Wildlife...regional parks, small community parks, recreational trails...Proposed projects includes, equestrian and hiking/biking...... Dallas Business Journal on August 30, 2004 Developers outline plans for pair of country-style communities ...Master-planned communities have begun popping...and a private equestrian center. The equestrian...According to the Texas A&M University...... Houston Business Journal by Allison Wollam on June 28, 2004 Private Gated Communities with Equestrian Facilities and Luxury ... Magnolia, Texas. Pre-development pricing is still available at this idyllic gated equestrian community just north of Houston, which combines the tranquility ... www.privatecommunities.com/private-communities-with-equestrian-facilities.htm Cordillera Ranch in Boerne, Texas - Luxury Homes in a Private ... Cordillera Ranch - San Antonio, Texas - Exclusive gated community of highly ... Equestrian Club: Truly unique to Cordillera Ranch, the stables of the ... www.privatecommunities.com/texas/cordilleraranch/ - 82k Horse Testimonials

• Lisa Cobb from 22 Lovegrass Lane says: “I have always wanted to have access to horses. This property offers me an opportunity to make my life dream come true.” • Margaret Bentley of 11 Pillow Road: When we moved to Sunset Valley, though our property had housed horses for 30 years or more, we didn’t have a horse at the time. Our daughter, Carson, would walk down the street to the McKenzie’s at 20 Pillow just to sit by the fence and watch their horses. • Pauline Reese: her horse “Blue” was born on Pillow Road and appears with her on album covers and when she performs at concerts and rodeos. • When the City celebrated its 50 year Anniversary, we had an equestrian section of the parade that consisted of at least 6 horses and riders from the age of 10 to 70. • Walter Jenkins: The horses, trails and greenspace are the reasons Carla and I chose SSV as our home. • Mr. McKinzie, Pillow Road • Janice Garrett, Pillow Road: In 2000 Bob and I leased the two acre pasture NEXT TO US at 29 Pillow so we could be nearby when our mare Blue Bell foaled. On the morning she had her filly I put up a sign at the road: " IT'S A GIRL! ". That week ALL of my neighbors stopped by to see the new baby. Jim and Ursula Gaines, who I had never met, brought me their video camera; many came by every day to pet the foal and watch her progress. It was our first foal and a wonderful opportunity to share our joy with our great neighbors. •Mrs. Powell, Lone Oak Trail: How wonderful it would be if all children had an opportunity to be a part of the horse community that my children lived! • Dick Leigh: The rural aspect of Sunset Valley is what first attracted my wife and I here. I have a peaceful, beautiful picture each morning when I look out my window at the horses across the street. It would be great to have 4-H available for kids today and for them to use the 37 Lone Oak so they could participate. Children who participate in 4-H become great citizens. Citizens who keep horses and donkeys in Sunset Valley • Bently & McHone 2 horses • Jenkins 2 horses • Warnken 2 horses • Drakers 2 horses • Edmondson & Powell 2 donkeys • Cat Quintanilla 1 • Anne Gualt 4 horses • McKinzie 6 horses • Hays 1 donkey 21 horses and donkeys And, there are more who want to, or who would like for their children to take lessons! …and more to come Liability Protection • The duty of care for recreational activities on the property is the duty owed by a landowner to a trespasser, which is that the city not cause injury through willfulness, wantonness or gross negligence.

• There is some question in my mind that some activities there may not be considered recreational. For instances, a person attending a softball tournament at a city softball complex was not held to be "recreation." There is no case dealing specifically with horse riding. If the use of the property was not recreational, then the duty would be greater.

• A general premises defect would require the application of the standard of care owed by a landowner to a licensee, which is that a landowner not injure a licensee by willful, wanton or grossly negligent conduct, AND that the owner use ordinary care either to warn a licensee of, or to make reasonably safe, a dangerous condition of which the owner is aware and the licensee is not.

• There is another little wrinkle and that is the protections of the Equine Activities legislation, which would protect the City from liability for injuries resulting from the dangers or conditions that are an inherent risk of an equine activity. In one case applying this law, a person by a horse was held to be engaging in an equine activity by walking the horse from a training area to a paddock and there was no liability for such injuries. This limitation on liability, however, specifically excludes injuries resulting from, among others that do not relate to the City, (1) faulty equipment that the City knows or should have known is faulty or (2) a dangerous latent condition of the land for which warning signs, written notices, or verbal warnings were not conspicuously posted and the City knew of the dangerous latent condition.

• If the City does use the property to allow horse riding and feeding on the property, the City should inspect the property to determine if there are any dangerous conditions on the property. If there are, the City should make the condition reasonably safe or put up a clear and obvious warning sign.

• The other area that should be addressed in "faulty equipment" or "use of tangible property." It seems clear what can be faulty with regard to a fence, but what other property will be used? I know an area where feed may be kept, but what other tangible property? Perhaps latches, and the City should either provide no latches and the users have to bring their own latching devices or the City would need to be very good about regularly inspecting the latches, especially if there will be any boarding there. I am not concerned about the potential for property loss for users keeping feed there because the City can just enter into an agreement directly with those users to waive any liability for the City.

• Email to Carla Jennkins, from Jessica Scott, City Attorney, November 5, 2007 Disease-West Nile • Birds are the carriers of the disease, not horses. Horses can contract it, as can dogs and cats, but do not transmit/spread it and can be vaccinated for protection.

• West Nile virus is spread by mosquitoes and can infect people, horses, some types of birds, and other animals. The occurrence in dogs and cats is very low. There is no evidence that the disease can be spread from person to person, animal to person, or animal to animal.

• A vaccine is available for horses and, the mounted rangers keep their horses vaccinated. Horse Health and Vaccinations

• State law mandates current health documents any time a horse leaves its home pasture. All Conservation Rangers maintain highest standards of care for their horses. All horses are regularly vaccinated for flu, rabies, west-nile and other veterinarian recommended preventatives. Recommendations

• Keep the for occasional overnight facility for horses when use is of city benefit and for safe keeping of animals in the occasion of flooding or other disasters. • Keep the barn for a hay co-op, where citizens with horses, donkeys, llamas and other hay eating animals can share the expense of 200 bales and benefit from the delivery and price savings of the hay. • Keep the arena so that the citizens of SSV can have riding lessons for themselves and their children, but make a long term goal of replacing arena with aesthetically pleasing fencing and appropriate landscaping and buffering. • Keep the house for use of restroom and covered place for a few people to gather. If the committee can't see fit to keep the entire house, please consider keeping the restroom, the room off the restroom, the garage and converting to a screened area. Out for a morning on the trails and lunch at the Fire Bowl! Some current Sunset Valley Equestrians

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Sunset Valley Anniversary Parade 2004 Sunset Valley Elementary Students learn about horses

Let’s keep some of our culture and heritage alive and allow 37 Lone Oak Trail… • To be used as it has in the past, a gathering place for learning and enjoying horses. • This property provides a place for horse activities that have been available in this City since its inception. • Allow the children of SSV the opportunity to share this history and culture.