It came to my attention recently (though not at the time the ordinance was being considered, obviously) that an ordinance was amended to prohibit horses from being ridden on Georgetown's hike and bike trails. 

Why was it found necessary to pass such an addition to the parks and recreation ordinance?  Because it had been noticed that more citizens of the city were riding their horses on the trails.  My theory is that someone complained and, being the squeeky wheel, the ordinance was passed (pretty quietly).  Hey, people complained when horses were being ridden on the equestrian trails (you know, the ones built specifically for horses to be ridden on that were clearly marked as being for that purpose) at Pedernales Park and wanted them kept off the trails. 

Horses are generally no more dangerous to pedestrians than bicycles, if everyone uses common sense.  In fact, I've come near to being injured on a trail by someone barreling along on their bicycle many more timesthan I have by someone on a horse.  In fact, I've never had that experience with someone on a horse; I've nearly been run into/knocked over by someone speeding past on their bike several times.  Horses will at least TRY to avoid hitting you - you're soft and squishy, ewwwww! 

Seriously, those who would like to ride their horses on the trails that are paid with with their tax money just as much as the tax money of the hikers and bikers need to speak up.   A few years back, a group was formed for just that purpose, the Texas Equestrain Trail Riders Association.  Formed as a "lobbying group" to get equestrain trails preserved and opened in state parks (most of Texas' parkland being state, rather than federal, lands, because we kept our public lands when we joined the union), it has grown into an organization that also holds trail rides, work days to maintain trails, and that provides help to private landowners wanting to open their lands to trail riding.  They figured out, before forming, that the hikers were organized, the bikers were organized, but the horse folk were divided into clubs based on breed or discipline affiliation; TETRA is where all of those groups can come together. 

Check it out.  And if you want to ride your horses on Georgetown's hike and bike trails, call the City Council about it.  Be a squeeky wheel yourself!