Horseback riders reveal they’ve recently been threatened with fines sometimes up to $250 after attempting to ride their horses through the Fort Worth Stockyards.
Cody Montes, who runs Red Barn Ranch in Tarrant County, told NBC DFW her family would often take their horses to the Stockyards, stand them on the sidewalk and take in the scene.
Over the weekend, however, she was a much different reaction after taking her horses to the Fort Worth district.
“It was quite the shock Sunday when we had 10 security guards rush and follow us, and say, ‘You guys can’t stand here. You guys can’t stand on the lawn. You can’t do this, you can’t do that,’” she said.
Stockyards security guards clarified that that stopping in the street on horseback or getting on the sidewalk would lead to a fine.
A spokesperson for the Stockyards Heritage Development Co., the company behind the multimillion-dollar Stockyards expansion project, said in a statement:
Horseback riding is undeniably a part of the Stockyards legacy, and we understand how important it is to the community and our identity,” a spokesperson said in a statement. “There has not been a new policy implemented, but rather a renewed effort to ensure safety for all visitors, riders, and pedestrians, particularly as foot traffic has significantly increased in recent years.
In coordination with the City of Fort Worth and public safety officials, certain guidelines are being reinforced in specific high-traffic areas to prevent accidents and maintain a safe, enjoyable environment for everyone,” the statement continued. “According to city guidelines, horses are subject to the same rules as bicycles. This includes stopping at stop signs, traveling with the flow of traffic, and not riding on public sidewalks.
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