Background

Rancho Corral de Tierra is a 4,000-acre property within the Golden Gate National Recreation Area (GGNRA) in San Mateo County.

Four equestrian centers—Moss Beach Ranch, Ember Ridge Equestrian Center, Ocean View Farm, and Redtail Ranch—currently provide boarding for approximately 220 horses and serve thousands of Coastside residents each year through riding lessons, summer camps, horse clinics, public and private trail rides, adaptive riding programs, job training opportunities, and services for veterans and individuals living with PTSD, disabilities, and neurodiverse conditions.

Many of these programs are unique within San Mateo County and play an important role in preserving the Coastside's agricultural heritage, rural character, and equestrian traditions.

GGNRA acquired Rancho Corral de Tierra from Peninsula Open Space Trust (POST) in 2011.

The Current Challenge

In January 2024, a Freedom of Information Act request revealed that the National Park Service had commissioned an "Equestrian Facilities Management Study" as part of a broader Rancho Corral de Tierra Comprehensive Site Management Plan.

The proposed plan would significantly reduce equestrian operations throughout Rancho Corral de Tierra, including:

• Closure of Ocean View Farm and Redtail Ranch

• Consolidation and downsizing of operations at Moss Beach Ranch and Ember Ridge Equestrian Center

• Reduction of horse boarding capacity from approximately 220 horses to fewer than 40

• Removal of arenas, pastures, equipment facilities, and other horse-related infrastructure

• Conversion of existing equestrian areas to other uses, including visitor centers and gift stores, parking, and campsites

Why We Are Concerned

The Coastside Horse Council opposes the current proposal for three primary reasons:

1. Lack of Meaningful Community Engagement

The equestrian community was not included in the development of the proposal. Horse owners, ranch operators, program providers, and many affected community members were not given a meaningful opportunity to participate during the planning process. In fact, most of the outreach was conducted by the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy, which surveyed its members and did most of its communications outside of the Coastside.

2. Significant Community Impacts

The proposed reductions would affect horse owners, riding programs, youth camps, adaptive riding services, local businesses, ranch employees, trail users, and the broader Coastside economy. The loss of these facilities could permanently diminish equestrian recreation and culture throughout the region.

3. Questionable Scientific Basis

The plan relies heavily on claims regarding water quality impacts from horses. We believe the National Park Service has misinterpreted and misrepresented available research and data concerning San Vicente Creek and horse-related impacts.

Our Position

Horse-centered recreation has been part of Rancho Corral de Tierra and the San Mateo County Coastside for generations, well before the GGNRA managed land here.

We believe the future of Rancho should be determined through a fair, transparent, and inclusive planning process that fully considers the needs of the entire Coastside community.

We support:

• Meaningful public participation in all future planning decisions

• Preservation of existing equestrian centers and public programs

• Continued horse boarding at current or expanded capacity

• Protection of multi-use trails and equestrian access

• Accessible recreational opportunities for riders of all ages, abilities, and income levels

• Long-term preservation of the Coastside's equestrian heritage and rural character

Take Action

The future of horses and ranches at Rancho Corral de Tierra is being decided now. Yet the GGNRA has not held a single town hall or public meeting despite promising to do so two years ago.

Help us ensure that the National Park Service hears from the community before irreversible decisions are made. Join us in advocating for a transparent planning process and a future that preserves horses, ranches, and equestrian access on the Coastside.