From Horsetrader sales staff

 

An exciting horse sale on this fall’s calendar is the Nov. 6 West Coast Ranch Horse Rendezvous Sale at the beautiful Tucalota Creek Ranch. Managed by XIT Western Productions, this sale will bring 35 head of high-quality ranch horses that “are ready to be your next partner.” The sale will specialize in horses that are show-ready or are great ranch horse prospects. There is a consignor application process and a selection committee to ensure only the cream of the crop are offered. The sale will take place alongside a series of events over the 2021 WCRH Rendezvous weekend Nov. 4-7. As for the show, the WCRH Rendezvous will include ranch horse clinics with Sami Hernandez, Cowley Performance Horses and others, a two-day ranch horse show, ranch horse futurities, a silent auction, wine and cheese reception, vendors, and a banquet dinner with live cowboy music from Eric Gorsuch. There will be a saddle awarded to the Top Hand of the weekend, division buckles, trophy knives, trophy stirrups and more! The sale preview will be held with the wine and cheese reception at 5 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 5, and the sale will take place at 4 p.m. on Saturday.

 

The Western States Horse Expo is proud to work with the best trainers in the world to share their knowledge with attendees. Horse Expo’s goal is to feature high-quality trainers and associations from all sides of the equine industry and its diverse disciplines, giving horsepeople an opportunity to hone their skills and improve their time and relationship with the horse. Whether your an avid rider or just starting out, there is something for everyone to learn and enjoy while auditing a Horse Expo Clinic!

Warwick Schiller

warwickschiller.com
A lifelong equestrian of varying disciplines, Warwick Schiller moved from his home country of Australia in his 20s to the United States to pursue his dream of training horses. He focused his competitive efforts on reining, eventually becoming a National Reining Horse Association Reserve World Champion and representing Australia at the 2010 & 2018 FEI World Equestrian Games. His unique ability to convey his knowledge to others became apparent when he successfully went on to coach individuals who garnered coveted reining titles and a fellow WEG team member. In 2012, Warwick Schiller Performance Horsemanship was founded in an effort to help individuals form a better relationship with their horses and a cultivate deeper understanding of the foundation on which all successful horse training is built. Warwick’s life as a videographer and multi-discipline educator began. He also set course for many, many clinics around the world.

Our new “Horsetrader Archive” feature revisits an old favorite from May 3, 2012.

What is YOUR favorite horse story shared with your mom?

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Born with manure in my hair…

Jenny O’Curran, Escondido, CA
My mom gave me the love of horses at an early age. She was an avid horsewoman who told me I was born with manure in my hair. She had my sister and I on horses before we could walk — one in front and one in back…out on the trail we would go! My mother fox-hunted and did the open jumpers in her day. She literally rode up until the day she went into a coma and passed away. My favorite memory with my mom was to watch the grand prixes…every one we could get to!

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Hail storms and steel umbrellas…

Diane Netter, Escondido, CA
A hail storm — we didn’t notice the dark, suspicious clouds looming on the horizon that hot summer day. “Mom, I’m going riding with Janell!,” I yelled over my shoulder as I ran out the door in shorts and a tank top. “Put some shoes on!,” Mom yelled out the window. I smiled and waved but, being a typical 13-year old, completely ignored her request. Janell and I always rode bareback and barefoot during those carefree teen-aged years. The noon day sun bore down on us, as we headed out of my backyard corral toward a nearby river. We didn’t see the storm that was following us until we got to our picnic spot, and by then a strong breeze was blowing and it started to sprinkle. The unfriendly clouds were directly overhead and the temperature had dropped dramatically. We hopped on our horses and headed back home, as the sprinkles turned into pouring rain. Then it started to hail. Hard balls of ice struck our bare arms and legs, producing large, red welts. Our horses were running now, tossing their heads nervously in response to the pelting ice. Janell and I tucked our heads into our horses’ necks, letting them have free rein to find their way home. It seemed to take forever, but finally my trusty steed bolted into the corral and under her protective shelter. I jumped off, crying from the painful welts. Just then my sweet mom appeared, running from the house with a metal washtub over her head for protection. Grabbing my arm, she pulled me under her steel “umbrella,” and together we raced back to the house. The hail pelted the metal, causing a deafening roar, but I was glad for the protection. I know Mom must have been anxiously watching for me out the window when the unexpected hail storm arrived, and I was so grateful she was there to rescue me with her makeshift shield that afternoon. It made me realize that no matter how grownup I felt, I would always need Mom’s loving umbrella of protection.

