and Other Equestrian Interests in Los Angeles, California, USA Richie Holland
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There was a time when the sprawling metropolis now known as LA was inhabited only by the descendants of ancient trekkers who supposedly crossed the ice from Asia across the Bering Straits. When the Spanish conquistadors arrived, they called the land 'The Valley of Smoke'; proof positive that smog has been around long before the internal combustion engine. Then came farmers who planted groves; citrus, avacados, walnuts, olives. Even bananas will grow in LA. Oil was discovered and is still being pumped. There is an active well on the grounds of Beverly Hills High School. Of course there's aerospace; Howard Hughes got started here...the hangar where the 'Spruce Goose', was assembled still stands. But what LA is really known for is movies; and today, the name 'Hollywood', still stands for the excitement and glamour that envelope the breadth of the entertainment industry; movies, television and music. In the early 1900's, the fledgling movie industry moved to California from New York and New Jersey; and one of the key pioneers was W.D. Griffith. Griffith created the 'Keystone Kops' among his silent classics. Land was cheap and Griffith owned an enormous parcel of land lying roughly between Hollywood, downtown Los Angeles and Burbank. This exquisite property of almost 30 square miles consisting of wooded hillsides, creeks, arroyos, and chaparral was given to the city on the proviso that it become a city park; Los Angeles' answer to New York's Central Park.
Although civilization and culture has encroached on Griffith Park as the a sprawling metropolis has exploded all around it, its enormity has permitted the park to remain somewhat wild and pristine; the park remains a safe haven to deer, fox and the coyote. Even condors are being raised in Griffith Park; then reintroduced to their natural habitat.
For those fortunate to be living in Burbank in the Riverside Drive side of the park, the neighborhood is zoned for horse ownership (and titled!, Rancho Equestrian Neighborhood).
Riverside Drive is the center of horse activity for the park and is the main equestrian gateway into the park. The Equestrian Center is here; home of Grand Prix tier horse events; boarding stables, lesson stables, horse rental stables, a restaurant and the excellent Dominion Saddlery. Renting a horse at Griffith Park has some differences from renting in the UK; the two main differences are:
Of course others do like to get completely done up in Western gear and really make a show of it. Riding Western is really quite easy; almost all the gates are seated; but with that big living room seat for a saddle, that's where you'll want to be. The reins are held loose and in one hand; neck reining and some leg will steer the mount. Halt is the same as English; but a lot softer. Most of the horses are American quarter horses; but an Appaloosa, Arab or Thoroughbred will pop up occasionally. The quarter horse is a pleasure on the trail; built a little closer to the ground; very sure of foot and fairly bomb proof; the American quarter horse is an animal to fall in love with. When you dismount, don't be surprised if your horse follows you like a dog.
Every Friday evening, they offer BBQ trail rides; you go out with a group for 1 1/2 hours and return to a real Western style BBQ. The charge is 40 dollars.
The stables are open every day of the year except Christmas day; from 7:30 in the morning until dusk. On special occasions they have evening rides. Fees are 15 dollars for the first hour and 10 dollars for each additional hour. There is a 25 dollar deposit. On the Hollywood side of Griffith Park sits the Sunset Ranch Hollywood Stables. Located up picturesque Beachwood Canyon literally under the Hollywood sign, one can take evening equestrian caravans through Griffith Park to the Viva Fresh Mexican restaurant for dinner; the return ride gets you back to the stables at midnight. This is a different sort of an evening; you just might get to hear a coyote howling. Sunset also offers riding lessons, lunch rides and horse rentals at competitive rates.
Rosey gets about 45 dollars for an individual lesson and less if you form a group.
For dining, there is Viva Fresh, right on Riverside at the Equestrian Centre and Englishman Mike Kidby (fifth generation horseman from Kent) runs the eclectic Riverside Cafe at Mariposa and Riverside.
If time permits, head east to Los Angeles county's greatest tack shop, the Broken Horn in Baldwin Park. About 30 miles east of downtown LA, the Broken Horn has an extraordinary selection of everything equestrian and all at eye widening discounted prices. Crafts people have shops within Broken Horn for saddle and tack repair, etc. On two stories, The Broken Horn truly has something for everyone.
