For more than 50 years, Griffith Park Horse Rentals has given city-slicker Angelenos the chance to live out their Western fantasies.

Tucked away at the north end of the park near the Los Angeles River, the stables offer guided horseback rides through the chaparral-covered canyons and manzanita forests of the 4000-acre urban wilderness area.

But come June, Griffith Park Horse Rentals will be forced to close its doors. Owner Julie Schad said her sublease with the Los Angeles Equestrian Center (LAEC) in Griffith Park expires at the end of May and that she and her horses will be forced to move out.

“We are the only spot in the equestrian center for regular people who want to be around a horse to experience the majesty — I call it the divinity — of a horse,” said Schad.

Schad took over the sleepy horse rental business in 2003 and greatly expanded the facility to board as many as 75 horses. The stables, which are located on the equestrian center grounds, are open to everyone. Schad charges $30 per hour for a rental.

“It’s been a healthy recreational outlet for everyday people,” she said.

Horses return to Griffith Park Horse Rentals after a guided tour on Thurs. Jan. 25, 2018. The roughly 50-year-old business at the L.A. Equestrian Center is closing in June. (Photo by Sarah Reingewirtz, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)

Ranch Hand Miguel Alcantar feeds horses at Griffith Park Horse Rentals on Thurs. Jan. 25, 2018. The roughly 50-year-old business at the L.A. Equestrian Center is closing in June. (Photo by Sarah Reingewirtz, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)

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After more than 50 years in business, Griffith Park Horse Rentals is moving in June. (Photo by Sarah Reingewirtz, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)

Ranch Hand Miguel Alcantar feeds horses at Griffith Park Horse Rentals on Thurs. Jan. 25, 2018. The 50-year-old business at the LA Equestrian Center is closing in June after loosing their lease. (Photo by Sarah Reingewirtz, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)

Ranch Hand Miguel Alcantar feeds horses at Griffith Park Horse Rentals on Thurs. Jan. 25, 2018. The 50-year-old business at the LA Equestrian Center is closing in June after loosing their lease. (Photo by Sarah Reingewirtz, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)



A guided horseback ride returns to Griffith Park Horse Rentals on Thurs. Jan. 25, 2018. The 50-year-old business at the LA Equestrian Center is closing in June after loosing their lease. (Photo by Sarah Reingewirtz, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)

Ranch Hand Miguel Alcantar passes Cowboy as he prepares to leave Griffith Park Horse Rentals for the day on Thurs., Jan. 25, 2018. The 50-year-old business at the LA Equestrian Center is closing in June after loosing their lease. (Photo by Sarah Reingewirtz, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)

Owner Julie Schad laments having to close Griffith Park Horse Rentals on Thurs. Jan. 25, 2018. The 50-year-old business at the LA Equestrian Center is closing in June after loosing their lease. (Photo by Sarah Reingewirtz, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)

“We just bonded and he smiles at me,” says Alexis Iacono, of Granada Hills, while visiting Cowboy at Griffith Park Horse Rentals on Thursday, Jan. 25, 2018. Iacono says she comes once a week to see the horse. The roughly 50-year-old business at the L.A. Equestrian Center is closing in June. (Photo by Sarah Reingewirtz, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)

Mark Stipanovich, contract coordinator with the Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks, said the LAEC has not alerted the department of any plans to remove Schad from its sublease agreement.

According to court records, the LAEC filed an eviction suit against Schad and Griffith Park Horse Rentals in 2016, which was later dismissed. Schad also filed two civil suits against the LAEC in 2013 and 2015. Both cases, including the 2015 suit that alleged a breach of contract by the LAEC, were ultimately settled.

The recreation and parks department has not been officially notified about the court cases and is unaware of any wrongdoing by either party, according to Stipanovich.

Schad said she was unable to comment on the cases due to the terms of the settlement agreement. The LAEC declined to comment for this story.

“We are the only spot in the equestrian center for regular people who want to be around a horse to experience the majesty — I call it the divinity — of a horse.” — Julie Schad, owner of Griffith Park Horse Rentals

It’s unclear what could replace the horse rental stables once Schad leaves. But Stipanovich said that the department’s leasing agreement with the privately-owned LAEC requires it to “have a minimum number of horses open to the public to rent.”

Although she’s being forced to leave Griffith Park, Schad remains optimistic that she’ll find a new space to re-open her horse rental business in L.A. County.

“We’re actually looking forward to leaving,” she said. “We have high hopes.”