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She worked so we had horses…

Doris Findley Lora, Tehachapi, CA
It is more about my mom, Myra, than a horse. She wasn’t much into animals, although we had every farm animal you could name. She supported our interests in 4-H club and would haul us to various shows. But, the best of all is that she was willing to work at a very hard and dirty job moving the U.S. mail, before the machines came in to sort it. She worked this job so we could continue to have horses. It was and still is an expensive lifestyle. She passed 11 years ago. We still have horses in our life and I am thankful for her endurance to keep us enjoying our livestock. I hope all young equestrians will give thanks to their mothers who support them in their endeavors.

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A perfect day…riding the trail

Stephanie Williams, Torrance, CA
My favorite horsestory with my mother was many years ago. One day my mother and I took our two horses out on a two-hour trail ride. It was the first time my mother had ridden for an extensive period of time. It is by far one of my favorite memories of us riding Silver and Retso through the trails. I will forever cherish those kinds of memories, and it was essentially a perfect day. I love my mom and she continues to be my main supporter even now before I go to law school.

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My horse in her hands…

Carmela Bozulich, Rowland Heights, CA
My mom was diabetic and suffered from kidney failure the last few years of her life. I bought my first horse, Spirit, a bit before she passed. She never understood my horse passion, being a New York City girl herself, but one day she asked me to drive her to the stable where I boarded Spirit so she could meet “her grandson.” I remember taking her out there, and she couldn’t get out of the car easily, so I walked him over to the passenger side window that she had rolled down, and he stuck his head in. She actually petted him and didn’t seem at all bothered by his attentions. I will always have that picture of her hands on his head in my heart.

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Through love, much is learned…

Molly Rush, Riverside, CA
As a child, my mother and I supported our family by delivering newspapers. At 12, I was, of course, wanting a horse more than anything else in the world. The newspaper cost $2 a month and we collected door to door. She found an untrained 2-year old for sale for $200 and told me that we had to collect enough to pay for the horse before we could even go look. We did, and soon “Babe” was mine. I got a little help from a trainer and a lot of good advice from my mother who had been quite the horsewoman prior to starting a family. The first time that Babe dumped me on the trail, the horse went to our neighbor’s house where they had an outside haystack. The neighbors called my mom, who panicked and searched until she found me, walking my dusty self home. From then on, each time the neighbor called mom to say Babe was at the haystack, my mom would just say, “Well, if Babe is there, then Molly will be soon, too.” My mother has been gone for 19 years. Thanks to the discipline she taught me, I no longer deliver newspapers. I had a great career as a Deputy Sheriff for nearly 30 years and now own several businesses. I own my “dream barn” filled with cherished items, stylish new saddles, lovely antique saddles, genuine Navajo rugs, bits made by famous makers, antique and new carriages and harness. My mother’s saddle, bridle and breast collar sit proudly there with all of my other treasures. I don’t know anyone who was loved by their mother as much as I was. She would have me pick out a “poor” family every year, and we would buy them a Thanksgiving turkey or give them a Christmas tree so that we could share our good fortune with someone who had much less. She never told us that Rice-A-Roni and Mac-and-cheese were side dishes, for us, they were the main course at dinner often because she could not afford groceries, but she made sure that I had a horse — and what that horse and my mother taught me gave me the life I have today. My mother left this world seemingly poor. The day she left, I learned that things that seem to be tangible are not real at all, since they cannot be carried with you when you leave this life. My mother went to heaven carrying the one thing that is truly tangible — and she proved that, too — LOVE was the only thing she could carry along with her.

