A new petition is pushing back against what riders call an aggressive and unexplained crackdown on horseback activity in the Fort Worth Stockyards.
The petition, titled “Stop the Crackdown on Horseback Riders in Fort Worth,” was launched on Change.org on July 22 and has gained 754 verified signatures as of Wednesday morning.
The petition demands that the City of Fort Worth and the Stockyards Heritage Development Co. “work with local riders, not against them,” following reports of $250 fines being threatened for horses standing on sidewalks or pausing in high-traffic zones.
“For generations, horseback riders have helped keep Fort Worth’s cowboy spirit alive — especially in the Stockyards, where locals and visitors alike come to experience living Texas history,” the petition states. “There’s been no clear new policy, only a sudden crackdown with unclear rules and zero public input.”
The petition’s authors argue that Fort Worth’s Western legacy “depends on making space for actual cowboys, not just corporate branding.”
Recent enforcement efforts have sparked backlash among longtime riders and Stockyards regulars, with many alleging that city and private security officials are overstepping. Some claim the new behavior is out of step with more than a century of tradition in Cowtown.
Tarrant County rancher Cody Montes claimed security guards rushed her group when they arrived on horseback, per NBC 5 DFW. “It was quite the shock Sunday when we had 10 security guards rush and follow us,” Montes said. “You guys can’t stand on the lawn. You can’t do this, you can’t do that.”
Montes added that she was warned of $250 fines per horse if they stood on the sidewalk or anywhere other than the street. “I think it’s going to end up having a huge effect,” she said, adding that her TikTok post about the incident received hundreds of thousands of views.
Stockyards Heritage Development Co., which is overseeing a $630 million redevelopment of the district, denied the existence of a new policy in a statement to NBC 5. Instead, the company spokesperson said it was reinforcing traffic and safety rules in coordination with city and public safety officials, citing increased foot traffic in the area.
“There has not been a new policy implemented, but rather a renewed effort to ensure safety for all visitors, riders, and pedestrians,” the company said. “According to city guidelines, horses are subject to the same rules as bicycles. This includes stopping at stop signs, traveling with the flow of traffic, and not riding on public sidewalks.”
But supporters of the petition say these measures go too far and risk sanitizing the Western heritage that draws thousands to the Stockyards each year. Many have taken to the petition’s comment section to voice their concerns.
“If you wanna crackdown…crackdown on all the cruising and add a curfew for it,” one signer wrote. “You can’t even get out of there at night without all the loud bumping music and long lines of cars.”
“Riding horses in the Stockyards is part of our western heritage,” another signer added. “To start fining people for what has been done for over a hundred years is wrong.”
“Please don’t take away the western culture of the Stockyards,” concurred another signer. “People absolutely love the horses and the riders too!”
Supporters have recently flooded Instagram with targeted ads across the Dallas–Fort Worth area, encouraging residents to sign the petition. Organizers say the campaign is aimed at pressuring decision makers to preserve what they describe as a living symbol of Fort Worth’s past.
The petition names Mayor Mattie Parker and City Council members Carlos Flores (District 2) and Alan Blaylock (District 10) as decision-makers. All three have been contacted for comment by The Dallas Express, but none returned comment by the time of publication.
Stockyards Heritage Development Co. maintains that it supports horseback riding “as part of the Stockyards legacy,” and that enforcement is meant to protect the safety of riders and pedestrians alike.
But to some, that reassurance rings hollow.
“By taking away the culture of riding your horse, you kill part of the experience and excitement of the setting,” a petitioner wrote.