Newest leg of Wine Country Trails gets well-attended ribbon-cutting

Special to the Horsetrader

TEMECULA — Temecula Valley Rural Lifestyles, Inc., a non-profit organization committed to preserving and enhancing equestrian lifestyle in their special Riverside County region, hosted a dedication ceremony March 27 for the newest segment of the Wine Country Trails Network, the KenTina Trail.

Family, friends and equestrians on horseback gathered along Los Caballos Road to commemorate the naming of the trail for Galway Downs owners Ken and Tina Smith, two leading equestrian supporters. The Smiths, who acquired Galway Downs in 2010, earned naming rights to the trail by virtue of the winning bid in last year’s TVRL Fundraiser Gala auction.

The nice turnout at the ceremony including top riders in a variety of equestrian disciplines, including eventer Robert Kellerhouse of Galway Downs on a spectacular Irish Sport Horse, Kathryn Rich-Elzig on a gorgeous ranch riding horse, Chuy Ramon and Alex Zingg from Roy Rich Performance Horses on reined cow horses, Arabian pleasure and western dressage riders from KRE Showhorses and the Rancho California Arabian Horseshow Association, as well as riders from trail-riding clubs, the Rancho California Horsemens Association (RCHA) and Temecula Eq-Wine Riders, on a team sorting and penning horse and a western trail horse. And, of course, the honorees themselves on their own trail horses.

The Temecula Mounted Posse helped keep the celebration site free of traffic.

Margaret Rich of Green Acres Ranch, the TVRL Treasurer, read a statement from Dan Stephenson, the TVRL board member who spearheaded fund-raising efforts. Kellerhouse also spoke about the positive impact the Smiths have had in keeping Galway Downs viable economically as an equestrian operation.

Three generations of the Smith family joined the celebration, with son Blaine and three daughters-in-law helping to cut the ribbon along with members of the Boards of Directors of RCHA and Temecula Eq-Wine Riders. Ken and Tina rode through with grandkids aboard.

It was the TVRL’s second celebrated trail opening in five weeks in the Valle de los Caballos, as the community dedicated the Pat Ommert Trail on Feb. 22.