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Horse-crazy daughter has 10 horses…

Janean Huston, Escondido, CA
My mom wasn’t a horse gal, but I was from birth, and she always supported my addiction! She drove me to the barn for my riding lessons, attended my horse shows, and even attempted to hold my horse when I needed an extra hand! Not to mention, she was the “wallet” behind her horse-crazy daughter! Thanks for enabling my addiction when I was younger mom. Now I’m living the dream with a small ranch and 10 horses

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Fears aside for horse-crazed kid…

Cynthia Murphree, Ojai, CA
My favorite horse memory shared with my mom is when I was around three years old. My mom would take me to ride — not ponies, but horses. I got to ride all by myself, around a horse shoe track with a small fence between lanes. As I was only three, they put me in the slow lane. I would hop the horse over the little fence and come down the home strech at either a trot or sometimes a canter. I would be laughing, my mom would be almost ready to run out and get me, and the ranch hand would put me back in the correct lane — and we would do it again and again. I know it must have really scared my mom to see me running on the horse, but she kept taking me back week after week because she knew how much I loved it. That says a lot when a mom puts her fears aside for the happiness of her horse-crazed kid. I belive that my mom gave me my passion for horses.

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Inspiration of her lifetime…

Barbara Harris, Anza, CA
From 2009 through 2011, I rode the vast trails on my beautiful mule, Scooter, dedicating to my mother those rides in Montana, Oklahoma and Arizona. She inspired me my whole life to enjoy our beautiful country, sitting a saddle. Thank you mom. I miss you.

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She rode into her late 80s…

Marlene Rold, Oroville, CA
We were heading to the Trinity Alps on a pack trip with my folks, sister and a friend who had several pack mules. My mom had mentioned her hip was bothering her on the drive to the trailhead, saying she may not be able to ride once we got there. However, once at the trailhead, it was evident no one wanted to stay and camp at the trailhead with her, so she climbed on the back of my old Appaloosa who was a retired distance horse. Rearing to go, off we went following the pack mules. Not far down the trail, I noticed that old appy was really acting up, chomping at the bit. When I asked Mom if she wanted to trade horses with me, I was thinking her hip must be killing her. She replied, “no my hip’s not bothering me.” Go figure — all that jumping around took her mind and any pain away, and she rode the rest of the 13 miles to camp and back. She never complained of any soreness. This was just one of many rides we took together. Mom was in her mid-70s at this time, and she continued to ride occasionally when her joints would act up. She always said it was good for her, and she felt it loosened her joints up. Even into her late 80s, she would occasionally say she needed to go for a ride. I miss her…

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DEL MAR — The 22nd District Agricultural Association has conducted a second public hearing in less than three weeks to explain details of its closure of the Del Mar Horsepark for 2021. Del Mar Fairgrounds officials who manage the popular facility announced the closure in December, then held on online meeting Jan. 12 to a dismayed, rapidly growing list of petitioners against the move.

A second online meeting on Jan. 29 when California Horsetrader went to press, was scheduled at 1:30 p.m.

In a December email, 22nd DAA board President Richard Valdez said that continuing with an equestrian presence at the 64-acre Horsepark would require “a significant and immediate investment of funds to address water quality requirements, which is simply not possible given the dire effects that the COVID-19 pandemic has had on the fairgrounds’ revenues.”

Before the Jan. 12 meeting, advocates of keeping Horsepark open for equestrian shows, a riding school and other activities released a report that the facility’s water issues likely originate outside the property.

