Horse lovers flock to southern Santa Clara County to ride and train. But a rezoning proposal has equine businesses there on edge.

"Nestled between bucolic farmland and the rolling hills of the Diablo Range sits a nearly 10-acre piece of land that Dana De Frates and her husband Jason call their little patch of heaven. The couple moved from Half Moon Bay to Gilroy eight years ago, purchasing a plot of land zoned for agricultural use in unincorporated Santa Clara County. The lifelong equestrian decided at the time to leave her staid corporate job behind."

"But anxiety and confusion are growing among owners of equine businesses in southern Santa Clara County as officials re-examine the type of development and operations allowed in rural and agricultural zoning districts in unincorporated areas. Particularly alarming for many is a draft proposal of changes to the rural zoning codes that appear to no longer classify horses as livestock or permit stables in the ag exclusive zone."

"Leza Mikhail, the deputy director of the county's department of planning and development, declined an interview but said in an email response to written questions that the county is not proposing to rezone any properties. The overall purpose of the amendments is to standardize, clarify, and streamline existing regulations, support agricultural viability and land, and protect the rural character of Santa Clara County, she said."

Dana and Jason De Frates operate De Frates Horsemanship on nearly 10 acres of agriculturally zoned land in unincorporated Santa Clara County. Dana left a corporate job to teach horse owners and attracts clients from across the Bay Area for lessons, care advice, and horsemanship renewal. A draft county proposal to amend rural zoning codes could stop classifying horses as livestock and could disallow stables in agricultural exclusive zones, prompting anxiety and confusion among southern county equine business owners. Deputy director Leza Mikhail said the county is not proposing to rezone properties and described the amendments as intended to standardize, clarify, and streamline regulations while supporting agricultural viability and protecting rural character. Businesses with required permits will be allowed to continue operating.

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