Town Board Considering Creating Horse Trail in Southold

The Southold Town Board is considering creating the first horse trail in Southold after Suffolk County enacted a ban on horse swimming in Cedar Beach County Park in August.

The Town is looking to create the trail on the 26 acre parcel of land on North Bayview between Cedar Drive and Jacobs Lane, according to Town Supervisor Scott Russell.

Russell said that the project was envisioned when it was purchased by the Town in 2004 and very preliminary work was done but never pursued.

The trail is currently being mapped out and would wind through about two-thirds of the site.

The idea of the trail was actually brought to Russell’s attention by local commissioner of Public Works, Jeff Standish, and a member of the local Land Preservation Commission, John Sepenoski.

“I reviewed the site with them and I know they had been in contact with some horse owners so they can provide insight,” Russell said. “The work is largely land clearing but it is done in a thoughtful manner by hand so we don’t damage the ecosystem there.”

The board will be reviewing the proposal for the site then refer it to the Land Preservation Commission for input and recommendations.

While Russell said he can’t anticipate what the board’s position will be, he doesn’t really see any stumbling blocks.

If the proposal is approved, the work will be done in the winter after the die off of some of the understory and should only take a couple of weeks, according to Russell.

The cost of the project has not yet been calculated.

Russell said he has received positive feedback from horse owners.

Samantha Perry, a local horse owner who is part of Pony Swim, a group of residents who take their horses and ponies to the beach to swim in the Peconic Bay during the summer months, was happy to hear the news.

“I’m very excited for the new trails. I think its long over due and really happy to hear they will happen,” Perry said in an e-mail. “There are no trails here in Southold for us to ride. So this is a great thing for us. Scott Russell has been very supportive with the Pony Swim and establishing these trails. I’m really happy. I can’t wait to try them out.”

According to Perry, there aren’t very many places to take horses near Southold, the next closest place she would regularly go trail riding being Brookhaven State Park - almost 30 miles away.

Twice a year the East End Livestock and Horsemens Association would host Spring and Fall trail rides at Hallockville, but there are special group permits needed for that.

“That‘s what makes the trails in Southold such a great thing for us here,” Perry said.

It’s hard to find a place to go horse swimming as well, with beach riding only permitted at Smith Point County Park in Mastic Beach from November 1 to May 1 in Suffolk County.

Back in August when the horse swimming at the local Cedar Beach was shut down, Perry, who would go ride at the beach once a week in the summer, started a a petition on Change.org to try to get officials to reinstate it.

Despite the trails, she is still looking to have the swimming brought back at the beach.

“Trail riding and swimming are such different experiences for the horses and the riders. Some horses love the trails, some horses love the beach and the water and some love both,” she said. “Swimming is cooling for everyone during the hot summer months. Its refreshing, the horses are playful and they relax. The water has many health benefits for their feet, legs, muscles as well as their minds. Some horses are competition horses or show horses and a trip to the beach gives them a much needed break.”

Perry said she and her group are still in contact with County and Park officials regarding the Pony Swims.

They have provided officials with our research and are hoping they can come to an agreement that will allow the swims to resume.

With over 2,000 signatures on her petition, she is hopeful that the horse swimming will return.

“The members of the Pony Swim group are good neighbors, we are diligent with our clean up of the beach as well as the parking and any surrounding areas,” Perry said. “We are very hopeful that the County will realize that horses will not cause harm to our Bay waters.”