In a published report, testing lab ALS Group USA Corp. of Irvine examined water samples taken during seasonal rains Dec. 28 upstream and downstream from the horse park. The upstream samples showed significantly higher amounts of coliforms, pollutants that come from human and animal waste.

Carla Echols-Hayes, a Solana Beach resident and horse park advocate, told the San Diego U-T newspaper that the results “indicate that the Horsepark is not the source of any additional contaminants to the San Dieguito River Valley waterways.”

Potential litigation by environmental groups was another cause of the closure, according to a Rancho Santa Fe Post article Jan. 24 by Phil Trubey. In the article, Valdez said that although they had not received any litigation threats, it was the possibility of such a lawsuit from San Diego Coastkeeper and Surfrider Foundation that made them decide to cancel all horse activities at Horsepark for all of 2021. Valdez cited a lawsuit settled in 2018 brought by Orange County Coastkeeper against Rancho Mission Viejo Riding Park, a multi-use facility that hosts soccer tournaments and large horse shows. According to the report, in settling that lawsuit, the city of San Juan Capistrano paid Coastkeeper $1.9 million in attorney fees and also paid an additional $1 million directly to environmental groups.

In his article, Trubey said he asked both San Diego Coastkeeper and the Surfrider Foundation their respective positions on Horsepark.

Matt O’Malley, Executive Director and Managing Attorney for San Diego Coastkeeper, told RSF Post that the group has not threatened any lawsuits on the Horsepark, and “we do not wish to shut the park down.”

Also in the article, Alex Ferron, chair of the San Diego Surfrider Foundation, said “Surfrider is not currently involved with this issue — or rather, have no horses in that race.”

The Horsepark is located next to the San Dieguito River about two miles east of the fairgrounds. Fairgrounds staff will attempt to move horse shows to the fairgrounds, where there have been infrastructure upgrades “that can accommodate large-scale equestrian events.” Part of a recently completed two-year, $15 million infrastructure project were upgrades at the fairgrounds that include a holding pond, a constructed wetlands treatment area and other improvements to the racetrack infield. The fairgrounds has also built a stormwater treatment plant to comply with state and local regulations designed to protect nearby waters.

To be added to the mailing list that receives Horsepark updates from the 22nd DAA, send your request to planning@sdfair.com

By Sheryl Lynde | Horsetrader columnist

I always want to know why a horse does what he does. If he bucks…why? If he rears…why? Is he fearful…why?

This question kept me up at night as I thought about a troubled horse or colt that had come to me for help.

When Smokey arrived, he was a wreck waiting to happen. He was three at the time and had 30 days of prior training. He had a level of fear that was going to get someone hurt. I led him into the round pen to give him room and time to settle, but as I walked out he spooked and fell to the ground.

By Daniel H. Grove, DVM

Every year around this time, I like to remind everyone how important it is to keep an eye on some things to help your horse navigate its way through this time of year.

As with all year round, water is very important. With the added stress of hot weather, it is very important to supply endless cool, fresh and clean water. Things that can decrease water intake are hot water, dirty water, different water or contaminated water. Please, check the water often to make sure it is pristine. If traveling, a trick my assistant likes to use is to give her horse a second water bucket with a sports drink mix in it for about a week prior to going to the event. Then, at your destination, you can add the sports drink mix to the new water to hide the different taste!

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz.—With more than $100,000 in added prize money and some of reining’s biggest names, the Arizona Reining Horse Association’s The Best of the West highlighted the season for the host Arizona Reining Horse Association. The show featured the fund-raising Reining Boot Camp, designed for green, rookie and non pro riders who were introduced to other reiners, local affiliate volunteers and multiple trainers and had their maneuvers evaluated without the pressure of a show. Boot Camps benefit the RHF Dale Wilkinson Memorial Crisis Fund, helping reiners enduring hardships.

More online: http://bit.ly/811_AZRHA

SAN MARCOS — If you drove past the Walnut Grove Equestrian Park arena on a recent Saturday about lunchtime, you may have seen the mayhem.

