California tips/ideas March/April

[Blugal]

Tell me your ideas and inside information please! I’m considering a 3-week trip to California from BC around mid-March to early April with one horse. She did her first event this fall and I’d be aiming for schooling opportunities, clinics and shows. Will be doing BN/N level.

Obviously I can see the Omnibus but what else is there for me to look into? Schooling shows, mid-week stuff, tourist things I should do?

Any thoughts on places that would make a good base? My trailer is a dressing room only, no heat or hook ups, so I will get a motel or AirB&B as necessary.

I know of some groups coming down from Canada and may join in with them but not wanting to be tied to their program or schedule.

[caevent]

You really can’t go wrong if you base in Temecula. Galway Downs has endless schooling amenities. Kingsway (Tamie Smith bases there) is across the street and has a lot of top-tier clinicians coming in. Copper Meadows is in Ramona (about an hour east) and is a ton of fun: cross country course situated amongst house-sized boulders to wander through/around. San Diego is a doable drive from there and is heaven on earth. Mary’s tack shop in Del Mar is a must-visit. You should also plan on spending time in central California at Twin Rivers. Amazing place to ride, school, Bec and Andrea are both phenomenal teachers. San Luis Obispo is a fun town and the beaches in that part of California are gorgeous. Big Sur is one of the most beautiful places in the world. You can skip going to Fresno County Horse Park (formerly Ram Tap). It’s amazingly run and the courses are educational, but Fresno is not a town that I would recommend for anything but riding. Anything in the bay area that time of year will probably be too wet (clay-based soil instead of sandy loam).

[xcjumper]

If you decide on Temecula, Galway has the cutest AirBNB airstreams on the property! And, as above, you can’t go wrong with clinic/schooling adventures as well as rated shows close by.

[PolestarFarm]

I find that most of my horses have trouble going from winter working in quiet PNW to competing at the Disneyland that Galway is. Granted, I ride a more hot type of horse, but there is ALOT to see at Galway for the first outing of the season.I dont like how it preps me for the next show. I prefer to go to Paso Robles Horse Park for their schooling jumper show, and the directly to Twin Rivers HT. We arrive early to Twin and volunteer for the week, and after it we help clean up and relax for a week. We do Fresno HT and then ship home. It is a very action packed one month of work, but three venues that are wonderful, and doesnt blow the horse’s mind.

[JER]

If you want to spend some time in the LA/Shadow Hills area (near Hansen Dam), I’m sure Misty would be most welcome to stay at Cali’s place. There is a fair amount of schooling show activity around there, loads of trails and you’d be close to LA if you wanted to explore.

(You could take Misty swimming with Cali. Cali loves to swim.)

[Blugal]

Thank you everyone!

I would like to ride on the beach… not sure how Misty feels about bareback yet for swimming though (and would it even be warm enough? I am a fair-water swimmer :winkgrin:)

[JER]

There’s a good campground for horse people on the beach not too far up the Central Coast. This is where Cali went camping a couple of months ago. Beach riding there is good - it would probably be lovely in March. I’ll think of the name - you might have seen Nicole’s posts on IG while she was there with Cali.

[DunByMistake]

No advice but just wanted to say I am so so jealous! I’m also in BC and follow some riders on social media who go down to Cali and it’s a dream of mine. Maybe 2021!

[Blugal]

I have a couple months of intense day job work ahead of me. I thought if I planned this trip it might help keep me motivated through the dark and cold…

[Rnichols]

Paso Robles has Twin Rivers which has an event both in March and April. If you’re coming from BC, it’s closer to you (more North) than Galway / Temecula. I also think Twin has a more interesting track than Galway at the Novice level, but I’ve only been to Galway once so I’m not sure if its as just particularly easy the show I went to (November). Also IDK if you like wine but Paso Robles has a TON of wineries to visit - Yum! Twin is probably my favorite event in this area - lovely venue, great owners, nice surrounding area.

As for beach riding, I’m sure you can find a beach that allows for riding in Paso. OR on the way down, you can stop in Sonoma County. Doran beach is SUCH a cool beach to ride at. I take all of my horses there, it’s such a blast. If you make a pit stop here, let me know! I’ll use any excuse to go to Doran :). And the town of Bodega is super cute and there’s lots to do. Sonoma County is about 4-4.5 hours (w/ a trailer) north of Paso. Oh, and no, the water will NOT be warm LOL.

[Blugal]

Yes!! A beach ride at Doran sounds fun.

[JER]

Cali went camping and beach-galloping at Montana del Oro State Park. There’s a horse-friendly campground with stalls, etc.

(I’m sure all the other beachgoers mistook him for whale and then realized they were looking at fat pinto who is a most enthusiastic swimmer.)

[Blugal]

Do you think Misty will differentiate Cali as a whale versus the 14hh pinto pony she wouldn’t go within 200 yards of because she thought it was a goat?

Also have you see a video of the racehorses “swimming” with dolphins? Maybe that should be on my wish list? Misty won’t mind as long as she sees them first. (She was pi$$ed the other day when some deer scared her. How dare they.)

[JER]

@Blugal

Do you think Misty will differentiate Cali as a whale versus the 14hh pinto pony she wouldn’t go within 200 yards of because she thought it was a goat?

Ah! A Pepsi flashback! She detested Pepsi.

Everyone likes Cali. I can’t really remember if Misty liked him or not but I don’t think they saw much of each other. Especially since Cali rarely lifts his head from his food.

[ThreeTerriers]

I am not sure about larger venues, but there are several smaller venues around Northern CA or within four hours of northern CA. I would definitely recommend Twin Rivers. Fresno County Horse Park is also a popular venue and usually has events year round. Eventful Acres no longer does events but I believe still offers schooling… not too sure on the details there, though. Woodland Stallion Station offers schooling but usually only has events during summer, and possibly end of April.

Good luck! Wish I could be of more help