 |
|
|||
 |
||||
|
||||
|
|
| ||||
Thousands packed the Los Angeles Equestrian Center to witness the 2007 Bill Pickett Invitational Rodeo. 2007 marks the 23rd year of the Bill Pickett Rodeo. Hundreds of riders participate in the grand opening ceremony (pictured above), filling the main arena at the Equestrian Center to capacity.
The Rodeo comes to Los Angeles mid-July of each year offering such traditional events as Bare Back, Tie-Down Roping, Bull Dogging, Ladies Steer Un-decorating, Ladies Barrel Racing, Junior Barrel Racing, Bull Riding, and Team Relay Races.
The 2007 Rodeo tour takes the Bill Pickett Invitational Rodeo to Memphis, Phoenix, Houston, St Louis, Milwaukee, Oakland, Bakersfield, Los Angeles, Atlanta, and Washington, DC with the National Finals hosted in Las Vegas.
| ||||||
| ||||||
San Luis Obispo - On Monday, July 9, 2007, the California Coastal Commission approved Malibu Valley Farm's Coastal Development Permit (CDP) #4-06-163. The 7-5 decision in favor of the Malibu Valley Farms CDP was a direct rebuke to the staff recommendation of denial.
Both Commissioner Steve Blank and ex-officio (non-voting) Commissioner Brian Baird, Assistant Secretary for The California Resources Agency, chided the commission staff for not accurately reporting the Commission's past positions on horse farms and the number of equestrian facilities approved by the staff and commission. After being grilled by Commissioner Blank, executive director Peter Douglas was forced to admit that staff had not recommended nor had the commission approved a private commercial equestrian facility since the mid 1980's.
Commissioners Rebuke staff recommendation and faulty report
Commissioner Baird chided the staff for not analyzing the studies and reports Malibu Valley Farms had submitted as part of their application as well as the permits Malibu Valley Farms had received prior to their CDP application. Malibu Valley Farms had received approval from every governmental agency with jurisdiction for the project, including the LA County Environmental Review Board (ERB), State Water Quality Control Board and the Department of Fish and Game.
The Commissioners all expressed their commitment to water quality. Malibu Valley Farms had submitted water quality studies to the Staff as part of their application. These reports all showed that Malibu Valley Farms was not polluting the water and that the groundwater at the farm was clean. The Coastal Staff did not analyze or mention any of the reports in their Staff report. This omission led some Commissioners to believe that Malibu Valley Farms did pollute, although all scientific studies proved otherwise.
Malibu Valley Farms owner Brian Boudreau, whose family has operated the farm since 1974, was elated at the precedent setting decision. "This was not just a victory for our farm. It was a victory for California's equestrian and agricultural community over a commission staff that has a history of hostility towards horses and farming and has openly sought to shut down facilities up and down our state" stated Boudreau.
Over 40 speaker slips in support of the Malibu Valley application were submitted to the chair of the Commission, Pat Kruer. Included was Mayisha Akbar, executive director of the Compton Jr. Posse, a non-profit children's charity that seeks to keep inner city children out of gangs and off drugs by teaching them the joy and responsibility of the equestrian arts. Brian and Mia Boudreau open their farm to the Compton Jr. Posse regularly so that Ms. Akbar can introduce the children to the National Recreation Area.
Ms. Akbar's testimony was so moving that Commissioner Dr. William Burke felt compelled to open up about growing up as an angry young boy and how getting involved in tennis changed his life. Dr. Burke equated his experience to the Compton Jr. Posse's program and how critical it was that if for no other reason, Malibu Valley Farms should be approved so this program can continue.
Other moving testimony was given by workers at Malibu Valley Farms, each of whom had been with the farm for more than 20 years and spoke about how the farm had changed their lives. Angelica Cardiel, 16, is the daughter of Juana and Mark Cardiel, the farm's managers. Angelica grew up on the farm and told Commissioners that she plans to attend college to be veterinarian as a direct result of being around the animals on the farm.
Commissioner Burke moved that the CDP be approved, and his motion was instantly seconded by Commissioners Blank and Potter.
Commissioner Potter, speaking on behalf of the motion, spoke of the extensive improvements the Boudreaus had made to the property, including the planting of over 1,000 trees along the once denuded Stokes Creek. "The applicant is a victim of his own good deeds," stated Potter "I don't want to set the precedent of punishing someone for improving his property."
