Local Government Duties Equestrian Protections

The act defines an "equestrian zone" as an area that a municipality or county determines is suburban or urban and contains:

• Public equestrian venues;
• Residential neighborhoods that are equestrian centric and were zoned in such a manner as to allow housing privately owned equines but are now being developed for primarily residential use or that are zoned in such a manner as to allow housing privately owned equines;
• Keystone properties that have equestrian facilities that have boarding facilities for equines, training for equestrians, equine service and education programs, equine stables that facilitate animal welfare rescue programs or equine therapy programs, breeding facilities for equines, or nonpublic equestrian venues that provide services to the equestrian community; or
• Roads or trails that equestrians regularly use and that are related to the areas described above.

The act authorizes municipalities and counties to:

• Construct and maintain equestrian road crossings or horse-trailer parking necessary to access equestrian trails and install signs that notify the public of the infrastructure;
• Identify locations where equestrian road crossings are needed to safely use horse trails, construct and maintain the equestrian road crossings in those places, and install signs notifying the public of the crossings;
• Publish a map showing the location and character of existing or proposed equestrian infrastructure;
• Erect road signs bearing the universal equestrian sign symbol and the words "wide and slow" in equestrian zones; and
• Identify and show the location and character of existing or proposed equestrian infrastructure, venues, and riding zones on master plans.

A municipality or county may organize public events to educate the public about equestrian use of recreational trails and roads and the duties of users of trails and roads with regard to equestrian users.

The chief of the Colorado state patrol is authorized to educate sheriffs and local law enforcement about equestrian safety. The department of revenue is given the duty of adopting rules to add equestrian safety to driver's education curricula.

(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)