Langley Township’s council has revised its bylaw concerning equestrian riders, responding to concerns from the local horse riding community. Initially, the proposed regulations would have prohibited horses from public streets, prompting significant backlash from riders. In a March meeting, the council removed this section, allowing horses to continue using public roads, a practice that has been longstanding in rural Langley.

However, during an April meeting, equestrians raised further issues regarding access to parks and the requirement to clean up horse manure immediately. Brian Harder, president of the Back Country Horsemen of B.C., argued that horse manure is more organic and breaks down quickly, making the cleanup requirement impractical and potentially hazardous during rides. Riders expressed concerns about the enforcement of the bylaw and its implications for their access to trails.

In response, Mayor Eric Woodward proposed an amendment allowing horses on designated trails and stipulating that manure cleanup would only be required where safe and practical. The council also addressed other bylaw elements, such as dog regulations in parks and restrictions on idling vehicles in public areas, ensuring a balanced approach to community needs.