FULLERTON : Equestrian Center to Be Built by City

The city has decided to build a public equestrian center because residential development is pushing private stables out of town.

During the past two years, homes have replaced more than 100 horse stalls at private stables, said Marci Mascorro, a member of the Fullerton Recreational Riders. Many horse owners now must board their horses outside the city, she said.

Increasingly, the only residents who can keep a horse in the city are those with large, expensive lots in areas zoned for horses, Mascorro said.

This week, the Fullerton City Council voted in favor of building a public equestrian center, which would add about 150 boarding stalls to the 76 now available in the city.

The council said it would begin looking for land in the West Coyote Hills that could be leased to a private stable operator. The council had considered building an equestrian center on an undeveloped 72-acre nature center on Euclid Street in north Fullerton, but rejected that proposal by a 3-2 vote.