A total of 31 people gathered with their horses in a meadow on the site of the Woodlands development recently to introduce riders to the equestrian trail constructed by the developers.

“Actually, we had 35 (riders) because some met us halfway,” said Barbara Robinson, a member of the Ride Nipomo - Equestrian Trails Group's board of directors. “We had a nice saddlebag lunch in the meadow afterward.”

The Perimeter Woodlands Trail, constructed by the developers of the Woodlands, is probably the longest improved equestrian trail in the Nipomo area.

The trail roughly follows the boundaries of the 800-acre planned development that fronts Highway 1, generally following the surrounding roadways but occasionally meandering into the Woodlands property.

“The trail is beautiful,” Robinson said. “The nice part is it's a multi-use trail.”

With a surface of sand and, in some places, wood chips, the equestrian trail parallels a paved trail used by golf carts, pedestrians and bicyclists for much of the route, she said.

In other places, the equestrian trail splits off on its own.

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Robinson noted the paved trail along Highway 1 is popular with bicyclists riding along that narrow route.

“We've met several bicyclists riding along Highway 1 (from Southern California headed north) who said they really love it because it's a safe place along that corridor,” she said.

“They drop off onto it, because it's marked, and they've come along beside us while we're riding our horses out there.”

Ride Nipomo is a nonprofit, volunteer organization working to develop and maintain equestrian trails in the community that has been horse-oriented since Capt. William G. Dana received the Rancho Nipomo land grant in 1837.

Just 20 years ago, it wasn't unusual to see horses being ridden along West Tefft Street or tied up in front of an Olde Towne feed store, restaurant or other shop.

But rapid development has made much of the area unsafe for equestrians and closed off, broken up or eliminated many of the routes once used by horseback riders.

Formed several years ago to work with developers, county officials and the SLOPOST trails group, Ride Nipomo has re-established a number of trails in the Nipomo area.

One trail circles the

undeveloped portion of Nipomo Community Park and can be reached through horse gates on Camino Caballo and Osage Street and drive-in gates inside the park.

An informal horse training area is located in the center of the site.

Other trails that follow Camino Caballo - “Horse Highway” in Spanish - and Mesa Road, where traffic has become more intense, are currently being improved by Ride Nipomo volunteers.

“We have good footing along the sides now, especially on Mesa Road, but it's an ongoing effort along Camino Caballo,” Robinson said.

She explained some Camino Caballo property owners have made improvements on roadway easements that have blocked potential trail routes.

Ride Nipomo volunteers have also taken over maintenance of a trail in the Knollwood area of Black Lake and are working on erosion-control projects on that trail, Robinson said.

More long-range projects for the group include reopening a trail along the edge of the Mesa that was used for years but closed when development began in that area and the developer became concerned about vandalism and liability.

“There's been lots of vandalism,” Robinson said. “Some people even shot some deer there. But they've been really nice with Ride Nipomo, letting us come up there to ride, and we've been trying to let people know they should be courteous and not damage property.”

Another long-range plan is a proposed trail from the Dana Adobe, the home completed by Dana around 1840 on South Oakglen Avenue, that would link up with the western Mesa trails.

Robinson noted the biggest obstacle to jump in creating that trail is getting across Highway 101. But she and other riders hope some kind of pathway can be included in the Willow Road underpass when it's eventually constructed.

October 18, 2008