From the Fall/Winter 2015 Edition of "Living in Los Altos" Magazine - Written by Carol Rosen (Special to the Town Crier) Horsemen’s Association sponsors equine-related activities Horses and riders abound on the Peninsula, with riders showcasing their competitive skills or taking to the trails for leisurely rides through the equestrian-friendly cities of Los Altos Hills, Woodside and Portola Valley. But Los Altos Hills has something few other California cities can claim - a free, public horse-riding ring. The town arena is located on Purissima Road adjacent to the Little League fields. Before the ring’s construction in 1976, there were few local arenas available, and the ones that did exist levied fees or required lessons. Promoting horse-related activities Over time, the ring has become a focal point for the Los Altos Hills Horsemen’s Association (LAHHA), a nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving horsemanship in the community. "It’s rare to have an arena of this quality to ride in for free," said Delme Stutz Fry, an association member. The ring routinely hosts LAHHA PlayDays, events, horse and veterinary clinics and schooling shows. In July, the association sponsored an all-day schooling show with riders from the area judged on jumping and trotting skills and awarded ribbons for their efforts. Charlotte Bain, 11, won a ribbon in the jumping competition. She’s only been riding for 18 months, but she said it’s fun to have a connection with her horse and to partner with him. Another schooling show ribbon winner, Sofia Murray, 11, has been riding for five years. "I like the horses and the excitement when I go over the jumps," she said. Founded in 1971, LAHHA promotes the care and ownership of horses in Los Altos Hills and neighboring communities. The group supports equine-related activities and encourages local residents to build, maintain, supervise and use horse trails and pathways. Continual maintenance of the town arena is a joint venture between LAHHA and the town of Los Altos Hills. Association members take part in workdays by trimming, pulling weeds, raking and polishing the facility. The town’s maintenance crew is responsible for dragging the arena weekly. Fry embraced horsemanship from an early age. As a child, she squirreled away savings until she was able to buy her own horse - at age 9. She became active in LAHHA when Foothill College prevented residents from riding their horses on campus. "They didn’t want horses going between the buildings," she said, "so we put in a trail around the campus." Fry joined the LAHHA Board of Directors and served until she went off to college in Sussex, England, where she studied to become a horse master. Her father, Bob Stutz, assumed her seat on the board and became an instrumental contributor to the construction of the town ring. "He helped build the first arena in 1971 as well as trail bridges," Fry said. LAHHA member Bob Garcia coordinated the ring’s resurfacing project in 2006 but insisted that he couldn’t have completed the project alone. "Everything we do is a group effort," he said. Perhaps it’s that support network that encourages members to remain with LAHHA. Fry, for example, spends some of her free time judging the group’s shows and events. Young riders are "almost an impossible class to judge," according to Fry. "You have to look for all kinds of things - from partnership with the horse to position and posture when jumping, and whether they are taking the horse to the center of the jump," she added. But members also participate in various other ways. There’s work at the shows, from placing and removing equipment to cleaning the ring, along with parties and other social events, including an annual holiday party. LAHHA shows once took place monthly, but the group hasn’t been as active lately - it hosted only one show in the summer due to conflicts with school starting. But things are beginning to change, noted Alisa Bredo, LAHHA’s current president. "We have new people joining, along with a passionate core of members who have been around for years," she said. The group is hoping to expand both its board and membership. Memberships offer the ability to join a network of local horse owners who regularly ride through and among the trails of Los Altos Hills and Hidden Villa. They may also attend spring PlayDay, the Summer Schooling Show, various clinics and tack swaps, and take advantage of discounted fees for paid events. Members can run free classified ads on the LAHHA website, receive annual newsletters and have access to Yahoo Group sites. Dues, $25 per year, are used for maintenance and equipment. Meetings are scheduled quarterly, and members are not required to live in Los Altos Hills. Riders of any age may join. LAHHA member Jolon Wagner said children are especially encouraged to join. She believes that horsemanship is beneficial to children, teaching them responsibility and patience. "They help center you and keep you in the moment, so they don’t startle or stumble," Wagner said of horses. "They allow you to watch what you are doing and not think about other things - to be in the here and now, where we all should be." From the 16 July 1996 Edition, Written by Clyde Noel (Town Crier Staff Writer) Not just horsing around LAH horsemen's association has fought for equestrian rights for the past 25 years Members of the Los Altos Hills Horsemen's Association gather last week at the Town Ring on Purissima Road for a group portrait. Pictured, clockwise from the top, are: Thomasina Fry on her horse, Pippin; Bob Stutz, past president, on Charlie's Orbit; Steve Haze, current president, holding the reins of Jake; Charlie Dougherty, Ray Whitley and Stu Whittelsey, all past presidents. Photo by MONIQUE SCHOENFELD/TOWN CRIER This Saturday, the Los Altos Hills Horseman's Association (LAHHA) will celebrate a quarter century of hard work. The association's 25th anniversary celebration will take place 3 p.m. at the Westwind Barn, in recognition of efforts that have had a vital impact on shaping the town. Since incorporating as a non-profit organization in 1971, LAHHA has fought to preserve the trails and interests of horse owners in Los Altos Hills and surrounding communities. It hasn't been easy. Horses were always part of the original Los Altos Hills plan of incorporation. The first planning map was officially accepted by the Town Council in 1964 showing the original path plan for riding and walking. LAHHA is a spin-off from the original Los Altos Trail Club, a social club that started in 1942. It presently has 135 members. "Originally we needed more political input in Los Altos Hills to save ourselves from Los Altos," said Pete McSweeney, past president. "Los Altos had quarter-acre parcels and you can't keep a horse on that small a lot." LAHHA was formed and incorporated in 1970 as an influence against the town council forming "no horse subdivisions." Four people formed the association to ensure multi-use trails and pathways were built and maintained. "One of the city councilmen wanted to put license plates on horses in order to get rid of them," McSweeney said. We