SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO

Several distraught horse owners and trainers are urging the City Council to speed plans to build stables on city property, since their deadline to move their animals from Creekside Equestrian Center has been moved up by two months to April 30.

Since January, the owners of about 250 horses now boarding at Creekside have been looking for new homes for their animals but had little luck finding space in Orange County stables. Creekside’s owners sold the 17-acre stables and arena and issued a June 30 deadline to move out.

The city is seeking bids through Friday from developers to build stables on 10 acres at Camino Capistrano and Junipero Serra Road.

At the council’s Tuesday meeting, horse owner Sandy Bike said the city should consider finding space for horses on 369 acres of open space that has been considered by golf-course developers.

“Our city’s logos are a swallow and equestrian on horseback,” Bike said. “We need an equestrian facility here.”