We, the undersigned residents and supporters of Santa Clara County, strongly oppose the proposed zoning amendments that would keep horse stables from operating in Ag zoning and would remove recognition of horses, horse stables, and horse breeding operations as agriculture.

California law clearly recognizes horses as livestock (California Code of Regulations Title 3 § 830(18)). By ignoring this definition, Santa Clara County would:

• Jeopardize long-standing family businesses and equine facilities,
• Displace hundreds of horses and risk forcing them into unsafe living conditions,
• Undermine youth development programs such as 4-H and FFA, veteran and handicap programs,
• Threaten the rural character and agricultural heritage of Coyote Valley and beyond.

Equine operations are not only businesses, but also vital community resources that support families, youth, recreation, tourism, and the county’s right-to-farm legacy.

We respectfully urge the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors and Planning Department to:

Maintain recognition of horses and equine operations as agriculture in all zoning ordinances, and
Protect existing facilities from arbitrary reclassification that would harm small businesses, animals, and the community.
Santa Clara County must stand with equine agriculture — not against it.

https://plandev.santaclaracounty.gov/programs-and-studies/planning-studies/rural-zoning-amendments