A mountain lion was sighted near Nicasio Creek last weekend by two women on horseback at an equestrian center near the intersection of Nicasio Valley and Lucas Valley roads.

The cougar was seen lurking in a newly mown field outside Winfield Station's riding arena Saturday afternoon, said horsewoman Karen Graves of Sausalito.

A woman, who boards a bay Arab named Sadat at the stables, said she'd seen the lion "out in the open" alongside Nicasio Creek, Graves noted. "And another woman with a chestnut Arab also noticed some activity."

A sheriff's report said the women described the wildcat as a "large, bold mountain lionÉstaring into the riding rink."

Although the "horses acted kind of spooky," no one was disturbed by the cougar, Graves said. "It was purely a sighting. There was no aggressive behavior on the part of the mountain lion."

Winfield Station, which is currently for sale, is owned by Carmen Johnson.

Mountain lions were twice seen on the property in the 1970s when it was part of a 650-acre beef-cattle ranch, noted Cat Cowles of Point Reyes Station, who lived there at the time. Cowles is The Light's typesetter.