Drive west on famous Sunset Boulevard almost to the Pacific and you'll come upon Will Rogers State Park. Once the home of the beloved American humorist, the park now has polo fields, equestrian trails and one of the most charming circular stables seen anywhere.
Built in the mid-1930's, the architecture is one of the finest examples of the Hollywood Art Deco style. The infield is open and many folks bring picnic baskets for their day's outing.
The race seasons are from mid-April until mid-July then from mid-November to Christmas. On Fridays, racing is in the evenings with first post at 7:00 PM.
If your visit is between mid-September and early October, head east to the Los Angeles County Fairgrounds for the LA County Fair; the nation's largest county fair. Operating from morning to midnight each day, the fair offers a splendid cross section of American life as interpreted by Los Angeles county.
So when planning your LA holiday or business trip, plan for an equestrian excursion. It will be well worth your while.
Circle K Stables 818-843-9840
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And so it has. Today Griffith Park is the permanent home to the LA Zoo, a golf course and driving ranges, Griffith Observatory (featured in 'Rebel Without A Cause' starring James Dean),
Griffith Amphitheater (venue to star-studded summer outdoor concerts), a train museum, Forest Lawn cemetery ('graveyard of the stars', featured in 'The Loved One' starring Rod Steiger), the Gene Autry Western Heritage Museum and the Los Angeles Equestrian Centre.
Griffith Park's neighbors are the mainstay of the entertainment industry; mere minutes from Universal Studios, Warner Brothers Studios, Disney Studios, and television's NBC Studios.
Remember, many of the these studios have excellent tours; Universal can keep you enthralled for days.
But if anything absolutely defines Griffith Park today is its equestrian trails. The trails crisscross every section of the park; one can ride to the highest point in the park, Mount Hollywood and have an unobstructed 360 degree view of Los Angeles; 2,500 feet above the city. All the above mentioned park residents; the Zoo, etc. can all be approached on horseback. The trails seem endless;
one could go out daily and pick routes always new; some as wide as a two lane road and others resembling goat paths. Watering stations pop up when least expected, surprise gardens to stop and
be contemplative or a vigorous gallop across the gas fields (less forboding than it sounds), a Griffith Park hack will be well worth your while.
Many folks trailer their horses to the park, but others stable horses at rental stables along the Burbank side of the park.
Right there on the grounds of the LA Equestrian Center are the Griffith Park Horse Rentals. Open 7 days a week from 8 'til dusk, the stables has a fine selection of horses and easy entry into the park's trails. They charge 15 dollars for the first hour and require a 30 dollar deposit. Don't worry if you don't have your California Driver's License; the stables are very accomodating.
Although the LA Equestrian Stables have excellent rental horses; my
favorite stable to rent from are the Circle K Stables on Mariposa;
just west of the Equestrian Center and two blocks south of Riverside Drive. They allow me to use my Crosby English saddle but I leave on the Western bridle. I ride with a little more mouth contact than usual for Western riding. The horse will let me know if there is too much contact.
If your in the mood for a hunt seat lesson, try Rosey Reed's Griffith Park Farms right there in Barn B of the Equestrian Center. Rosey has beautiful thoroughbred ex-race horses and will insist that you keep your heels down.
Don't miss the Long Horn Trading Post next door to the Circle K Stables. Run by French ex-pat Jose, his wonderful shop is crammed with vintage Western treasures including old and restored Western saddles. How about an autographed photo of Roy Rogers and Dale Evans?
Finally, if horseracing is your fancy, LA is home to two of the finest tracks in America.
Santa Anita Park just east of Pasadena has a winter meet from just after Christmas +til mid-April. The fall meet starts in early October and runs for about 5 weeks. The San Gabriel Mountains rising to 9,000 feet provide a breathtaking backdrop to the track.
Just 1 mile east of the Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) is Hollywood Park Race Track, billed as 'The Track of Lakes and Flowers'. Spectacular in its landscaping, the infield lakes are home to many varieties of water foul as well as about 100 flamingos.