There were loud protesters shoving signs at 15 people on horseback, including some kids. There were smoke bombs, loud music, and some large, strange-looking beings.

But all was OK. The riders also had complete control — with the help of Mo Parga.

Parga, a San Diego native who retired last month after nearly 33 years in the San Diego Police Department, was one of the clinicians at the City of San Marcos Day of the Horse May 20 in one of the county’s only municipal equestrian facilities. For years, Parga headed the now-disbanded mounted unit with the SDPD, but her passion for horses, community and volunteerism has spawned a new chapter — helping to form, train and coach volunteer patrols for local community trails.

“I have a love for the volunteers, and if I can help promote more volunteer mounted trail groups, I’ll be happy,” says Parga, who lives in El Cajon with her husband, a retired narcotics sergeant on the SDPD, and their horses. “The trail volunteers are good PR and eyes and ears for the rangers — not enforcement. San Marcos is going to have some eyes and ears for the rangers on the horses.”

Here are some get-aways when you want to escape from everything except your horse

Coffee Creek Ranch
Trinity Center, Calif.
(800) 624-4480
coffeecreekranch.com

This 367-acre guest ranch is nestled in the Trinity Alps Wilderness Area of Northern California. Coffee Creek, an excellent fly-fishing stream, runs wild year-round for a half-mile through the ranch where you can pan for gold, tube and fish. Planned activities include horseback riding, bonfires, trapshooting, bingo, volleyball, line dancing and archery, to name a few. The outdoor pool and creekside Jacuzzi spa are perfect places to watch the stars while your mind and body soothe back-to-nature.

Hearty breakfasts are served in the ranch house or out on the trail, as well as poolside lunches and western barbecues under the stars! Coffee Creek’s professional chefs prepare all your meals from garden-to-table, using the freshest herbs, vegetables, and fruits. Special diets can be accommodated.

Specially-designed Summer Youth Programs are offered from June 9 to August 24, with great savings at the beginning and end of summer. Programs include Bronc Busters teens 13-17; Junior Wranglers 6-12; Cowboys & Cowgirls 3-5 have special pony rides, and a Kiddie Korral for those under 3 is FREE. Wilderness Pack Trips to one of the 42 sparkling alpine lakes (summer through fall) are also offered. See ad on page 64

Dude Ranchers’ Assn. of North America
(866) 399-2339
DudeRanch.org

The very welcoming Dude Ranchers’ Association, representing over 100 of the best dude ranches and guest ranch vacations in the West, is a great resource for vacations throughout the continent. Founded in 1926, the Dude Ranchers’ Association was formed to preserve this special way of life and the wonderful environment in which dude ranching takes place. When you vacation at a member ranch, you can be sure of a quality vacation. Membership requires a rigorous two-year inspection and approval process that ensures guests are treated to genuine western hospitality combined with the lodging industry’s highest standards.

A vacation experience like no other destination, the association’s ranches offer all-inclusive vacations that are perfect for solo travelers, multi-generational families and corporate events. Horseback riding, hiking, fishing, swimming, cycling, zip lining, white water rafting, rodeos, camp fire sing-a-longs, western dancing, fine dining and more await your discovery.

There is a little cowboy in all of us, and the Dude Ranchers’ Association is ready to help you find yours. See ad on page 61

Geronimo Trail Guest Ranch
Winston, N.M.
(575) 772-5157
GeronimoRanch.com

You’ll find serenity and solitude at Geronimo Trail Guest Ranch! Beneath its tall Ponderosa pines, in the cool higher elevations of the Black Range Mountains of southwest New Mexico, the quiet is such that you can hear the approach of an eagle from the beat of the air beneath his wings. Large herds of elk frequent the meadows, streams and lakes nearby. Eighty-five miles from the nearest stoplight, evidence of the intrusion of modern man is virtually absent. Yet the mountains and canyons evoke the heritage of the American cowboy and abound with relics of Native American societies who have gone before us. By horseback you will explore the pristine, 3.3 million-acre Gila National Forest with its spectacular deep canyons, crystal clear, spring-fed streams, high mountain overlooks, open meadows and sweet-smelling Ponderosa forests. You will learn about the Mimbres people who lived here from 200-1150 AD and will have opportunities to explore cliff dwellings and pit houses as well as see pictographs and pottery shards left behind by these ancient people! This special place is open March through mid-November. See ad on page 66