formed a candidate night to inform the electorate on those running for the city council. It wasn't who would fit on the council, but who wouldn't fit on the council." LAHHA is one of the few equestrian organizations that still exists after 25 years and the Town Council had a lot to do with its existence. Zoning laws and few registration requirements put few restrictions on residents who want to keep horses. However, all is not well in the Los Altos Hills equestrian culture. Land has become too valuable to justify any horse stables and residents with stables are becoming fewer and fewer. Steve Haze, president of LAHHA is well aware of the changing demographics. "Equestrian trails are being used for running and mountain biking and we have to co-exist on these popular trails with other users. Commercial stables have closed over the years so people don't have a place to keep horses anymore. "Haze said. "Our membership has remained constant because we are involved in not only issues important to Los Altos Hills, but in issues that affect horse owners in other communities." Bob Stutz, former president of the association, said new residents are not as interested in horses as long-time residents. "They move to the hills because they want to move to the country and then they build dormitory style homes with tennis courts and swimming pools and don't have enough room left to build a sandbox." Stutz said. However, horse riders feel lucky to be so close to the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District's preserves. All of the preserves have equestrian trails which also serve hikers and joggers. Currently LAHHA has an agreement with the Town of Los Altos Hills for the maintenance and management of the Town Ring on Purissima Road which they rebuilt with council funds in 1984 . "It is the desire of LAHHA to have the Town Ring master planned to better accommodate events," Haze said. "It is our ambition to have the Town Ring evolve into an "equestrian park" with tables and shade trees planted so residents can use the facility for family picnics during the shows." The relationship between LAHHA and Hidden Villa has not been a neighborly one. Several years ago the Hidden Villa Trust stopped boarding horses on its 13 acre meadow and wouldn't fix up the ring for the association's annual Horse Play competition it had the previous 55 years. Triona Wilson, former LAHHA president said she was personally disappointed with the direction Hidden Villa has toward horses. "From the Horseman's Association view, we have donated hundred of hours and a lot of money in improvements for the horsemanship center at Hidden Villa. "The Hidden Villa trails, many built by LAHHA members, have also been restricted and in many cases closed under the direction of the Trust for the Hidden Villa." Wilson said. Judith Steiner, executive director for the Trust of Hidden Villa, said we are not open to the public while the summer camp is in session. Everything is closed from June 24 to Aug. 23 and if they would have called here we would have explained that to them. Haze said Hidden Villa is very ambitious in its activities and product offerings and no longer include their neighbors or the Horseman's Association. "These were the people who worked with the Duvenecks in the past. Originally the Duvenecks always included the neighbors, but they look at things as a corporation now instead of a public trust. We would like to see a trail go through Hidden Villa again, one that is always available to the general public," Haze said. "Trails are closed because children use the trails for their winderness experience," Steiner said. "The valley has grown so much with a lot more people and we have to consider everyone. " The 25th anniversary party will start at 3 p.m. with a working dog exposition, Westwind drill team demonstration, Santa Clara County vector control information and a miniature horse petting for the kids. Westwind Barn is located at 27210 Altamont Drive in Los Altos Hills. . . From the 25 January 2017 Edition, Written by Charlotte Arrouye Other Voices - A History of Horses Los Altos Hills is unique in its commitment to supporting equestrian activities. The town boasts several larger equestrian facilities, including Westwind Community Barn, which is owned by the town and offers community lessons, boarding, trails and training. There’s also Fremont Hills Stables, Maple Leaf Farm and Rancho de las Reinas, where Kristen Zuraek offers western riding lessons. Westwind is home to the 4-H Riding for the Handicapped program, the Pacific Ridge Pony Club and the Los Altos Hills Horsemen’s Association (LAHHA), dedicated to fostering an equestrian community in Los Altos Hills. With support from LAHHA, the town continues to maintain the pathways trail system, not only for pedestrians, their dogs and bikers, but also for equestrians. Horses have been and continue to be a fundamental part of the town’s history. For those who want to ride in a more structured environment, without boarding at an equestrian facility, there is the Town Riding Arena, a rarity in the form of a public riding space. Located on Purissima Road, the ring is equipped with jumps, a round pen, tie rails, paddocks and a wash rack. LAHHA originally coordinated the building of the Town Riding Arena in 1976, under the leadership of Bob Stutz. After Los Altos incorporated in 1952, the city restricted horses. Los Altos Hills, however, continued to allow horses to be part of the community, with its 1-acre minimum for every property. The large lots encouraged backyard paddocks all over town. With all of the horses and few places to ride, there was a need for a communal space for equestrians. The arena struggled for a bit, and maintenance was becoming difficult. Stutz recalls having to “build it and rebuild it.” LAHHA was able to host several events at the arena and spark interest again. A petition followed to help preserve the ring, which faced possible demolition to make space for other projects. Finally, in 2006, the arena underwent major renovations, giving it a second life. LAHHA secured funding through a state park bond, enabling it to preserve this special resource. LAHHA continues to host several events at the Town Riding Arena throughout the year, including play days and schooling shows that bring the equestrian community together. During Los Altos Hills’ annual town picnic, pony rides are available at the ring as well. Outside of special events, residents use the ring to exercise their horses and take lessons. Local residents can support LAHHA through membership, attending meetings and donations, which are necessary to further the organization’s commitment to keeping horsemanship opportunities available. The Town Riding Arena is a true gem for the equestrian community of Los Altos Hills and surrounding areas, and one of the few riding spaces available for public use at no cost in the Bay Area. It is important that we continue to preserve such an asset through its continued use and with support through LAHHA. To donate and for more information, visit lahha.org. Charlotte Arrouye is a Los Altos resident.