Vice-Chair Bonnie Neely reminded the Commission that the 100-foot setback demanded by Staff was only a recommendation and that the Commissioners had the discretion to approve a lower setback if the circumstances warranted it. Don Schmitz, who made the presentation for Malibu Valley Farms, reiterated this point over and over in his rebuttal to the Staff's incorrect statements to the Commission that a 100-foot setback was mandatory.
Malibu Valley Farm's application included a four-tiered mitigation plan described as state-of-the-art. The plan puts in place the best management practices (BMPs) for manure clean-up and recycling, as recognized by Los Angeles County; removes all pipe corrals and replaces them with covered barns that have gutters and downspouts collecting rain run-off; installs an additional riparian buffer; and builds a 1,000-foot long bio-swale that runs the full length of the creek within the farm.
Malibu Valley Farms is a 31-acre thoroughbred breeding and training facility at the corner of Stokes Canyon Road and Mulholland Highway in unincorporated Los Angeles County. Malibu Valley Farms is located within the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area (SMMNRA). This farm provides a staging place for those who wish to access the SMMNRA's riding trails. The Coastal Act promotes access, recreation and agriculture in addition to the protection of environmental resources and with the adoption of the state of the art management plan, Malibu Valley Farms is the model for the promotion of all of these things.
Voting in favor of the CDP were Commissioners: Khatchik Achadjian, Dr. William Burke, Steve Blank, Pat Kruer (chairman) Bonnie Neely (vice-chair) Dave Potter, and Dr. Dan Secord (alternate for Commissioner Steve Kram). Voting against the project were Commissioners: Steve Kinsey (alternate for Mike Reily), Suja Lowenthal (alternate for Larry Clark), Lorena Gonzalez (alternate for Ben Hueso), Mary Shallenberger and Sara Wan.
| ||||||
The Rose Bowl Riders are hosting the 1st annual Cheri Blue Moonlit Memorial Trail Ride on August 25th, 2007. The ride is being staged at
Where: Rose Bowl Riders' Club House.
Dessert: 6:00 p.m. Trail Ride: 7:00 p.m.
Featuring: A full moon to light our way
Please join us to celebrate and remember the life and love for horses of our dear friend Cheri Blue. Please feel free to forward the message to all those who knew and appreciated Cheri and all she did for the San Gabriel Valley
 |
Please attend the VHOA dinner Saturday, September 22nd 6-9PM at the Mandarin Terrace at 8815 Sunland Blvd in Sun Valley at the crossroads of Sunland and Glenoaks Blvd.
At the next meeting, we will discuss candidates for the 2008 board of directors for VHOA and propose the ballot for membership vote to be mailed out in November. If for any reason, we are unable to propose a full ballot for election, we will discuss sending out a ballot for dissolution of the corporation. However, at this writing, we are quite pleased to find individuals willing to step up to take VHOA forward into the future.
As you read in the last issue of The Hoof Beat, I will be retiring from the board after a decade of service. My husband, Steve Ford will also be retiring after 7 years of service as the editor of the The Hoof Beat and the creator of our website www.vhoa.org. Of course, as long as there is a VHOA, we will remain active members and lend our assistance as needed and as we are able.
I want to thank the interim board of Sheila Mears and Nancy Berns for their hard work and support. I want to thank all our members who were able to write and call to support Malibu Farms and lend a hand to their successful petition to the Coastal Commission for a permit to continue to operate their ranch in the Santa Monica mountains. If there is one thing we never have a shortage of are the issues and developments needing equestrians to support one another and one organization to support another.
I would now like to introduce you to equestrian, Michael Moertl, who joined VHOA this year and who has expressed an interest in seeing VHOA into the future.
It is an honor to be considered as one of the people who may bring the Valley Horse Owner's Association into the new millennium. Since its original inception as the East Valley Horse Owner's Association, the VHOA has a long history of working for equestrian rights in the San Fernando Valley. Along the way it has proudly placed many equestrian lifestyle trophies upon its shelves. Among them we can include the creation of local riding trails, bravely facilitating evacuations in times of crisis, fighting for equestrian rights and maintaining precious but dwindling local equestrian property.