Heartline Ranch
Chiloquin, Ore.
(541) 887-9013
HeartlineRanch.com

Cowboy Bob has been working with horses for many years, using natural horsemanship methods. Heartline Ranch, down the road from Crater Lake on the Crater Lake Highway, offers horse rides in Klamath Falls and a horsey campground for those who travel with horses. Cowboy Bob has taken more than 1,000 people on trail rides all throughout the Rocky Mountains and Oregon. Bob’s wife Kori is a professional artist (www.KoriGuyArt.com) who has an intuitive way with horses and does her art while we are riding. You’ll experience trail rides through some of the most beautiful country in the Northwest. You can ride Heartline’s trustworthy mounts or bring your own, as the 450-acre ranch beside the Winema National Forest has campsites that include two 12-foot x 12-foot stalls for your horses. For the adventurous, ther is a full-sized, authentic teepee to rent. There is also an outdoor arena and plans to put in an obstacle course. Heartline Ranch’s season usually begins in May, but it really depends on the weather, which has been crazy! See ad on page 60

Hondoo Rivers & Trails
Torrey, Utah
(435) 425-3519
hondoo.com

Since 1975, Pat Kearney and Gary George have taken great pride in their tradition of providing personalized service for those interested in exploring the backcountry of Utah’s Colorado Plateau. Headquartered in the canyonlands at Torrey, Utah, near Capitol Reef National Park, Hondoo offers a full schedule of custom day or multi-day horseback riding, hiking and jeep tours, featuring camping or inn lodging. Hondoo implements low-impact and “leave no trace” techniques such as small group size, well-maintained equipment and top-notch horses. Guests can enjoy the stunningly diverse Utah landscape and dark skies, red rock formations and canyons, pristine meadows, alpine forests and lush green meadows surrounded by mountains—both in solitude or with group itineraries. They’ll create a customized itinerary for you, your family or your group. Hondoo is locally owned and operated with a long history and deep familiarity of the landscape and region. Other activities include fishing, wildlife viewing and even simply a quiet picnic within places such as Zion National Park, Bryce National Park and a multitude of State Parks. See ad on page 60

Hunewill Guest Ranch
Bridgeport, Calif.
Summer (760) 932-7710 • Winter office (775) 465-2201
hunewillranch.com

Hunewill Guest Ranch is located on the eastern slope of the beautiful Sierra Nevada Mountains bordering Yosemite National Park. The ranch has been family-owned and operated since 1861. It has been a working cattle ranch since the late 1800s, and a dude ranch since 1931. All-inclusive stays of various lengths feature amazing horseback riding, great meals, cozy cabins, and activities for all ages. Singles, couples, and families are welcome. Bring your own horse or ride one of Hunewill’s. The season is May through October with its annual cattle drive in November. The Hunewill Ranch is scenic, historical, and a great place for a fun, rejuvenating vacation. Rates vary depending upon length of stay, single or double occupancy, and children’s ages. From $258 – $2,945 per person. See ad on page 33

Lake Cuyamaca Cabins
Julian, Calif.
(760) 765-0515
LakeCuyamaca.org

About an hour’s drive from San Diego, Lake Cuyamaca is a picture-book, 110-acre lake that is proof positive that good things come in small packages. Situated at an elevation of 4,600 feet in an oak and pine forest, it is surrounded on three sides by the 26,000-acre Cuyamaca Rancho State Park, which is 52 percent wilderness. Lake Cuyamaca is the perfect getaway for one day or up to 10 nights. Few places in San Diego County offer the pristine views that greet your eyes wherever they may wander!

