Horse of a different color in North Fulton

As urbanization spreads, Milton resident enjoys a slice of ‘Eden.’

The equestrian events of the summer Olympics will draw a huge television audience, and among those glued to the screen will be members of the horse community in Milton. This northern edge of Fulton County that became its own city in 2006 is one of the metro area’s most bucolic, with acres of rolling hills and pastures supporting family horse farms. Even the city’s logo incorporates a horse into its design.

But hanging onto that equine culture is an ongoing challenge, says Karen McGoldrick, a California native who was first captivated by north Fulton in 1977, the year she had a summer job working with the local hunt club, the Shakerag Hounds. (The club has since moved to Madison County.) A lifelong horse lover, McGoldrick married a local attorney and settled in the area in 1983. The couple first lived off McGinnis Ferry Road until subdivisions crowded out the neighboring farms.

“We were one of the last farms left, but it now has 42 homes on it,” said McGoldrick. “That whole area got really crowded. Before then, we used to ride with a pack of hounds down McGinnis Ferry.”

In 2000, McGoldrick moved west of Ga. 400 into the Milton area, where she lives on a 7.5-acre farm with a barn, pond, house and competition-sized dressage arena where she trains and gives lessons.

“Most of the farms around here are like little backyard operations,” she said. “I had to be in a place where I could be with horses. My husband, an attorney, commutes ev- ery day to Midtown so we can be out here.”

One of the area’s chief assets for McGoldrick is its close-knit community of fellow horse owners and lovers. As an example, she points to the properties adjacent to her own that share trails and meadows for riding.

“I have a wonderful group of friends here, and we do look out for each other,” she said. “Next door is a hunter/jumper barn, and we have a gate in our fence line so I can go over there, and they can come over here. And since you can’t throw a stick in this area without hitting another dressage trainer or rider, we all know each other.”

As scenic as the area is, it’s not too far from civilization’s amenities — like Starbucks and places to enjoy a nice dinner. McGoldrick, who is also the author of a novel “The Dressage Chronicles,” often heads off to the local coffeehouse to write.

“There’s a great feel up here that I really like,” she said. “I can spend half my day in the barn and then go to Starbucks or a great restaurant. But it’s really frightening to see what was lost to have that. There’s still a lot of concern that we’ll lose our character, the horse farms will vanish and everything will become subdivisions.”

Last year, the glossy book, “Barns of Old Milton County,” captured some of the area’s landscapes and stables both old and new. McGoldrick keeps a copy handy to show visitors how special the area is.

“I’m just lucky to have my own little spot of Eden right off the road,” she said. Each Saturday, we shine a spotlight on a local neighborhood, city or community. To suggest a place for us to visit, e-mail H.M. Cauley at hm_cauley@yahoo.com or call 404-514-6162.