A horseman has launched an online petition to legally establish equine welfare rights, but one city official believes the petition is intended to promote equestrian use of a municipal trail in Johnson City, Tennessee.

Earlier this year, Tennessee horse owner Timothy Hopson established a petition on Change.org aimed at establishing state and local equine welfare rights, including a horse's right to be safe; to have proper treatment; to exercise appropriately; and to receive medical attention without discrimination for size, breed, nature, and insurance status. In addition, the petition alleges that Johnson City “does not want to acknowledge horse owners as tax payers, and have banned us from the only safe riding trail locally.” The petition wants horse owners to be exempt from taxes that support the trail.

Hopson was unavailable to comment.

Meanwhile, Johnson City Mayor Ralph Van Brocklin believes the petition is really about equestrian use of the Tweetsie Trail, located within the city limits