The Colorado Horse Council has joined a Pitkin County rancher in challenging an ordinance enacted by the Town of Carbondale that prohibits the use of all fertilizers, pesticides and herbicides on any land located with five miles of the Town’s water intake. The ordinance impacts land located outside the Town’s boundaries and bans the use of fertilizers whose application is legal under state and federal law. The prohibition is absolute. The ordinance requires no inquiry into whether the use of particular chemicals actually represents a risk to human health or, for that matter, whether the use of chemicals within five miles of the Town’s watershed has affected or will affect the Town’s water supply.

In a decision handed down on February 26, 2007, the Colorado Supreme Court raised significant questions concerning the scope and application of Colorado’s Equine Activities Statute. The statute, codified at Colorado Revised Statutes 13-21-119, et seq., limits the liability of equine activity sponsors and professionals for injuries or death suffered as a result of the inherent risk associated with equine activities.

A quick chart of bill status in the Colorado State Senate and Colorado House of Representatives.

After the 65th General Assembly adjourned in May, the Colorado Horse Council (CHC) assessed the effects of the past session's legislation on the Colorado horse industry. As lobbyists hired by the CHC to represent horse interests throughout the state, the firm of Williams & Behrends monitored about 40 specific pieces of legislation, and took an active role in pressing for passage or defeat of many.