San Martin Horsemen's Association

The General Meeting this month will be at 7pm on Wednesday 21^st at Saddles and Treasures, 7641 Monterey Hwy, Gilroy, CA 95020. A very interesting speaker, Darren Hawks will be presenting the sport of Working Equitation. Based on ranching skills, the sport has 3 or 4 phases: Dressage, obstacles, obstacles at speed and at some shows a cattle-working phase. A way to expand your skills whether you come from dressage or a western background. 

This month on June 17th we will have our first Play Day of the year, and it will include a Desensitization Clinic for horses and riders planning to enter the July 4^th parade. 

Coming up in July we have :

The July 4^th Parade

The free Learn to Horse Camp Clinic on July 15^th 

The Club Campout July 14^th – 16^th 

Information can be found in this month’s newsletter.

First up this month is the always popular Trailer Tech Clinic on Sunday May 7^th. See page 4 of this month’s newsletter for more details and a link to sign up.

The General Meeting this month will be at 7pm on Wednesday 24^th at The Longhouse Restaurant: 8195 Monterey St, Gilroy. Please arrive early If you want to order dinner.

The May club ride has been moved to Saturday May 13^th at Henry Coe SP, Hunting Hollow entrance. Ride out time will be 11:00. Bring a chair and snack or lunch to hang out and be social after the ride!

Next month on June 17th we will have our first Play Day of the year, and it will include a Desensitization Clinic for horses and riders planning to enter the July 4^th parade.

The General Meeting this month will be in person on Wednesday 26th  at 7pm and it will be at Saddles and Treasures …arrive early to shop. Their address is 7641 Monterey Hwy, Gilroy. We have a speaker for the meeting from Santa Clara County Large Animal Evacuation group.  

The April club ride in Grant park is being moved because the Mt. Hamilton road is closed just before the park entrance.  

Changing the April ride to the Salinas River State Beach on Sunday April 16th. Address is 10721 Potrero Road in Moss Landing. Parking lot is paved with room for trailer parking, parking is free. Ride out time will be 11:00. Bring a chair and snack or lunch to hang out and be social after the ride! 

Also in the Newsletter a reprint of a 2010 article by Bill Throgmorton on the founding of SMHA.

And the 2023 #hoofpicsinparks brochure is now available.

The General Meeting this month will be in person on Wednesday 22nd at 7pm and it will be at Saddles and Treasures …arrive early to shop, and participate in an egg hunt with surprises for attendees. Their address is 7641 Monterey Hwy, Gilroy. We are still working on lining up a speaker for the meeting from Santa Clara County Large Animal Evacuation group.

We are changing the March club ride from Ed Levin to Rancho Canada Del Oro due to wet trail conditions. Ride will be Sunday March 12, ride out at 11:00. Address is 4289 Casa Loma Road in Morgan Hill. There is plenty of free trailer parking at the staging site. Don’t forget to move your clocks forward on Saturday evening for Daylight Savings Time, otherwise you will arrive late for the ride!

This month’s Chitty Blog contains some information on Henry Coe SP and OHV usage.

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Joan Throgmorton

July 17, 1934 – February 3, 2023

Sadly, we lost Joan last month, one of the club’s founding members. As those of us who have been around for a few years know, Joan was a very active member of our club and an integral reason for SMHA’s success over the years.

Joan’s obituary, an award letter form NATRC, along with a few photos are included in this month’s newsletter.

We have a calendar of events lined up for the year and you can find it on page 3 of the newsletter. It is packed with Club Rides, Clinics for Horses and Trailers and Camping trips, and of course the Fourth of July Parade in Morgan Hill will be a highlight of the year again. 

The General Meeting this month will be in person on Wednesday 22nd at 7pm and it will be at The Longhouse restaurant in Gilroy. We hope to see you there. The Longhouse is at 8195 Monterey Highway, Gilroy and please arrive early if you want to order dinner, it will help get the meeting going on time. 

But before that there will be a Club Ride at Harvey Bear County Park. Meet in the parking lot at the San Martin entrance Saturday February 11^th and be ready to ride at 11am. 

Also February is a great month to send in your membership forms for 2023.

p.s If you order a Pony Express card using the form in tis month’s newsletter please circle California at the bottom of the form.  California is the sponsoring state for 2023 and we would like to have credit for the purchase.

Hopefully 2023 finds you well and not too wet.

This month’s newsletter contains a look back at all the great events we held in 2022. And yes it is designed to get you to say “wow how do I sign up for membership?”. Well see the Membership form.

The board will be meeting this month on Wednesday 18^th at 7pm to work the 2023 calendar. Let us know what you think should be on the calendar. email news@smhorse.org

The General Meeting will be in person on Wednesday 25^th at 7pm and we are still working on the location.

This months’ Newsletter includes photos from a whole bunch of events SMHA held in October and early November. Hope you had chance to participate in some of them, they looked like a lot of fun.

We have a couple of items left on the calendar.

See page 2 for the Ride & Caroling event on Saturday December 17^th.

Holiday Party & General Meeting

No-Host Dinner at Longhouse Restaurant

8195 Monterey Road, Gilroy

Wednesday, Dec. 14 at 7:00 PM

Gift Exchange – Bring a new or gently used, wrapped horse-themed gift valued under $20 if you would like to participate in our fun, light-hearted gift exchange game.

Now is a good time to renew or take up membership for 2023.

Our next meeting will be on Wednesday October 26^th at Saddles and Treasures, 7641 Monterey Road in downtown Gilroy.

Meeting starts at 7:00 – show up early to shop, also a great opportunity to drop off any saddles, saddle pads, blankets, etc. for consignment

Coming up in October.

Trailer backing clinic on Saturday October 15 see page 3 for details. This is a popular clinic providing an opportunity to practice reversing your trailer under the watchful eye of an expert who can help you make improvements.

SMHA Campout at Santa Cruz Horsemen’s Graham Hill Showgrounds October 21-23:

Members Only (if you’re not a member yet, now is a great time to join!).

This is an amazing campground with shade, horse pens, running water, showers and restrooms. If you have never camped with your horse before, and want to give it a try, this is the perfect place to do it!

We will be able to ride directly from the campground into beautiful Henry Cowell State Park and enjoy the redwoods.

The club ride on Saturday 10/22 will start from here and if you want to show up just for the day, it will be a $10 parking fee, see page 4 for more details.

The Halloween Poker Ride has moved to November 5^th. Don’t put your costume away after Halloween! See page 5.

And here is the October Newsletter

Hope everyone has managed to stay cool this week.

Our next meeting will be on Wednesday September 28^th at 7pm location TBD.  

Coming up in September the Club ride will be at the top of Mt. Madonna Park on Sunday the 25^th.  

But the day before that, on Saturday the 24^th our second Play Day with RanchTrail Competition, mark your calendars. 

And October is just packed with events although the Halloween Poker Ride has moved to November 5^th. 

Details in the September newsletter.

We WON!

The results of the Equestrian categories in the July 4th Parade are in and ….

Best Overall Equestrian Group: SMHA!

Best Individual Adult Equestrian: Our flag bearer Wayne Young second place!

Best Ranch Hand: Our pooper scooper Allene Liebenberg second place!

Upcoming this month is our Horse and Bikes etc Clinic check out the events details and pre-register to guarantee a free lunch.

The August Newsletter is right here.