62
Jan. 1, 2009
HORSETRADER Real Estate
Continued from Page 61 to put on Vaquero Days and create a multipurpose site
30 of his paintings. The show was a success, and Wieghorst which can be used by many groups. The mission of Los
received excellent reviews. Critics soon regarded him as one Californios Heritage Association is to promote the
of the finest painters of Western art in the world. California ranching heritage, preserve the influences that
Wieghorst loved to paint horses, and just about all of helped shape early California and support local
his work features horses as the subject. He once said: “I organizations with donated proceeds from the event.
try to paint the little natural things, the way a horse turns Vaquero Days includes demonstrations and clinics by
his tail to the wind on cold nights, the way he flattens his trainers, Western music, cowboy poetry, ranch roping,
ears in the rain, seasonal changes in the coat of a horse, ranch-horse/trail competitions, and ghymkhanas.
and psychology of his behavior. Horses have been my life.”
Wieghorst lived and worked in El Cajon until his death ■ NRHA Reining Shows in Southeast San Diego
in 1988. His family donated his personal belongings and Monica Albair, a trainer at River Valley Ranch in El
artifacts to the Gilcrease Museum in Tulsa, Okla. In 2000, Cajon, shares her views about the increased popularity of
the Wieghorst Museum & Western Heritage Center NRHA reining shows at Willow Glen Equestrian Centre
opened, and the articles were returned to El Cajon. The and other places in southeast San Diego County:
museum is adjacent to Wieghorst’s home, which is part of For many years, if you lived in central or southeast San
the Western Heritage Center. Diego County, you had to trek many miles to go to a
NRHA sanctioned reining show. Burbank is about the
closest these days and it’s easily a three hour trip with a■ Good Neighbors
The Olag Wieghorst Museum & Western Heritage horse trailer and a few days stay in order to compete at a
Center is not only a fixture in downtown El Cajon, but it is top quality show. Nothing wrong with that, it’s just that
also a presence in the community. most people are only willing to do that a few times in a
Horsetowns Location:
According to Ross Provence with the Olag Wieghorst summer show season.
Museum & Western Heritage Center, the organization To get extra show experience and good schooling forEastern San Diego County
•
holds events in the area throughout the year. The largest our horses, we attended most of the local clubs shows in
Santee
•
of these events is Wieghorst Western Heritage days, a two- between because they offered reining classes. In 2005, a
•
Lakeside day street fair that takes place during the first weekend in lady by the name of Celia Flint, who owns Willow Glen
Mission Trails
Regional Park
June. A color guard, a full working blacksmith shop, a Equestrian Centre, decided to offer a small series of
•
mountain man camp, and performers from the Western reining jackpots to accommodate the growing number of
El Cajon Music Association are all part of the fun. reiners in the south.
•
•
Another equine-related organization that makes its Willow Glen Equestrian Centre is a 17-acre boarding
La Mesa
Grossmont
•
presence known in the area is Professional’s Choice, facility located in El Cajon. It offers boarding, AQHA
Rancho
producers of sports medicine products for both horses and stallion service, training and NRHA reining shows, as well
• San Diego humans. Based in El Cajon, Professional’s Choice is very as Western/English horse shows.
Lemon
•
Spring
Grove
•
involved with the equine community in eastern San Diego To make it more fun and interesting, buckles were
Valley
Jamul
County. “We are very passionate about horses here, as well awarded at the end of the series to encourage riders of all
as helping those in need,” says Monty Crist, general stages to keep striving for improvement in their riding
• Partial Listing
Bonita
manager of Professional’s Choice. and their horses. Well, it was a hit, and the support of
of Area Cities
The company proves its dedication to horses and the trainers close by such as myself became strong. We now
community by sponsoring local events, including rodeos had a place to get our “green as grass” riders started as
in Poway and Lakeside, as well as local horse shows. The well as hone the skills of our more advanced riders to
company also donates to the San Diego Hippotherapy better prepare them for the larger NRHA shows.
serving Businesses
riding group in Lakeside, and helps out local charities. Effective 2007, the NRHA put rules into action
“If a local group needs a flyer laid out or publicity for discouraging it’s sanctioned judges from judging shows
East San Diego
an event, we try to help out,” says Crist. “During the San that followed NRHA guidelines but weren’t NRHA
Diego fires, we also had two trucks and trailers on the sanctioned. This forced Celia to take the next step. With
County include:
road, and our employees were out rescuing horses. A support from all the trainers in the area, we convinced
shelter for horses was set up across the street from our Celia (known as CeCe) to go ahead and sanction the
%DUQPDVWHU,QF
building in El Cajon, so we delivered breakfast to the shows. Yvon Mathieu, an NRHA trainer and carded judge
See ad on Page 111
volunteers a couple of times and generally opened our located in Descanso, was also in full support. Bringing in
doors to them. We even put blankets on some of the better-quality judging attracts a larger body of reiners.
&DUVRQ7UDLOHU horses that were cold. Basically, anytime anything happens That year, two of the four shows held were NRHA
See ad on Page 10
in the community, we get try to help.” approved. In 2008, three of the four jackpot series were
For people devoted to the equestrian lifestyle, El Cajon, NRHA sanctioned. In just one year, the shows had an
&KDOOHQJH5DQFK
Lakeside and other horse communities in Eastern San Diego increase of 27 percent in total entries. People are now
See ad on Page 85
County are hard to beat, for many reasons. “El Cajon is still traveling from as far north as Riverside to attend.
pretty much a small town, and it is close to both the beach One of the newest facilities that caters to the sport of
&XGGHEDFN7UDLOHU
and the mountains,” says Susan Meitz, who boards her reining in San Diego is River Valley Ranch. This 14-acre
horses at Willow Glen Equestrian Centre in El Cajon. “It’s facility at which I work at is also in full support of these
See ad on Page 22
not smoggy, and although it gets hot in the summer, we shows and will work to help them grow. The ranch is
always have a nice breeze. That’s why I like it so much here.” located in southern San Diego, a little over a mile from the
6KDURQ+DOO
beach, and supports multiple disciplines. With a cool
Coldwell Banker
climate, custom arenas with great footing, and comfortable■ Vaquero Days
See ad on Page 63
Another annual event in the Eastern San Diego County barns, River Valley Ranch has developed a facility that can
area is the Vaquero Days Western Heritage Festival in nurture high quality development of the sport.
-&)HHG 6XSSO\
Descanso, held at Granny Martin Ranch/Granville Along with Martha and George Kiss, owners of River Valley
Museum. Vaquero Days began in December 1992 to honor Ranch, I want to personally thank CeCe Flint and all those
See ad on Page 29
Granny Martin, one of the last true vaqueros of California. involved for all their efforts and hard work in bring such nice
7ULSOH&URZQ$UHQDV
The event has grown and changed, coming full circle in NRHA shows for all of us in Southern California to enjoy.
October 2008 to its new home at Granny’s ranch in
See ad on Page 11
Descanso, the current Granville Museum site. ■ Read about famous, equestrian sculptor
Los Californios Heritage Association and Granville Mehl Lawson and his perspectives on developing
Museum, both non-profit organizations, have joined forces an artists mentoring program. See Page 64.
horsetrader.com
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