Stocked with over 38,000 lbs. of trout annually, Lake Cuyamaca is the only San Diego lake that is able to stock trout all year long. Besides fishing, there are many other activities for the avid outdoorsman and the whole family.

The Lake Cuyamaca cabins with lake or Stonewall Mountain views are a newer installation to the park, offering full kitchens and bath and sleeping up to six people. There’s also an ADA accessible cabin that sleeps four. Unique to these cabins are the complimentary horse corral for your equine friends, or choose a complimentary motor boat for the avid fisherman. The cabins are just steps to the Rancho Cuyamaca riding and hiking trails. If you have heard about “Horse Glamping”, this is it! See ad on page 63

Monterey Bay Equestrians 17th Annual Poker Ride & Campout
sminnich@redshift.com
montereybayequestrians.org

Enjoy a weekend of camping with your horse at the 17th Annual Monterey Bay Equestrians Poker Ride & Campout, April 13-15 at the Los Robles Horse Camp on the north shore of Lake San Antonio, just above Paso Robles. Ride at your leisure through miles of rolling hills and moderately challenging trails with spectacular views from the north shore of the lake. Enjoy hearty and scrumptious meals catered by the famous Mansmiths, starting with dinner Friday night and ending with breakfast Sunday morning. Taste premium wines from Central Coast Wineries and take home a souvenir wine glass. Sign up for the Obstacle Trail Challenge with a customized buckle for Advanced 1st place and a trophy for Novice. Horse Camp includes corrals, hot showers and flush toilets, arena, round pen, manure bins, wash racks and miles of trails. Cost is only $38 per rig, per night. Meals and activities are additional and optional. For more information, visit montereybayequestrians.org, or email Sunday Minnich at sminnich@redshift.com. See ad on page 62

Rancho Oso Guest Ranch & Stables
Santa Barbara, Calif.
(805) 683-5687
thousandtrails.com/california/rancho-oso-rv-camping-resort

Bordered by the Los Padres National Forest and the Santa Ynez River, Rancho Oso RV Camping offers acres of beautiful scenery and endless opportunities for horseback riding, hiking, and photography. Spectacular forest and mountain scenery combined with the rich history of Rancho Oso provide one the most memorable riding and recreational experiences found anywhere in California. Explore 310 beautiful acres of its RV camp filled with history that dates back to 1845.

Visit the adobe, stables, stone lodge and the unique amenities we have to offer at Rancho Oso. Rancho Oso encourages you to participate in its recreational events and entertainment, or sit back, relax, and enjoy the scenery and wildlife native to the beautiful area. Rancho Oso offers full hook-up RV sites, upgraded cabins, Conestoga wagons, big corrals, arena, round pen, heated pool and spa, delicious weekend meals and camp store, and it provides overnight guests with all the comforts of home. This is horse-glamping at its finest. Ranch Oso is also just a scenic 30-minute drive from Solvang and the Santa Barbara and Santa Ynez wine country. See ad on page 59

Rock Creek Pack Station
Bishop, Calif.
(760) 872-8331
RockCreekPackStation.com

Since 1947, Rock Creek Pack Station has been offering wilderness and outdoor vacations in the Eastern Sierra, under the ownership of the London family. The London family is dedicated to serving the public, taking care of the land, making sure the horses and mules of the operation have happy and meaningful lives, and that the crew has a good time and is fairly compensated for their hard work and dedication. You can experience all the beauty of the Eastern Sierra that naturally comes with Rock Creek Pack Station’s many rides, excursions and packing schools.

