Abbeville City Council approves permits for two trail rides

Abbeville officials are not allowing the negative actions that occurred during one trail ride to limit others from being held in the city in the future.
The Abbeville City Council approved permits for two trail rides during Tuesday’s meeting. The Shuga Shack Trail Ride is scheduled for April 17-19 at the Red Barn on Rodeo Road. The Boutte Riders Trail Ride will take place June 6-7 at the Red Barn.
Approval comes after council members raised concerns following six riders steering horses into Walmart in Abbeville last November. Neither Shuga Shack nor the Boutte Riders are affiliated with that incident.
“It is not the same group,” Mayor Roslyn White said.
Atila Williams, vice president of Shuga Shack, said the group has a long-standing relationship with Abbeville.
“We’ve been doing it at the Red Barn for 10 years,” Williams told the council on Tuesday. “We haven’t had any trouble, and we would love to continue having it here.”
During its March 3 meeting, the city council discussed possible measures as it reviewed the permit for the Boutte Riders. The council tabled that item until Tuesday’s meeting. After hearing from Chief of Police Mike Hardy and Abbeville City Marshal Jeremiah Bolden, whose office provides security for the rides, the council voted unanimously on both permits.
“The marshal and I sat down and talked about some changes that we were going to do,” Hardy said. “With the information that he gave me, and the extra security that he is going to be providing, I think it is going to be fine.”
Bolden said safety is always the number one concern when working these events.
“We have made a few changes that I know are going to work,” Bolden said. “Shuga Shack has always been professional. They do their ride very, very well. It is organized.”
Reggie Hilts, deputy chief with the marshal’s office, said Boutte Riders is a smaller. The office has previously worked with that group.
“We’ve never had any trouble with them,” Hilts said.
Councilman Brady Broussard Jr., who sought changes following the November incident, said safety remains key.
“If we have ample security,” Broussard said, “I am happy to support this.”