By Mike Dunn

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) — A Philadelphia city councilman insists he’s not horsing around in introducing new regulations to cover when a resident keeps a horse at their house.

City Councilman At-Large Bill Greenlee says the problem is probably not widespread, at least yet, but the Health Department occasionally fields calls on a horse being kept improperly.

“There have been complaints to the city periodically about horses not being well-maintained, areas where they are near residential areas not being kept clean, horses not being treated properly, even some horses abandoned on vacant lots,” Greenlee explained.

So Greenlee has introduced a set of regulations written by the Health Department which, for the first time, would impose requirements on anyone who keeps a horse at a home.

“There has to be at least a quarter acre for the horse in order or the owner would have to put in an approved exercise program. There are regulations on regularly cleaning up the manure of the horse, which obviously can be a problem in a city. There has to be proof that the horse is adequately fed and cared for,” Greenlee said.

Greenlee says this about both the welfare of the community, and of the horse.

The measure will be debated in committee in the new year.