One of the most popular rides is the “Parent/Child Trail Ride” in the John Muir Wilderness—it is three days of camping, riding, fishing and fun. The four-day “Mustang Trip” allows Rock Creek to track wild horses and relive the Old West in the seldom-visited Pizona area of the Inyo National Forest. The “Owens Valley Horse Drive” is the most exciting four days of the year, as you move horses and mules between Rock Creek’s range in the Owens Valley and to its Pack Station in the high Sierra. Or, let Rock Creek Pack Station plan your private all-expense trip for any size group or join an open ride. The 2018 season schedule is online now, so book your trip today! See ad on page 59

One hour north of the Golden Gate Bridge, The Point Reyes Country Inn and Stables is your headquarters for days of relaxation, outdoor activities and fine dining. Located a close distance to the Point Reyes National Seashore, the Golden Gate National Recreational Area and Tomales Bay State Park, the Country Inn makes for an excellent base for exploring the mile of coastal trails.

Point Reyes Country Inn and Stables
Point Reyes Station, Calif.
415-663-9696
ptreyescountryinn.com

There are three levels of accommodations for the equestrian enthusiast. The Groom’s Quarters, over the stables, consists of two studios, each with queen bed and kitchen, and an additional room with three twin beds for total accommodations for seven; it is well suited for groups. The Bed and Breakfast is a five-bedroom inn with an inviting living room with large fireplace and French doors leading to a sunny deck overlooking Point Reyes Peninsula. All come with private baths, one king or queen bed per room, and welcoming balcony or deck. Two intimate Cottages on the Bay, located seven miles from the Inn and Stables in the village of Inverness, are romantic, private, and have the best views of Tomales Bay in the area. Each sleep two adults and have full kitchens. The cottages are a tranquil oasis.

Horse accommodations include a 10-stall stable, six outdoor pipe corrals and three large paddocks. One can trailer a short distance to the Point Reyes National Seashore and venture out to over 100 miles of wooded trails with pastoral/ scenic views, and long sandy beaches. See ad on page 65

Ten Broek RV Park, Cabins & Horse Hotel
Ten Sleep, Wyo.
(307) 366-2250
TenBroekRVPark.com

Ten Sleep, Wyoming, offers spectacular views of the Big Horn Mountains to the east and red buttes to the south and west. Located on Highway 16, the main tourist route from Mount Rushmore to Yellowstone Park, the area around Ten Sleep is 85 percent public land. With great back country roads for scenic drives, archaeological sites, unique rock formations, wildlife viewing, and breathtaking mountains, lakes and streams; horseback riding, hiking, biking and fishing opportunities abound.

Darell and Bonnie Ten Broek, have been welcoming travelers from across the U.S. and abroad, many of whom return year after year. Ten Broek RV Park, Cabins, and Horse Hotel is a hub of activity serving as basecamp for adventurers on the road. Their meticulously maintained RV park offers 52 full-service pull-through RV sites, six cabins and three bunkhouses with heat/AC, grassy/ shaded tent sites and great facilities for your horses (with hay and feed available).

Just walk across the street to the friendly little town of Ten Sleep with a grocery store, coffee shop, ice cream parlor, senior center with exercise equipment, a 12-year school, convenience store, motels, churches and saloons (one with a steakhouse). The 4th of July weekend brings an exciting rodeo and the three-day music festival in August has the mountains singing. See ad on page 65

Pat Parelli will be teaching a natural horsemanship clinic Southern California May 12-14 at the Ingalls Park Arena in Norco. This year celebrates 35 years of the Parelli Program, which teaches riders how to gain leadership with their horses, how to better communicate, and how to get the best results. Pat’s coaching focuses on safety, ethical treatment and effectiveness.

The Parelli program is for horses of all breeds — western, English, gaited horses or other types of riding. Pat is a master teacher who helps riders correctly develop a foundation so that horses accept additional training that leads toward specialization in a particular discipline. It’s the foundation to all disciplines and recreational riding. Pat helps people solve problems so that they can gain more enjoyment with their horses — and reduce accidents.