Now more than ever we need a watchtower organization that serves as a guardian for local equestrians of all disciplines and an interface with local and federal government. In the latest edition of the Equestrian News, there is an article chronicling the latest meeting of minds regarding the creation of a new organization designed to unite Los Angeles' various local horse groups. Guess what? It already exists! It's called the VHOA it has proudly been around and functioning effectively for the past thirty-four years!
As quick-money developers and their political cohorts are increasingly harassing equestrians nationwide, equestrians are bonding together as never before…and finally using their clout to stand up for themselves. Statewide, the California equestrian community spends over $600 million dollars annually…right here at home. In consideration of this, it is my belief that once again the time is right for the association to expand, just as the original association did when it changed its name to from East Valley to the much broader Valley HOA.
In doing so, I believe the first goal is to significantly increase our membership. This can be accomplished by employing a high profile promotional campaign, possibly even enlisting a Hollywood celebrity equestrian as spokesperson (there are many to choose from). Additionally, offering increased member benefits and creating an environment where VHOA membership affirms a certain status in the local equestrian community will boost memberships exponentially. I also believe that in this day and age, an organization of such importance as ours located in one of the largest metropolitan in the United States should have permanent offices employing a fulltime staff; leading us to our second goal, getting the association's finances in order. Generation of the necessary operating capital will have to involve the implementation of an enthusiastic fundraising campaign, actively soliciting donations and even investigating non-compromising sponsorship must be explored.
The possibilities, ideas and opportunities are endless. At this point in its illustrious existence, the VHOA needs some clean straw, good oats, cold clear water and a gentle but steady hand on its reins. I sincerely hope that other members who feel the way I do will support myself and my staff and will enable us to do this, and I want to thank Carol for all her kind words of support and encouragement.
Michael Moertl, August 2007
 |
As The Hoof Beat went to press, La Tuna Canyon equestrians reported the Foxborough "equestrian estates" developer was not living up to the 3 trails promised equestrians to give access around the development and between La Tuna Canyon and Sunland Blvd. The Hoof Beat has not yet had the opportunity to contact the City or Developer to get their side of the story. According to local resident Nicole Renneke, the promised 12 foot easements have not materialized, and as seen in the picture above trails are unsafe for equestrians and ready to wash out in the first rains. For more information, Nicole Renneke can be contacted at (818) 421 5715.
This year marked the 25th anniversary of the Sunland-Tujunga Rotary Club sponsoring and organizing the 4th of July Parade. Shown here the Blue Shadows one of a half dozen equestrian entries in this year's parade and a local driving team dressed up for a bad "hair day".
| ||||||
| ||||||
The members of the Valley Horse Owners Association are your neighbors and fellow equestrians. We share common interests such as the agricultural zoning in our communities, preserving our semi-rural lifestyles and using our land for horse keeping.
Our membership keeps up to date on issues in the community, city and county government that effect horse keeping and land use. We attend public hearings and promote cooperation to preserve our quality of life and to ensure we are represented by our elected officials.
The Valley Horse Owners Association acts as a clearing house for information and a liaison between the horse community and officials and politicians.
Land Use: We promote cooperation between residents and organizations on equestrian issues, land use, planning and zoning matters. We realize that only by uniting can we have a strong voice in city government and prevail against the reckless development that threatens to eliminate horse keeping areas or changes in legislation affecting equestrians. We attend Land Use hearings, City Council hearings, etc., and act as advocates for the horse keeping community.
Trails: Our members report on trail conditions and usage. We cooperate with other organizations and Trails Councils to maintain and acquire dedicated multi-purpose trails.
EVAC Unit: Four teams stand by, equipped with trailers and two way radios to evacuate horses and other animals to designated 'safe areas' in case of flood or fire. In past years, we worked with the Santa Clarita Sheriffs Department and with the Wildlife Way Station in responding to fires.
The Hoof Beat: We publish a newsletter once a month called the The Hoof Beat. The newsletter covers issues related to horse keeping, land use, zoning, trails and public hearings as well as a calendar of events, reprints of equestrian articles and local news briefs.
VHOA.ORG:The web site offers us a place to provide more information, publish an electronic copy of The Hoof Beat, archive earlier issues of the newsletter, and a summary of on going issues.
Community Involvement: Many of our members are also involved in property owner associations and other community groups. This enables our membership to network across the San Fernando Valley sharing information and working as a united front to support the preservation of land use and zoning for horse keeping.
Copyright © 2002-2007 by the Valley Horse Owners Association. All rights reserved.
