Hurdles Get Tougher for Rural Area’s Horse Lovers : Thousand Oaks: Stable’s struggle to relocate exemplifies what some see as threats to the city’s equestrian heritage.

For the 200-odd horses stabled at Two Winds Equestrian Center in Newbury Park, moving to Broome Ranch means an easy amble across Potrero Road. They probably won’t even have to break into a trot to get to their new home.

But for the human beings involved, the move has been a long journey filled with joint meetings, infighting and pounds of paperwork.

On Tuesday, the Thousand Oaks City Council is expected to finalize a 10-page lease allowing Two Winds to operate on publicly owned land at Broome Ranch for up to two years.

As soon as the lease is approved, the move will begin in earnest. By August, the entire equestrian center, which is being forced to move because of development, could be relocated to a 20-acre parcel on Broome Ranch.

“We’re down to days instead of months,” said Jeff Alexander, an avid equestrian who was a leader in the community effort to move Two Winds. “What this means to me is that we’re going to be moving soon, and that is great.”

But the lease agreement is only an interim solution to a long-term problem in Thousand Oaks--sustaining the city’s equestrian heritage as developments gobble up the Conejo Valley’s rolling hills and open meadows.

Horse lovers in the Conejo Valley have had a bad year. Cal Lutheran shut down its stables this spring and Moorpark College closed its riding facilities recently. Although many residents still keep horses in their back yards, the number of places to privately board the animals is rapidly dwindling.

The rolling pastures where Two Winds’ horses have roamed and grazed for years will soon be replaced by homes being built in the Dos Vientos development.

While city and park district officials have made it clear that they are committed to continuing the community’s equestrian tradition as much as possible, they have emphasized that the agreement with Two Winds is only temporary.

One reason for their hesitation is that Two Winds is privately operated, and Broome Ranch is publicly owned land. Technically, there should be a bidding process for any private use of public land. Officials say Two Winds will have to vie for the lease with others if and when it comes up for renewal in two years.

Another reason is their uncertainty about what to do with Broome Ranch on a long-term basis. Proposals range from building a golf course to making the land a wildlife preserve.

Also on Tuesday’s agenda for discussion is a staff report on a proposal by Thousand Oaks Councilwoman Elois Zeanah that the city apply for state funding through Proposition 117, the California Wildlife Protection Act, for the acquisition of Broome Ranch.

Even though the city and park district already own the land, Zeanah suggested the two agencies could be reimbursed the $2.9 million jointly spent on the land if the state agreed to fund the purchase.

After seeing a staff report on Friday outlining the city’s hopes for getting the state funding, Zeanah was disappointed--and a little angry.

The report is discouraging, indicating that the chance of getting funding from the financially strapped state is slim. It also says that such funding would rule out the possibilities of using Broome Ranch to house horses or for any purpose other than those having the most minimal recreational impact.

Zeanah, who is adamantly opposed to putting a golf course on Broome Ranch, said the tone of the report is so negative she doubts she will be able to rally any of her colleagues on the council to support her idea.

“This tells me that there is somebody in the city [staff] that is not wanting to even take a chance that Broome Ranch will be preserved as natural open space because then the city will lose the chance to build a golf course,” Zeanah said.

City staff could not be reached for comment on the report.

Zeanah said she believes the support some council members have given to the idea of putting a golf course on Broome Ranch--which to date has been conceptual only--indicates a change in direction for the city.

“I think our philosophy is changing,” Zeanah said. “If we don’t apply for potential funding to preserve a critical wildlife corridor and habitat because we may want to develop it, I have to ask, are we out of step with the community?

“I think we are,” she added. “The community has said repeatedly that permanent open space, both the protection of what we have and future acquisitions, is their No. 1 priority.”

In the proposed lease agreement with Two Winds, officials have made it clear they want the riding stables to have as little environmental impact as possible on Broome Ranch. To that end, they are placing several restrictions on Two Winds:

* Riders cannot create any new trails or bridle paths and must stick to existing loop trails and access routes.

* Grazing areas must be fenced off to prevent livestock from nibbling on sensitive plants and treading on animal habitats.

* To reduce manure smells, Two Winds will have to clean out stables, pens and pastures on a weekly basis. Manure may be stockpiled on the property, but only in an impermeable enclosure.

* Fifty-foot setbacks are required between areas used by horses and the natural stream channels and springs that run throughout Broome Ranch to cut down chances of contaminating water sources.